Code: 4.288
This is an official American Railroad pocket watch made by the Ball Watch company using a Hamilton movement. The Ball watch company did not manufacture their own movements. The company was set up by Webb C Ball of Cleveland, Ohio who was the general time inspector. After the fatal collision of two trains in 1891, due to a faulty timepiece, Ball was commissioned with drawing up a state-wide timepiece inspection system. As all companies up until then used their own guidelines, Ball presented his guidelines and most American companies set out to meet these recommendations. The Ball watch company used the movements by these companies to create a line of watches which bore the official “Rail Road” official standard.
For many collectors of American watches, the Hamilton 950B and 950E were considered to be the best railroad watches every produced. This is the Ball equivalent and it is the highest quality watch Ball produced with only 2700 ever made. This is a particularly fine example being in pristine condition throughout.
Movement – this high quality nickel bridge movement has a lever escapement with a micrometer regulator and a gold capped escape wheel. The movement also has gold train wheels, raised gold jewel settings and is jewelled to the winding wheel also. The movement is decorated with circular damascening. The movement is signed “Ball Watch Co, Cleveland, Ohio, 23 Jewels, 5 Positions Adjusted, Trade Mark, Official Standard, Motor Barrel, Elinvar” # B65223. The movement is in 95% mint condition – a superb example
Case – the movement comes in a yellow 10K gold Filled open face case, which has a screw off back and front. The case is the BALL Model case with the patent stirrup bow and is signed “Ball Official RR Standard” The case has turned detailing on the back with carved bezels. The case is in 95% mint condition - the case is in superb condition with very light wear only
Dial – the white enamel dial has a full set of blue steel hands and is signed “Ball Official RR Standard, Cleveland”. The dial is in 100% mint condition – there is a very small scratch above the one, right next to the bezel
The watch has a bevelled mineral glass
The watch is stem wound / lever set
The watch measures 51mm x 13mm deep
