Time Ball Special

[Kent]

finauktion:

The Time Ball Special I have, see below, doesn't even have a cut, bimetallic balance, which for its day, indicates that the balance isn't temperature compensated. Based on that, I'd say that it rates pretty low in quality.

http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/tbs_m_sm.jpg (http://www.knology.net/~ksinger/tbs_m.jpg)
Click to Enlarge

Kent :smile:

[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 05-25-2002).]

[Lindell V. Riddle]

Kent,

Were these crude "rip-offs" actually attempting to capitalize on the extraordinary reputation of "Ball Watch Company Official RR Standard" watches?

You mention... "for it's day"... what time-frame are we talking about here?

Lindell

[Kent]

Lindell:

You asked " ... what time-frame are we talking about here?"

Judging by the general appearance and the overall popularity of 18-size witches, I'd say 1895 - 1905, perhaps a bit later. During that era, medium grade watches, and even the top end of low grade watches, had temperature compensated balances.

"Were these crude "rip-offs" actually attempting to capitalize on the extraordinary reputation of "Ball Watch Company Official RR Standard" watches?

I think that Wayne is right about the linking the 'Time Ball Special' name to the accuracy of a time ball dropping. These watches (Swiss Fakes), in general, were meant to be rip-offs from the get-go. There is a reproduction from a Chicago distributor's catalog on page 13 of "Foreign & American Pocket Watch Identification and Price Guide - Book 3, Roy Ehrhardt, Heart of America Press, Kansas City, MO, 1976 (A new edition is still in print, see Heart of America Press (http://www.hoapress.com)). The page is headed "18s Imitation Gold Filled Complete Watches" One on the page is described "No. 623 Rock Island Exp. imitation 23-jewel American make, highly polished damaskeened nickel gilt plates, jeweled in setting, patent regulator, fancy dial and hands, stamped 17, 21 or 23 jewels, adjusted. Fitted in any of the above cases. $2.70"

Another watch, similar to the 'Time Ball Special' is described "No. 627. Empire Special, imitation 21 jewel American movement, highly polished damaskeened plates, sunk balance, 4 pair jewels in setting, patent bridge regulator, stamped 17 or 21 jewels and adjusted, white double sunk dial. Fitted in any of above cases .... $2.55"

Wayne:

This is a Swiss Fake. Just because there are jewels in the plate, it doesn't mean that there are wheels below the jewels. In this instance, there are two top plates. The lower one is brass (see below the regulator in the picture in the above post) and contains the train. The upper top plate serves as the barrel bridge and to hold the mostly useless jewels. From what I can see, it appears to be a side-lever style movement. However, I'm not sure and I could be wrong.

The interesting thing is that the watch keeps pretty good time. If I remember correctly from the last time I wound it, it was well within a minute a day.

Kent :smile:

[Lindell V. Riddle]

Kent and Wayne,

Thanks to you both as your answers are always so very informative! "The Time Ball Special seemed to me a play on words to sound like "Ball Time Special" which is getting pretty close.


Lindell