Internet Horology Club 185
Ball-Elgin (all were 18size) Images...

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2121060351/m/8111080212

October 11, 2006, 17:14
Lindell V. Riddle
Ball-Elgin (all were 18size) Images...


Ball-Elgins were from 1904-1905 production only.

NOTE: The Ball-Elgins all carry Elgin movement numbers.

Especially nice 21-Jewel Ball-Elgin was not an easy one to find...


October 11, 2006, 17:14
Lindell V. Riddle


Movement number 11858548 was 548 of 2,000 blocked.

Ball-Elgin 21-Jewel movements very rarely become available...


October 11, 2006, 17:16
Lindell V. Riddle


Marginal-Minute dials are very unusual on Ball Watches, he patented his own plain dial designs.


A third generation Ball employee told us "The Old Man" rejected this dial as "too fancy, confusing and possibly dangerous" but today most of us see something rare, valuable and yes, beautiful. According to legend among long time Ball employees, a little box with two similar styled dials arrived from Elgin, this "Marginal Minutes" and the other with a red 5-minute outer track were both rejected. There were some 4 to 6 dials in the box so do the math on how many of each arrived, and how many likely survived. It took years of diligent research but eventually we tracked down one of each. Let us know if you ever see another, but from what we were told and from long experience studying Webb C. Ball and The Ball Watch Company it is likely we may not. Apparently Elgin was proposing to ship fully finished movements modified to all of Ball's exacting specifications and ready to case at his Cleveland, Ohio facility, but he declined.

Marginal Minutes combined with Double-Sunk makes this a rarity...


October 11, 2006, 17:16
Lindell V. Riddle


Movement 11856509 was 509 of 4,000 numbers blocked.

Here is a handsome Ball-Elgin 17-Jewel with "333" markings...


October 03, 2008, 20:20
Lindell V. Riddle


Webb C. Ball also rejected this Red-5-Minute Outer Track dial...


June 06, 2017, 20:15
Lindell V. Riddle

Conventional Ball ORRS Dial fronts an unconventional watch.

Housed in a "Ball Model" Hunter case specially made for these.

Very uncommon Ball-Elgin 17-Jewel Railroad Approved Hunter...


June 06, 2017, 20:15
Lindell V. Riddle


Quite a desirable item, we believe less than 200 were produced.

Ball-Elgin Hunter 11958075 (Number 75 of 1,000 numbers blocked.)


June 06, 2017, 20:16
Lindell V. Riddle

At the same 1904 time-frame when the Ball-Elgins were in production apparently Webb C. Ball had some other interests as well. In the hand-written letter which was discovered a few years ago by IHC Member John Scott we see that Webb C. Ball penned a letter in his own hand on Ball Watch Company letterhead inquiring about availability of a particular wine that interested him. This rare piece in Webb C. Ball's own handwriting is therefore a rare insight into his own self-expression.


Webb C. Ball precise handwriting and signature, absolutely fascinating...


June 06, 2017, 20:16
Lindell V. Riddle

A NOTE ABOUT USING CAUTION ON BALL WATCH COMPANY ITEMS...

Since we have a little extra space here I will take this opportunity to point out the fact we continue to find many, many examples of for want of a better term "fakes" creeping around out there. Since we are searchable by anyone researching Ball-related items we often receive pictures of clocks with obviously faked-up numerals and names. And that is only the beginning. Never forget Ball PATENTED not only certain features and markings for his watch movements but his patented designs and features were used on Ball Clocks, their Advertising Material and everything else they distributed or sold. The US Patent Office to this day oversees Patents and Copyright Ownership of designs, styles and finishes. Ball and Company vigorously guarded their Patents and Copyright Ownership long after his untimely 1924 passing.

BEWARE AND BE ON GUARD as there are false prophets and misleading profiteers who routinely misrepresent their items for sale while lurking in the shadows, ready to jump out and take advantage of unsuspecting or uninformed collectors. If you are an IHC Member post your concerns in "Avoiding the Pitfalls of On-Line Trading" (If you are not a member we invite you to join us!) and anyone reading this may correspond with the undersigned with the assurance I will do all I can to be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Lindell

Wink

June 06, 2017, 20:16
Lindell V. Riddle
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Lindell V. Riddle
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Lindell V. Riddle
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June 06, 2017, 20:18
Lindell V. Riddle

More 18-size Ball Watches are shown in these topics...


Ball-Howard, 1890s Beauty

Early Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images

Ball-Elgin (all were 18-size) Images

Later Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images

Enjoy all the information at IHC185™ and consider joining us!

Wink