Just spent the entire morning with a member of the Ball Family and bought a little bauble that has my hands shaking..

Webb C. Ball II's personal watch given to hm by by (this is sketchy family history here) either Hamilton Watch Company or by (or because of) their associataion with the "SAFTEY First".

Note the colors of the bezel on this mint condition Piping Rock. It has the Railroads SAFTEY FIRST colors scheme, a scheme also used by the Railroads!

Note the Initials WCBII on the back. This is the grandson of Webb C. Ball.

I enjoy publishing this type of thing on Lindells site first BTW, so this is the first public showing of this watch ANYWHERE.

Jeff Hess

the back

!!WOW!! Jeff what a fantasic piece Gald you now own jsuch a great piece of history..

Wow, your title lured me into the wristwatch forum for the first time. Glad it did, that's a neat item (for a wrist watch )

I WANT IT!!! What a cool watch!

Tell us more about the colors on the bezel and what they mean.

Was the Ball grandson in the business... what happened to him?

The first idications were that it was from the SAFTEY FIRST railroad group. (They were associated with Ball and promoted good watches and good timekeeping.

It MAY have been a gift from Hamilton. It CERTIALY is a "one of" of some kind.

The lineage is as follows "Webb c. Ball" founder His son Sidney Ball took over and then turned the reigns over to Webb C. Ball the Second (The original owner of this watch). I bought the watch from WEBB C. BALLS II 's son.

The colors have some kind of meaning and I am sure it MUST be either RAILROAD colors or SAFTEY FIRST.

JEff

What's weird, Jeff, is that Webb Ball II's initials look remarkably like the *&&%-grin icon ( )--

but of course you must be in watch-collectors heaven (or seventh heaven, since you'd entered Paradiso a while back, it seems).


We're definitely going to need a "green with envy" icon--if you keep this up.

Jessica

Jessica,

The "two edged sword" of this find is razor sharp.

I am in seventh heaven going through the ephemera (Kent Singer spent a few days with me helping) and jsut reveling in the watches of course.

But as I dutifully share the info and the watches with my friends, there is some DEFINITE animosity (bordering on anger) from even some of my closest friends. They will get over it I guess Jeff

hmmmmm

I was just told that this is probably simply the colors of the Ohio state buckeyes, Orange and BLACK"

I am going to check with the family to see if this could be the case.. if WEBBII went there or was a big fan.. (I guess it would still make this a very rare watch but I wish it wer somehow railroad related..)

Jeff, feeling dumb if that is the case..

Ohio State colors are scarlet and gray. I know, I went to school there. Regards! Mark

I have this funny feeling that this Watch...THIS WATCH....will not come to market.

It is amazing. Clearly a one of a kind.

Magnificent!

I'm late to the party but I have to add my own WOW!!! I'm speechless, that's one fantastic find. And who better than you to be the proud owner?Congratulations, Jeff! That's a very exciting piece.

I have NEVER not once, worn one of the watch from the WEBB C. BAll collection.

But this one... I am wearing.. every single day.

And MR. Hansen is right. We were offered already (unsolicited) a totally rediculous number.

I gave it serious thought and the wife said "you could not live with yourself if we sold it"

And she is right. We nowhave 16 of WEBB C BALL's persaonl watches (two with his name enngraved) one of his son Sidneys (with his name engraved) and now Sidney son WEBB C BALL II.

I am truly truly truly not worthy. I am wearing this watch tonight in Fredericktown Ohio, Webb's home town, as we are doing some research this weekend on his first repair shop nearby.

Jeff Hess, in reverent mode

Wow Jeff. I'm speechless as well.

Sometimes it can be tough--even if it is great--

I'm sure your friends will forgive you, though, for being so lucky, perservering and deserving. I've had to forgive one or two friends for that--not so hard--really--

although I definitely hope they never suspected my fit of fleeting bad feeling.

Jessica

Jeff:
Congratulations! What a GREAT find!
Sincerely,
Joel Sarich

quote:

We nowhave 16 of WEBB C BALL's persaonl watches (two with his name enngraved) one of his son Sidneys (with his name engraved) and now Sidney son WEBB C BALL II.

Now THAT is a focussed collection! I love that sort of thing. That takes a lot of dedication and effort and is definitely worthy of admiration!

I am in Ohio today whre i found WEBB C BALL Sr childhood home.. pics later

Very nice piece. What grade movement does it have in it?

Thanks again Jeff!

Not everyone is angry with you though, crazy as it sounds some of us actually appreciate your showing these great watches here.



Fred