Ball watch with factory defect?

Internet Horology Club 185

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February 17, 2012, 18:06

Bill Pagel

Ball watch with factory defect?

Hi I'm a new member and I'm looking for info on my Ball R.R. Standard 17j 16s watch. It looks like someone stamped the "B" over the first number of the serial number as seen [on right below] in photo.

February 17, 2012, 18:35

Lindell V. Riddle

Welcome Bill,

You have a very interesting Ball-Waltham number B204026 from 1904 production. This movement was struck with regular Waltham production number 204026 and then the "B" prefix would have been struck separately, clearly the workman was "off" a bit when he applied the B-prefix.

Factory errors like this one always bring a smile to my face and remind me of my years in the automobile business. A couple times we were delivered a new Plymouth with a Dodge emblem on one side. I expect these errors were bleary-eyed Monday morning events.

Thanks for sharing your remarkable watch.

Lindell

February 17, 2012, 18:47

Bill Pagel

Thank You for the info. Bill

February 17, 2012, 23:56

Ray Hallenbeck

Very interesting Bill,
Has anyone else had a watch marked like this? It would have me thinking that with the limited number of "ball" watches and the rarity of one leaving the factory, this could be one of a kind?

That's a funny story Lindell, sounds like more than one person had the Monday morning bleary eyes to have missed that one

February 18, 2012, 13:48

Werner Rosier

How about this for a Monday morning job?

The rest to be seen here
IWC Jones Cal. H. Burns