Lindell,

Looking at your early 18 sz images for one of these in the serial range of 20501-20800, I can't quite see if your watch's balance bridge has the same damasceening as the other plates. I have seen a few other examples elsewhere but all the pics almost look like the balance bridge is plain. Is that true?

I am going to have an opportunity to get one of these next week and I am doing my research now so as to be sure what I am seeing.

thanks and,

happy hunting

Thanks,

Unfortunately, I have no skill with tools and wouldn't dare pull the bridge! Your info should suffice, but if the seller will pull it, I will check.

Thanks for the speedy reply.

Lindell, Charlie et al!!

The hunt went fabulously! I am the kind of collector who gets nervous buying through the mail and prefer to see the watch or watches in person and pay for them on the spot. It was a 200 mile drive to Pasadena, CA but well worth it! Charlie put me in touch with Richard Bates (951) 454 2677. The man has over 3000 watches!! It was like going to a private watch show! I bought a 999E and a 999F!

The Dial on the 99E (Ball's Standard Railroad Watch Co. is absolutely gorgeous. My camera can't do it justice as it isn't good enough to focus perfectly but you should get the idea from the attatched picture. I will attach other pics in sequence.

and now the movement, some light scratches but really in nice shape! My data base only shows 21 surviving from this run 0f 300 watches. One of them is a frankenwatch with mismatched plates. There may have been a few more of these made in the 90xxx range but I haven't gotten any reports of them.

This one gave me a little lighting problem and I don't know how to use photo shop type software.

And now the absolutely gorgeous dial on the 999F!!

Now I have two! There is a problem with the movement though.

Now for the movement on this 999F a Railroad Watch Company, Cleveland Watch. This run of 200 has 17 survivors known to me. There are at least two more 999F's reported in the 90xxx range but there movemnts are marked differently and are 17 jewels as opposed to the 16 jewels found from 20801-21000. Note someone has engraved 17 jewels on this watch's barrel.

Darn shame, but kind of amusing. Except for a broken screw that adjusts the balance fast/slow whip, the rest of the movement looks nice.

Sure it hurts it, but when they are as rare as this, sometimes you have to take it or leave it. Kinda wonder why it was done, it isn't professional enough to fool anyone.


happy hunting

Nice watches Bill, too bad about the engraving on the 999F.

Larry

glad to help bill, know you you have been looking a long time, best,

charlie