| WWT Shows | CLICK TO: Join and Support Internet Horology Club 185™ | IHC185™ Forums |
|
• Check Out Our... • • TWO Book Offer! • |
Welcome Aboard IHC185™ Internet Horology Club 185 IHC185™ Discussion Site Main Page Open to the World RESEARCH FORUMS Ball Watch Company Research Forum Early Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images...
Internet Horology Club 185 IHC185™ Discussion Site Main Page Open to the World RESEARCH FORUMS Ball Watch Company Research Forum Early Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images... Topic ClosedGo | New Topic | Find-Or-Search | Notify | Tools |
| IHC President Life Member  |
Early Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images. Although Webb C. Ball promoted himself as a "Watch Manufacturer" that is a misnomer, he marketed a wide variety of watches, all specifically finished to his specifications by the major watch companies of the day, but none of his watches were actually made at the Cleveland, Ohio facility despite all his many efforts to keep that myth alive. Unlike some other, particularly later Ball Watches, on all 18-size Ball-Hamiltons the Hamilton production numbers are employed. Ball would order a "block", or range of numbers set-aside, sometimes it took several years to use all of the numbers, since there might be various jewel-counts and designations used it is nearly impossible to predict which variants may have been in a given run. (Unless otherwise stated the watches depicted herein are from my collection.) | ||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
The lowest number in a Ball-Hamilton test run consisting of 601-615 is shown below. Number 601 once carried by Webb C. Ball, today it rests in the Don Barrett Collection. From 1894 Ball-Hamilton 601 was produced in a limited run...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
Oddly, these are not marked as to jewel-count but they are 17-Jewel movements. Number 601 was marked as "Ball's Standard Superior Grade"  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
The earliest use we find of "Official Rail-Road Standard" was on movements within 8701-8800 during 1895 production. Its use continued later that year, in a mixed run 13001-14000 along with some Brotherhood movements such as seen here. Railroad Brotherhoods were the organized trade unions founded to help obtain better, safer working conditions, provide insurance and retirement programs. Correctly marked Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen dial...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
From 1895 number 13050 is one of the earliest Ball-Hamilton Brotherhood movements. "Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, Standard" movement...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
As detailed in the "Complete Guide to Watches" the earliest Official Rail-Road Standard movements command a premium among collectors. Notice larger signature "Trade Mark, Official RR Standard, Ball & Co., Cleveland, O." dial markings that are found typically on the early Ball-Hamilton ORRS watches and continuing through upper 170000 serial number range. Another feature of early 18-size ORRS and Brotherhoods was the "wavy-top 3" which is found only on very early dials, this attractive design was gradually phased-out by the late 1890s. Here is number 14927 which is from 1897 production...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
This movement numbered 14927 was produced as part of a run consisting of 14001-15000 records show were produced beginning in 1895 through 1896 and completed during 1897 but interestingly, the next two watches shown, numbers 20577 and 20833 were actually produced earlier although they carry higher numbers. This often occurred in production. Odd as it might seem today, movements were routinely finished out of consecutive order. "Official RR Standard" 17-Jewel "Adjusted" movement...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
Ball was a marketing genius and his "Railroad Watch Company" was a separate brand name. These 17-Jewel Adjusted Railroad Grade movements fronted Double-Sunk dials, something that Webb C. Ball deplored. We see them rarely used on his watches, this is one exception. We will share more of the very rare Ball Double-Sunk dials in upcoming postings to follow. "Ball's Standard, Railroad Watch Co., Cleveland, O." marking...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
This variant is the only "Railroad Watch Co." ever sold as a Railroad Grade movement. Movement number 20577 "Adjusted" 17-Jewel movement dates to 1896 production...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
Here, movement 20843 the lesser Railroad Watch Company version which is 16-Jewels which means no center jewel on the dial side. Note the plainer, straight-line damaskeening and lack of "Standard" or "Adjusted" on the movement. Likewise, the correct dial for this movement will have a "Railroad Watch Co., Cleveland, O." signature without "Ball's Standard" above. This 16-Jewel version is essentially like their later "Commercial Standard" watches and we need to remember Ball never marketed a less than 17-Jewel movement as being RR Grade, in 1896 nothing below 17-Jewels was accepted in Railroad Time service. Unadjusted 16-Jewel below is also from 1896 production...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
