What is a RR watch. You are looking at 4 WELL USED Elgin RR watches. From Left to right, 23 Jewel Veritas Grade 453, 21 Jewel Father Time Grade 454, 19 Jewel B.W. Raymond, and 17 Jewel G.M. Wheeler.

The Veritas has a 17 Jewel movement with 2 extra pairs of Jewel Caps covering the Pallet and escape wheel jewels, PLUS a Jeweled motor Barrel!

The Father Time has a 17 Jewel movement with 2
extre pairs of Jewel caps covering the Pallet and escape jewels!

The B.W.Raymond has a 17 Jewel movement with 1 extra pair of Jewel caps covering the Pallet Fork Jewels, AND a real honest to goodness Elgin AND Boy Scout Approved B. W. Raymond RR Case!

The G.M.Wheeler has a 17 Jewel movement with made for canadian RR use 24 hour montgomery dial, and pendant setting. (Try adjusting a lever set at 50 deg below zero with your mittens on while hugging the locomotive boiler to keep from freezing stiff!)

All of these are RR adjusted watches, so WHAT do they have in common that REALLY makes them acceptable RR grade watches?!

A 17 Jewel movement AND INTERCHANGHEABLE PARTS! (Note; Mr. Ball's reference to 19 jewels is when 17 Jewel movements had jeweled motor barrels.)

Nuff said, a Ball approved RR watch that I carry all the time because it is accurate and has good "joss".

Wonderful stuff, Dave.

David, a good reminder for all on frugality.

I understand the metaphor, David, regarding 17j vs higher jeweled railroad movements....but your final post kind of confused me for a few minutes. You say you carry a 'Ball approved watch', when I see pictured a 17j Bunn.

Like I said, it took a few minutes for your point to sink in.

We ALL know Webb C. Ball would NEVER approve a watch unless it had HIS name on the movement!

Regards! Mark

Mark, You are right, you have humbled me into taking my Ball-Waltham out for cleaning and possible carry. As for my metaphor, actually the watch I like to carry is a Chris Bauer, Mounds Illinois, Ball-Certified RR inspector's "Loaner" watch. As Ball certified, he was allowed to use "Ball Model" cases for his loaners and we see in some cases sales (pun intended). So look carefully at the picture again and you will see the "Ball Model" marked on the inside back cover.
The other side of the case is this;

Oh, I clearly saw the Ball marking on the case...it was the 'Bunn' marking on your movement that threw me for a few minutes.

Regard! Mark