Does anyone have Ball Watch Co sales records

I see posts where a couple of you chime in to say a particular watch was sold to a particular jeweler from time to time... Do any records along these lines exist for Ball?

I'm trying to figure out why Ball Watch Co would have ordered this little Chelsea clock I have and what application it might have had.

https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/f...6029761/m/7773962487

Can't answer to the sales records, but keep in mind that Ball was a jewelry store first and foremost. Not just railroad watches. I'd say they sold anything and everything that the buying public wanted at the time for a price, regardless of what it was.

Regards! Mark

I have never heard of Ball having sales records that have survived. Hamilton kept records of watches shipped to Ball and Ball was a Hamilton VP and exclusive western distributer of Hamilton watches for a short period in 1894-5. The Ball private Label or Jeweler watches are recorded as having been shipped to Ball and it is assumed that Ball then provided them and other Hamilton Ball produced watches to his various jewelers/inspectors whose name appeared on the dials and movements .

Hope that helps


happy hunting

Mark/Bill,

That helps me a lot. I have this mental association with Ball being an RR guy. To know he was a jewelry store company takes a bit of the wind out of my sails, but also helps me understand what I have.

I have studied a lot of period Chelsea ads and now see that these clocks were retailed from jewelry stores and of all things, yachting clubs.

I'd say that based on the mounting flange, it was more likely intended to be bulkhead mounted in a yacht than dash mounted in an auto.

Thank you for helping me put this to sleep.