A special Ball-Hamilton test run consisted of 601-625 and the first one is shown here.
Number 601 once carried by Webb C. Ball, today it is in the Donald Barrett Collection.


From 1894 Ball-Hamilton 601 was the first in a limited run...

Oddly, these are not marked as to jewel-count but they are 17-Jewel movements.


Number 601 was marked as "Ball's Standard Superior Grade"

The earliest use we find of "Official Rail-Road Standard" was on movements within
8701-8800 during 1895 production. Its use continued later that year, in a mixed
run 13001-14000 along with some Brotherhood movements such as seen here.

Railroad Brotherhoods were the organized trade unions founded to help obtain
better, safer working conditions, provide insurance and retirement programs.


Correctly marked Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen dial...

"Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, Standard" movement...

As detailed in the "Complete Guide to Watches" the earliest Official Rail-Road Standard
movements command a premium among collectors. Notice larger signature "Trade Mark,
Official RR Standard, Ball & Co., Cleveland, O." dial markings that are found typically on the
early Ball-Hamilton ORRS watches and continuing through upper 170000 serial number range.


Here is number 14927 which is from 1897 production...

This movement numbered 14927 was produced as part of a run consisting of 14001-15000
records show were produced beginning in 1895 through 1896 and completed during 1897
but interestingly, the next two watches shown, numbers 20577 and 20833 were actually
produced earlier although they carry higher numbers. This often occurred in production.

Odd as it might seem today, movements were routinely finished out of consecutive order.


"Official RR Standard" 17-Jewel "Adjusted" movement...

These 17-Jewel Adjusted Railroad Grade movements fronted Double-Sunk dials, something
that Webb C. Ball avoided. We see them rarely used on his watches, this is one exception.


"Ball's Standard, Railroad Watch Co., Cleveland, O." marking...

"Adjusted" 17-Jewel "999E" movement dates to 1896 production...

This movement 20843 is the lesser Railroad Watch Company version which is 16-Jewel which
means no center jewel on the dial side. Note the plainer, straight-line damaskeening and lack
of "Standard" or "Adjusted" on the movement. Likewise, the correct dial for this movement
will have a "Railroad Watch Co., Cleveland, O." signature without "Ball's Standard" above.


Unadjusted 16-Jewel also from 1896 known as "999F" movement...

From 1898 number 28755 featuring rare Double-Sunk ORC Dial...

Uncommon "Order of Railway Conductors Standard" movement...

Notice their hour numerals changed during production of 42,000-43,000 movement numbers.
We find the "wavy-top" number 3 on earlier dials was easy to spot. From now on a "flat-top"
is found on the number 3 in addition to other revisions, a more modern "bolder" look would
become part of nearly all the Ball patented dials in the years to come.

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Dial, Pierced Hands...

This one, number 42690 is from a run numbered 42001-43000 in 1898-1899 production.


21-Jewel Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers movement...

We are now into the 20th Century, the 18-size Ball-Hamiltons continue. Just before the turn
of the century Ball-Waltham 16-size watches were introduced, many changes were coming.


This one is 170249 with another unusual Double-Sunk Dial...

Notice the unusual use of "Adjusted, Single Roller" marking...

Shortly after beginning the 20th Century "Ball & Co." gave way to "The Ball Watch Co."
markings on movements and on most of their dials as designs continually evolved.

Movement number 170704 is a 21-Jewel Official RR Standard...

Additional markings would soon join the "Adjusted" shown here...

Great images Lin, I look forward to seeing the rest of them. Love to see those pierced hands and the cool flourishes on that Railroad Watch Co. signature.

Advertisments and watches shown in the next six images are from the Larry Buchan Collection.

Here is a Ball advertisement from the December 1895 issue of the Locomotive Engineers Journal it shows many of his watch inspectors, of special-interest to me is F.F. Bonnett from Columbus, Ohio.

Here is a Ball private-label F.F. Bonnet Columbus, Ohio

Here is a close up of the markings on the dial.

Here is a picture of the movement it is marked:
17 JEWELS 8718 SAPPHIRE PALLETS SAFETY PINION TRADE MARK OFFICIAL R.R. STANDARD ADJUSTED F.F. BONNET COLUMBUS, PATENTED alongside balance cock.

Here is another Ball advertisement from February 1897 showing some more Ball agents for a total of 39, but three were gone that appeared on the first list H.C. Graffe, Matoon Illinois, Harvey Fritz of Oil City Pennsylvania, and Michie Bros. Cincinnati, Ohio.

Here are some more agents from the October 1897 Locomotive Engineers Journal. Adding another 13 agents for a total of 52.