Family heirloom discovered--info requested

[Kent]

Steve:

A much more accurate date for your watch can be obtained from the tables on pages 35-37 of "American Railroad Watches," George E. Townsend, Col. G.E. Townsend, Alma, MI, 1977 (still in print, see Heart of America Press (http://www.hoapress.com)). It shows that Waltham-Ball watches B218601-B225000 were made in 1904.

Ball watches were always considered to be a cut above most others and were priced accordingly. The price of your watch, complete in a case, is shown in the 1905 catalog sheets linked to below.

More about Webb C. Ball can be seen at The Ohio Biographies Project (http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~usbios/Ohio/bios/cuyahoga/ballw.txt). However, this story fails to recognize that there was railroad time service and watch inspection since the late 1840’s and early 1850’s. It also neglects to mention that Ball was performing watch inspections services on a number of railroads prior to the Kipton, OH wreck.

Ed Ueberall has written up some notes on the USE AND CARE OF YOUR VINTAGE WATCH (http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/carefeed.txt).


Kent

[Dr. Jon]

Hi while typical railroad watches carried 21 jewels there were tales that some 19 jewel Rrwatches actually had the best rates.

There is more than jewel count and gold jewel setting and gears area sign of very a fine item.

Wrist watches are nice but how often can you open one to see such a fine movement?

[Kent]

That's Right!

The Elgin grade 240 B.W. Raymond, an 18-size, 19-jewel, Veritas model watch, was reputed to be one of the best watches ever built.

See: <span class="ev_code_brown">www.elginwatches.org/scans/elgin_ads/1906/m_03_BWRaymond_240.html</span>
(you should copy this address and paste it in your browser address bar - <span class="ev_code_blue">if this doesn't work the first time, try opening a new window for your browser, one without a previous visit to the NAWCC website</span>)

Kent