18 Size 19 Jewel Ball Hamilton 999G Pocket Watch c1906

This is an official American Railroad pocket watch made by the Ball Watch company using an Elgin movement. The Ball watch company did not manufacture their own movements. The company was set up by Webb C Ball of Cleveland, Ohio who was the general time inspector. After the fatal collision of two trains in 1891, due to a faulty timepiece, Ball was commissioned with drawing up a state wide timepiece inspection system. As all companies up until then used their own guidelines, Ball presented his guidelines and most American companies set out to meet these recommendations. The Ball watch company used the movements by these companies to create a line of watches which bore the official Rail Road official standard.

This is a scarce variation of a Ball watch as only 4400 of these were made

Movement – this high grade full plate nickel movement has a lever escapement with a micrometer regulator and a gold capped escape wheel. The movement also has gold train wheels, raised gold jewel settings and is decorated with circular damascening. The movement is signed “Official RR Standard, Trade Mark, The Ball Watch Co, Cleveland, 19 Jewels, 999, Double Roller, Adjusted, 5 positions, Sapphire Pallets, Patented Jun 30.96, Pat Aug 18.96” #503219. The movement is in 85% mint condition – the movement has several scratches

Case - the movement comes in a gold plated open face case, pocket watch case which has a screw off back and front. The case has light engine turning on the back and a smooth plain finish on the rest of the case. The case is in 90% mint condition – small traces of metal coming through on the stem and sides with a loss of definition to the engine turning and light marks on the back and small nicks on the sides but despite this, still a good case

Dial – the white enamel dial has a full set of blue steel hands and is signed “Trade Mark, Official RR Standard, Ball Watch Co Cleveland”. The dial is in 99% mint condition – a small scratch in the centre and a little nibble to the edge of the dial on the lever

The watch has a bevelled mineral glass

The watch is stem wound / lever set. 

The watch measures 54mm x 17mm deep