18 Size 21 Jewel Ball Hamilton 999 Pocket Watch c1907

This is an official American Railroad pocket watch made by the Ball Watch company using a Hamilton 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.

Movement – this high grade full plate nickel movement has a lever escapement with a micrometer regulator and raised gold jewel settings. The movement is decorated with wavy damascening. The movement is signed “Official RR Standard, Trade Mark, The Ball Watch Co, Cleveland, 21 Jewels, 999, Double Roller, Adjusted, Sapphire Pallets, Patented Jun 30.96, Pat Aug 18.96” #507556. 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 is signed “Ball Model.” The case is decorated with a finely engraved locomotive scene on the back and a smooth plain finish on the rest of the case. The case is in 90% mint condition – some small nicks and scratches on the side

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” and also on the very edge of the bottom dial “Ball’s Standard dial, Patent applied for”. The dial is in 80% mint condition – a small filled patch next to the 12 and crazed hairline on the 7 and 8.

The watch has a bevelled mineral glass

The watch is stem wound / lever set. 

The watch measures 55mm x 18mm deep