18 Size 21 Jewel Ball Elgin 333 Pocket Watch c1905

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 1500 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, Ball Watch Co, Cleveland, 21 Jewels, 333, Double Roller, Adjusted, Sapphire Pallets, Patented Nov 17.96, Pat Aug 18.96” #11858423. The movement is in 90% mint condition – fine 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 beaded edges, floral engraving on the back and a smooth plain finish on the rest of the case. The case is in 80% mint condition – metal coming through on the stem and sides with a loss of definition to the engraving and a small dent on the edge. Plus the winder has lost its gilt covering – this makes the watch hard to wind which is reflected in the price for this scarce watch

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”. Curiously on the bottom edge of the dial, the dial is also signed “Ball’s Standard Dial, Pat appld for”. The dial is in 98% mint condition – a very faint hairline on the centre to the side of the signature

The watch has a bevelled mineral glass

The watch is stem wound / lever set. The winder on this watch is worn and this makes the watch hard to wind which is reflected in the price for this scarce watch

The watch measures 49mm x 13mm deep