also located additional plants in Aurora, Illinois and Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1963, the company relocated most manufacturing operations to a new plant in Blaney, a town near Columbia, South Carolina, which renamed itself Elgin, South Carolina. The original, obsolete factory in Elgin closed in 1964 after having produced half of the total number of pocket watches manufactured in the United States (dollar-type not included). The plant was razed in 1966. The company maintained a leased building in Elgin that housed offices and casing, fitting, shipping, service, and trade material departments until about 1970. The company discontinued all US manufacturing in 1968 and sold the rights to the name "Elgin", which were subsequently resold multiple times over the years. The rights eventually were purchased by MZ Berger Inc., which manufactures its watches in China and distributes them outside traditional watch dealerships. Elgin-branded watches produced after 1968 have no connection to the Elgin Watch Company. The city of Elgin, North Dakota, derives its name from the watch brand. Likewise, NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor was named after the Elgin National Watch Company. Gallery See also Gruen Watch Co. Waltham Watch Company Hamilton Watch Company Pulsar Benrus Illinois Watch Company References Sources Complete Watch Guide, by Cooksey Shugart, Tom Engle, Richard E. Gilbert, 1998 ed., External links The Elgin Watch Collectors Site Entry in Encyclopedia of Chicago The Elgin Story (words & pictures) Elgin History, Serial Numbers and Production Dates The Watch Word magazine 1864 establishments in Illinois 1968 disestablishments in Illinois Aircraft component manufacturers of the United States Defunct manufacturing companies based in Illinois Defunct watchmaking companies Companies based in Elgin, Illinois Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1968 Manufacturing companies established in 1864 Watch manufacturing companies of the United States