I recently purchased an Elgin grade 348 from the last run sn 12M from Wayne's site this is what he has posted

11185141 originally marked as a G=183 but are G=348 according to the elgin Master Records
11185255 originally marked as a G=183 but are G=348 according to the elgin Master Records
11612001 1915 MC shows grade as "183r", maybe this is a BWR? # I changed this from grade 183 to 348 'cause, well, I think elgin changed the grade
SN11612904 seen as "348 21j Adjusted" on ebay 231591478
12120001 Elgin Master Records say the first 500 were changed from G=149. No watches from the last 500 have been seen. (please report any!)

It appears that it probably was a converted 149 since my other earlier sn 348 does not have nearly as much gilt type engraving and looks spartan to the later sn 12M that I just picked up. Does anyone else have a grade 348 in the 12M range? This one is also marked 5 positions where most 348s are marked adjusted, most were probably adjusted to 5 postions but were not marked as such.

The highest I have is 11612238, but I do have some 13m 349 movments. need any pics?

When the watch arrives I take some pictures and post them along with some pictures of my other 348, if you post some and hopefully any other 348/349 owners will post up some pictures it might help to see how many variations in the DMK effect there might be and if there is any trends. Most of the full plates I have usually only have "Adjusted" on the balance cock or on the plate in script form but I have never see "5 Positions" on the full plates, usually this was put on the 18s 3/4 plates.

Hi Claude, I've seen factory ads for the 348-9, they were a 5-position RR grade, but most were only marked "adjusted" The later ones still had the adjusted marking across the balance cock, but also were marked adj. 5 positions on either side of the barrel arbor.I only have a 349, mine is SN 13738107.It doesn't have the 5 pos. marking.these are a really sharp looking Elgin, beautiful gold lettering job.I think these are another under-appreciated railroad watch! Take care, Ted.

Claude here a picture of the 3 I own the first being ser# 12910699
2nd being # 13633343
third being #13329894

#2

#3

Nice 349's, Bill.I notice 2 of yours are a little above and below mine in serial number, and both have the 5 position mark, and mine doesn't.Maybe different runs were marked differently?Yours also have the 5 pos. in a different spot on the barrel bridge than the ones I've seen, which had it on either side of the barrel arbor, just below "No. 349".Looks like there are some differences in these.Sorry Claude, I wasn't trying to rip off your original question!...Ted.

It appears that the nicer adjusted to 5 positions on the barrell bridge appears to be on the 13M and 14M 349's, I checked that out on Ebay. Bill my 348 has the 5 Positions that looks very much like your last picture post, I thought it might have been added after it left the factory but since it is nearly identical to your #3 but in a different location.

Hi Claude,
I really don't know. The first one with serial number 1291xxxx has the 5 position marking, while my second one at 1363xxxx does not and the third one does at # 13329894 ??????????? whats with that ?
Bill

Claude and Bill, Could it be that Elgin finished these 349's as they were needed, maybe they had unfinished movements or plates that were not 5 position marked to use up, and rather than send the barrel plates back to the engraving dept., just used them as they are?Does that make any sense?It seems kind of wierd that they would drop the position marking for a while, and then pick it up again.Thank you, Ted.

Hi Ted,
Well just about anything makes sense to me, and that sounds reasonable, I admit I am less knowledgable than most here, so i can see that sounding right. I to did not understand why mine are marked in the 12xxxxxxxx numbers than not in a middle 13xxxxxxx series yet on one earlier also 13xxxxxx marked, really odd. The reasoning you use makes sense in the using up of parts as needed.
Bill

I just read my post over, and it sure seems to ramble ???

Thanks Bill, like I mentioned above, my 13 million 349 isn't marked, your 12 mil. is, don't make any sense at all.You weren't rambling ,I understood what you were saying.I hope one of the other guys on here can try to explain it.I'm no expert either, but that's what seems logical to me.You have a nice set of these beautiful Elgins...Ted.

HERE IS THE 11M 348 . . .

AND A 13M 349 . . .

Here is my original 348 that looks a lot like Dave's and you notice that it looks quite a bit different from the 349 and the 348 that I picked up which I should be able to get some pictures posted tomorrow.




Second 348, quite different.