Hi,
I just purchased a Gr. 181 Elgin and can not really find out a lot about it. Other than 6000 made. It is a 21J 18s P/W L/S, but how many positions is it set to. Also with a production of only 6000 how rare is this, I guess if you use the 20% rule that would make only 1200 remaining, is there any legitimacy to that. Were they accepted for railway use, etc. ?
Thanks for any and all info,
Bill

Bill, Shugart lacks even a single comment about this grade but generalizes that these are $125.00 watches, . . . 30 years ago Ehrhardt's "good book" says they are $500.00 (in 2010 dollars) watches and my s/n 8186477 Grade 181 was from the third of 5 production runs of full nickel plate 18 size model 7 movements fitted out as 21 Jewel 5 Adjustment Railroad Grades.

Furthermore my movement was finished with gold filled engraving mixed with very fancy damaskeening and I am guessing that the owner of mine was probably running a different kind of business than a Railroad.

Bill the "adjusted to X positions" did not happen until about a decade later after this movement was produced (1897-1899) and it was universally accepted as a RR approved watch, well unless it had Dave's dial, and I think some RR's even allowed hunter cases and fancy dials prior to the turn of the century. These are great watches and you can snag a good example off ebay for in the 100-200 range, which is the range I paid for mine. Used to you couldn't give me any 18 size but now about 1/2 my collection are 18 size watches. No matter if it is a 21j Waltham Vanguard, a Hampden 23j New Railway, Elgin 21j LS grade 149,150, or 181, Father Time 266 the 18 sizes are some very nice watches that many collectors completely overlook.

Thanks guys for the info, and like you Claude I have for some reason, seem to have just taken a real liking for these Large 18S watches, it also seems that the Elgin RR's are fast becoming my favorites, seeing as I now have a 148 17J, 349 21J,367 F.T. 21j,240 BWR 21j, 412 21j, 150 21j, and now this 181 all in 18s, when it gets here.
Dave, The photos were again quite fuzzy on the ebay ad, but I also believe the engraving was gold filled, but not sure, will let you know when it arrives, but it only has a standard dial, nothing fancy like yours.
Bill

My Grade 181