I have decided to document the following movements internal details, focusing on the actual finish quality of the follow Elgin movements from the 10 million production range. the grades are #280, #270 and #156.

I hope to show the following from each movement:
Winding wheels
Barrel
Train wheels
Escape wheel
Train jewel settings
Cap jewel settings
Pallet Jewels
Pallet
Roller table
Regulator
Top Plate finish
setting componet finish
Screw heads

-Sean

The first movement is the Grade #280 (Marked BWR)
S#10,855,402
Winding Wheels- show snailing and damaskeening type of finish, pretty nice but not the best from Elgin.

Main Spring Barrel- Typical medium finish with some snailing

Train Wheels- All Gold wheels with rounded spokes, pretty nice detail, but not realy high polish. shown L to R; Third, Center and 4th wheels.

Train Bridge Jewels and Settings- All Gold flush settings showing good polish, but only Pale red ruby jewels,

Balance Cock- Flush Gold cap jewel, showing good polish. Note: Nice regulator as found on the highest Grade Elgin Watches.

Escape Wheel and Pallet- Highly finished Double roller pallet and steel escape wheel. medium finish on the pallet bridge. Nice pale blue sapphire pallets jewels.

Balance and Hair Spring- High quality bi-metalic balance with gold screws, and Breguet Hair spring in blue steel.

Balance and Roller- Nice quality steel polished Double roller table and D-type ruby roller jewel.

Top plate train side- The finishing is nickel with both spotting, snailing and damaskeening, Note: the gear pockets are spotting finished and the other surfaces are snailed with some damaskeening

Top plate dial side- Minimal finish on this surface, also the setting components are not polished. Pretty basic here, not much better than the average 15 jewel grade.

Screw Heads- The polished screw heads are average Elgin type, as found on most nickel grades.

Here is the assembled Grade # 280 (Marked BWR)- Please note this movement is not pristine, showing scratches from poor service technique and oxidation on some of the steel parts.

In summary, this is a High Grade 17 jewel Elgin movement, featuring many of the higher quality finishing details offered by Elgin. However, the dial side top plate is not finished well, the ruby jewels are Lite pink, Gold setting are flush and the screw heads are average.

Sean,
Thanks for the outstanding pics of the Elgin grade 280 movement.
Tony

Here is a final shot of the 280/BWR using a point source light to highlight the damaskeening of the movement.

Sean
great pictures and a great watch thanks for showing it.

I am using a Canon Power Shot SD450 on a tripod with an MK Digital Photo Box.

Here is a pic.

Here is a my bench.

Here is my B200A Vibrograf.

Here is my 4 station automatic Ultrasonic Cleaner

Back to business, here is the grade 270 disassembled, and put into the cleaning basket partitions. Ready to be cleaned...

Sean

Keep going! Wonderful stuff.

I like the clever movement holder you have, by the way.

John Scott

Thanks, Sean. Great set-up!

I am really enjoying this Sean
..... and thanks for showing your photography setup!

Ron

Sean,

Great job with the photos! Thanks for bring us into your home and showing us your set up.

From a novices view point you seem to learn so much more when you go step by step with great photos to accompany the explanation.

Mike

Here are the pics of the Elgin Grade 270 S#10,814,988

Winding Wheels- show snailing and damaskeening type of finish, seems pretty similar to the G#280/BWR, but not the best from Elgin.

G#270 Main Spring Barrel- seems a little better than the G#280/BWR, medium finish with some snailing.

G#270 Train Wheels- All Gold wheels with Polished rounded spokes, very nice detail, Better than the G#280/BWR. shown L to R; Third, Center and 4th wheels.

G#270 Train Bridge Jewels and Settings- All Gold flush settings showing good polish, nice red ruby jewels. Notice nice damaskeening, and better engraving than the G#280/BWR.

G#270 Balance Cock- Flush Gold cap jewel, showing good polish. Note: Nicer engraving than the G#280/BWR.

G#270 Escape Wheel and Pallet- Highly finished SINGLE roller pallet, Ruby pallet jewels and steel escape wheel. Nice Gold cap jewel setting on the pallet bridge. Note: This 21 jewel movement only has a Single roller escapement.

G#270 Balance and Hair Spring- High quality bi-metalic balance with gold screws, and Breguet Hair spring in blue steel. Pretty much identical to the G#280/BWR.