I have just been looking at two interesting Ball watches.

#1 A Ball Waltham 16 size 21J model, in a non-Ball Siverine case. The case is marked on the back, Hansen & Hansen, Denver, loaner 81.

#2 A Ball Hamilton 999 18size 21J model. It is in a Ball marked silveroid case. The case back is marked R. L. Van Hoesen & Co. 51. Also marked on the back is Vivian Thayer.

Does anybody have any knowledge of the names. Jewelers or Inspectors?

Without doing any digging to be sure, Van Hoesen sounds like the New York City watchmaker. Very skillful guy, capable of making a watch.

MIke

Checking on myself, the guy I had in mind was V.E. Van Hoesen, involved with Hamilton Co. in developing their marine chronometer. But, who knows, RLVH could have been related.

Mike