Internet Horology Club 185
Info on my Ball, please! What company produced it?

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/5203970177

April 03, 2012, 20:36
Norm Dennis
Info on my Ball, please! What company produced it?
I just picked up this Ball, and hope that all of you very informed pocket watch fans can help me out...Which company made the movement? When? And any other information will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Norm


April 03, 2012, 20:49
Tom Brown
It is a Ball Hamilton, I can not make out the serial number to try to add more.

Tom
April 03, 2012, 21:11
Norm Dennis
Tom, you've confirmed what I suspected, based on the regulator style. But the actual movement plates apparently are the same for some Illinois Model 11 Balls (pg 155 of current Complete Price Guide to Watches), or Walthams (pg 156).

The details apparently really matter!

The serial number of the movement is B633211.

Any and all info is welcome! Even what you may consider to be old hat...I am very much a newbie!
April 03, 2012, 21:23
Eugene Buffard
Ball Illinois 23 jewel Serial # start with B then an 8. Checking the serial # in the ball section will normally tell you what type of Ball it is.
April 03, 2012, 22:10
Tom Brown
If you got to page 10 of the John F. Gelson Hamilton Listings you will see it listed as 1928-29

http://library.ihc185.com/catalogs/gelson/Image11.jpg
April 03, 2012, 23:23
Norm Dennis
You folks have been very helpful. Especially with the references to different sources right here on the ihc 185 forum site. I really need to take several hours to get acquainted with all of our offerings.

Thanks again!
April 03, 2012, 23:32
Tom Brown
Norm

We all had to be pointed in the right direction, I still find things here I have previously missed.
April 04, 2012, 09:00
Dr. Debbie Irvine

Quoting Lindell in a post dated March 1, 2008, he states the following:

Ball-Hamilton or Ball-Waltham 16-size Movement???

Ball Watch Company Research Forum


Ball-Hamilton on the left, Ball-Waltham on the right...


April 06, 2012, 11:21
William Thomas
Looking at Lindell's photos will aid in easily learning to differentiate between Waltham and Hamilton 16 size Ball movements. Note top case screw positions-left side Hamilton, on the right for Waltham (as would be seen on a 992 or a Vanguard). Also the Hamilton winding wheels have raised hubs, Waltham has polished concave centers. Experienced watch people can see that the hairspring studs are the same as their regular production movements. BTW the 16s Illinois-Ball will have both case screws on the barrel bridge. For myself I don't need serial numbers to identify any Ball model but ask my customers for them just to speed things up when ordering parts.