(insert brt/b'whl) From 1898 number 28755 featuring rare Double-Sunk ORC Dial...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
28755 Uncommon "Order of Railway Conductors Standard" movement...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
Notice that hour numerals had changed by the 42000-43000 production movement numbers. We find the "wavy-top" number 3 on earlier dials was easy to spot but has been phased-out. By now a "flat-top" is found on the number 3 in addition to other revisions, a more modern "bolder" look would become part of nearly all the Ball patented dials in the years to come. 42690 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Dial, Pierced Hands...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
This one, number 42690 from a run numbered 42001-43000 in 1898-1899 production. 21-Jewel Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers movement...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
1902 We are now into the 20th Century, the 18-size Ball-Hamiltons continue. Just before the turn of the century Ball-Waltham 16-size watches were introduced, many changes were coming. Among the changes, these big 18-size watches would be discontinued in the coming years. This one is 170249 with another unusual Double-Sunk Dial...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
Notice this unusual use of "Adjusted, Single Roller" marking...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
Shortly after beginning the 20th Century "Ball & Co." gave way to "The Ball Watch Co." markings on movements and on most of their dials as designs continually evolved. Scroll to the bottom of this topic and follow the links for additional information. Movement number 170704 is a 21-Jewel Official RR Standard...  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
It is worthwhile to point out this rare 21-Jewel example carries "Ball Watch Co." signature on both the dial and movement representing the next step in evolution of Ball Markings. Additional markings would soon join "Adjusted" as shown here...  | |||
|
| IHC Vice President Pitfalls Moderator IHC Life Member  |
Great images Lin, I look forward to seeing the rest of them. Love to see those pierced hands and the cool flourishes on that Railroad Watch Co. signature. Best Regards, Ed | |||
|
| Railway Historian IHC Life Member Site Moderator  |
Advertisments and watches shown in the next six images are from the Larry Buchan Collection. Here is a Ball advertisement from the December 1895 issue of the Locomotive Engineers Journal it shows many of his watch inspectors, of special-interest to me is F.F. Bonnett from Columbus, Ohio.  | |||
|
| Railway Historian IHC Life Member Site Moderator |
Here is a Ball private-label F.F. Bonnet Columbus, Ohio  | |||
|
| Railway Historian IHC Life Member Site Moderator |
Here is a close up of the markings on the dial.  | |||
|
| Railway Historian IHC Life Member Site Moderator |
Here is a picture of the movement, it is marked: "17 JEWELS MOVEMENT NUMBER 8718 SAPPHIRE PALLETS SAFETY PINION TRADE MARK OFFICIAL R.R. STANDARD ADJUSTED F.F. BONNET COLUMBUS, PATENTED" on the barrel bridge.  | |||
|
| Railway Historian IHC Life Member Site Moderator |
Here is another Ball advertisement from February 1897 showing some more Ball agents for a total of 39 but three were gone that appeared on the first list H.C. Graffe, Matoon Illinois, Harvey Fritz of Oil City Pennsylvania, and Michie Bros. Cincinnati, Ohio.  | |||
|
| Railway Historian IHC Life Member Site Moderator |
Here are some more agents from the October 1897 Locomotive Engineers Journal. This advertisement features another 13 agents for a total of 52 at that point.  | |||
|
| IHC President Life Member |
More 18-size Ball Watches are shown in these topics... Ball-Howard, 1890s Beauty Early Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images Ball-Elgin (all were 18-size) Images Later Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images Enjoy all the information at IHC185™ and consider joining us!  | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Your request is being processed... |
Topic ClosedWelcome Aboard IHC185™ Internet Horology Club 185 IHC185™ Discussion Site Main Page Open to the World RESEARCH FORUMS Ball Watch Company Research Forum Early Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images...
Internet Horology Club 185 IHC185™ Discussion Site Main Page Open to the World RESEARCH FORUMS Ball Watch Company Research Forum Early Ball-Hamilton 18-size Images...©2002-2023 Internet Horology Club 185™ - Lindell V. Riddle President - All Rights Reserved Worldwide
| View $GS_USERNAME's User Profile |
| |
| View Recent Posts by $GS_USERNAME |
| Notify me of New Posts by $GS_USERNAME |