Ball Waltham 16 Size 17 Jewel, Serial No. B- 237976, Manufactured 1912. Interesting Single Sunk roman numeral dial with 24 hour inner track. Ball Model, Keystone, Watch case, Guaranteed, Silveroid, Genuine. On caseback "W.G. Watson, No (North) Battleford, Sask (Saskatchewan) 130. I find it interesting that North Battleford with the population of 5000, that Mr. Watson had 130 loner cases. This is got to be the highest number for a loner case I have seen in my years of collecting pocket watches. North Battleford, Saskatchewan, is located on the north bank of the North Saskatchewan River at its junction with the Battle River. In 1905 the main line of the Canadian Northern Railway worked its way across much Saskatchewan, on its way to Edmonton. It had been anticipated that the line would be surveyed through the existing town of Battleford, but the railway crossed the River 3 miles northwest of the former territorial capital. Incorporated as a city in 1913, population 13,888.

Dial with Bezel off.

Canada was still accepting 17j watches with roman numeral dials in 1912? Interesting!

Regards! Mark

Inside Case Back

Outside Ball Loaner case

Movement

Movement Close up

Some more information on my Ball Loaner pocket watch

Here is my Ball Watch Co. Waltham 16 size, 17 jewel, Serial No. B 237926 Manufactured circa 1910, movement Ball marked "Official R.R. Standard" Gold Seal, 24 hour Roman Numeral Dial. Housed in Silverode Loner case Marked G. W. Watson No.130. It makes me wonder why a Railway Watch Inspector would have 130 Loner watch cases in a community of 5000 people.

The community became a village in 1906, a town in 1907, and a city in 1913 with a population of 5000.

North Battleford is a city West Central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the seventh largest city in the province and is directly across the North Saskatchewan River from the town of Battleford. Together, the two communities are elements "The Battleford's" North Battleford borders the World Municipality of North Battleford No. 437, as well that this the North Battleford Crown Colony (census subdivision)

The Battlefords are served by the Yellowhead Highway and Highway 4, Highway 26, Highway 29, and Highway 40.

Battlefords Provincial Park is 45 miles North on Highway 4.

History for thousands of years prior to European settlement, succeeding cultures indigenous peoples lived in the area. The Battlefords area (included the present city of North Battleford and town of Battleford) was home to several historic indigenous groups, including the Algonquin speaking Cree and Blackfeet as well as Siouan Assiniboine First Nation band governments, who contested the control of local resources.

Early European settlement began as a result of fur trading by French colonists in the late 18th century. The Canadians founded Fort Montague d'Aigle (Eagle Hills Fort) 9 miles below the confluence of the Saskatchewan and Battle Rivers in 1778. A year later the fort was abandoned following conflict between traders and natives.

Permanent European settlement in the area centered around the town of Battleford, founded 1875 and located on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. Battleford served as capital of the North-West Territories between 1876 and 1883.

In 1905 the construction of the Canadian Northern Railway mainline to Edmonton placed the line on the north side of the North Saskatchewan River. North Battleford, built along the railway line, was incorporated as a village in 1906, as a town in 1907, and as a city (with a population of 5,000) in 1913.

The Assyrians were one of the first settlers of the area in and around North Battleford. The immigrant colony comprised of 36, and a few woman from the town of Urmia in northwestern Persia. It was established in 1903 by Dr. Isaac Adams, an Assyrian Presbyterian missionary. In 1907, 40 more settlers arrived. Eventually, due to economic hardships, Dr. Isaac Adams and a few close relatives emigrated to Turlock, California. The descendents of the families who remained in North Battleford have names that are Assyrian in origin. Examples of Assyrian family names include Bakus, Essau, and Odishaw.

Population growth stagnated until the 1940s and then grew to approximately 10,000 by the 1960s. The city has grown into an administrative center and service of for the economic, education, health and social needs of the region.

Historic sites include a number of heritage buildings are located within the city. The North Battleford Public Library was built in 1916 with a $15,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation of New York, and the Canadian National Railway's Station, was built in 1956.

An article in McLean's (A Canadian newsmagazine) listed North Battleford, Saskatchewan as Canada's most dangerous place for overall crime. The prior year McLeans published an article about this, Canada's most dangerous place North Battlefo