I think Bill Manders has a 20 jewel in the early first 30 of the run. I found one listed as a 17j Elgin but was a 20j under the first 80 of the run. Mine came with the correct "Old English" Elgin style dial that is in great shape, movement and dial in a good 25yr case. I now have the 20j 149 hunter and the 20j 150 open face. I paid a little more than what I did for my other 150's but being that 20j version don't litter the sidewalk. Will post the pictures when it shows up.

I'll be waiting.

Claude,
Nice pick am waiting to see pics.
It always amazes me after 100+ years to have 2 watches within 50 or so ser numbers, I guess the survival rate must be pretty good on these old workhorses.
Bill

I have been busy with other things but will take pictures of the 277 and the 20j when the 150 comes in. Another Elgin collector has a 20j just prior to the xxx,520 range so Elgin did not cut over from 20j to 21j exactly at 500 in the run. It does not appear that Elgin went much past the xxx,518 or xxx,519 serial number range but with limited sightings noted I would think that an exact cut-off point would be hard to state.

The dial is the old English look, not the fancy flowing Elgin National Watch Company, or the later <<Elgin>> so it must has been a short run text for the dials that shows up on these 20j 150s.

Here is its hunter mate but early in the first run #316.

Nice looking Elgins there - Claude

On the 150 I think the case is original to the movement but not the original case since it has a lever cut. There are no other screw marks, its a excellent 25yr case and there is some small wear through on the pendant and the emblem on the back is not as bright as it once was but it I did not see any brassing on the case. It has a nice dial and hands and is in great running condition in a very good case.
You can tell the dial is original because the font on the dial is almost identical to the font on the movement.
It was miss identified as a 17 jewel Elgin and even though I have $320 into it, for a watch that was made in a quantity in the 500-520 range, in excellent condition both looks and performance I am happy. I need to replace the clipped case screw since it is not the same type/shape as the other screw.