October 10, 2006, 10:45
Lindell V. RiddleEarly Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images...
Early Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images.
Although Webb C. Ball promoted himself as a "Watch Manufacturer" that is a misnomer,
he marketed a wide variety of watches, all specifically finished to his specifications by
the major watch companies of the day, but none of his watches were actually made
at the Cleveland, Ohio facility despite all his many efforts to keep that myth alive.
Unlike some other, particularly later Ball Watches, on all 18-size Ball-Hamiltons
the Hamilton production numbers are employed. Ball would order a "block", or
range of numbers set-aside, sometimes it took several years to use all of the
numbers, since there might be various jewel-counts and designations used it
is nearly impossible to predict which variants may have been in a given run.
(Unless otherwise stated the watches depicted herein are from my collection.)
October 11, 2006, 09:47
Edward L. Parsons, Jr.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.
October 29, 2006, 23:23
Larry BuchanAdvertisments 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.
October 29, 2006, 23:42
Larry BuchanHere is a Ball private-label F.F. Bonnet Columbus, Ohio
October 30, 2006, 00:32
Larry BuchanHere is a close up of the markings on the dial.
October 30, 2006, 01:17
Larry BuchanHere is a picture of the movement, it is marked:
"17 JEWELS MOVEMENT NUMBER
8718 SAPPHIRE PALLETS SAFETY PINION
TRADE MARK OFFICIAL R.R. STANDARD ADJUSTED F.F. BONNET COLUMBUS, PATENTED" on the barrel bridge.
November 14, 2006, 18:11
Larry BuchanHere 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.
November 15, 2006, 00:43
Larry BuchanHere are some more agents from the October 1897 Locomotive Engineers Journal.
This advertisement features another 13 agents for a total of 52 at that point.