July 23, 2008, 13:56
Bill KappBall Hampden Private Labels
Recently it has come to my attention that Ball Hampden Private labels frequently have no serial numbers under the barrel bridge, I would like to know if anyone has noted this same occurrence on other private labels, particuarly those that fall between the 400-800k serial range. Normally all the plates are numbered, albeit roughly and not as smooth and well aligned as the top plate serial number. It occurs to me that as Hampden private labels occur so randomly and don't seem to be normaly distinct runs that Dueber might have taken watches from existing stock and retrofitted them with barrel bridges to meet these special orders.
Your assistance or information on these would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill Kapp
July 23, 2008, 16:50
Bill KappLindell,
No one is more attunded to the switching game than myself. I constantly find myself in semi acrimonious debates with those who are trying to validate mismatched dials and movements.
In this case with the Hampden barrel bridges, I think something else is going on. There are no serial number markings on the underside. In looking at other Hampdens of the same era, the serial markings are very rough. Uneven and obviously each numeral individualy stamped.
If these plates were simply being used as switchers, it would have been a simple matter to stamp them with the appropriate numerals. No particular skill would be needed as actual original plates are so sloppily marked.
I agree that it could be Ball himself doing the replacement. Looking at that early ad showing the Hampden dial on a Ball Standard and seeing that all the watches actualy have Ball dials tells us that he wanted his name to figure prominently on his products.
Everybody likes to speculate on why Ball and Dueber had their falling out. Perhaps this replacement issue was part of it!
I love this hobby, the history and chalanges are so interesting!
Happy hunting,
BILL
July 26, 2008, 20:23
Bill KappHi again,
I want to thank David Abbe for adding valuable information to this discussion in a pocket watch post.
Hampden Private Label discussionJanuary 26, 2009, 13:42
Bill Kapp Barrel bridge Hi again,
I just recieved a pic of another Superior grade Ball Hampden with no serial number under the barrel bridge. Scroll down at the above link.
This is the 4 th Ball I have seen like this and none so far with a serial number. Looks like this is the way it was done, that Hampden just replaced the bridges on early private label orders and used older existing stock.
Hopefully others will let us know how their watches are marked.
happy hunting
June 10, 2009, 14:22
Bill KappGeorge Jones reports that lot #225 A Ball's Standard Superior Grade has no serial number under the barrel bridge.
This is 5 known examples with no reports yet of any with serial numbers.
It would appear that this is the norm and not an anomaly!
happy hunting,