Identification help please - Canadian Railroad Ball watch

[Andrew McPhee]

I would like help to pin down the maker of the movement and year manufactured of this watch. It belonged to my g-grandfather who worked for C.N.R. in the 1920's.

I've spent the last day (literally) searching the web for info but I can't seem to pin it down. It doesn't seem to be a Waltham or Elgin movement (but as a noob what would I really know..?).

The serial number is 585823 with 17j.

A couple of things seem odd to me - the winding stem seems longer than many I've seen, and the red 24-hour numerals are uncommon..?

Here are larger images 1000px wide if anyone needs a closer look:
Click Here | Click Here

 

[Kent]

Hi Andrew:

Welcome to the NAWCC Pocket Watch Message Board!

Your great-grandfathe's watch, Ball 18-size, serial number 585823, was built for Ball by the Hamilton Watch Co. in about 1908. The Ball Watch Co. had movements made to Ball's specifications by various watch manufacturers, but Ball advertising and catalogs did not identify who the original manufacturer was, as can be seen in this [colour=red]1910 Ad[/colour]. All Ball Official RR Standard (ORRS) watches built in, and sold in, the U.S. after 1905 (and a number of them built prior to that date) were furnished in signed, [colour=red]Ball Model Cases[/colour] up until the mid-1950’s. For an unknown period of time, [colour=red]Ball ORRS Watches Sold Canada[/colour] could be had in either Canadian-made cases, or as movements only, to be fitted to be fitted into the customer's choice of case at the time of retail sale.

The case seems to be appropriate for the time that the watch was built. The inner ring of 13-24 hour figures is frequently seen on watches used in Canadian railway time service, although red is less common than black.

Ed Ueberall, of [colour=red]The Escapement[/colour] has put together some notes on the [colour=red]Use And Care of Your Vintage Watch[/colour] that may be helpful.

[colour=blue]Service Frequency[/colour]
If the watch is run continually, a cleaning and oiling is needed every 3-5 years. If you're only going to wear your watch occasionally, this ought to be done once at the onset and about every ten years thereafter. If you're not going to carry it (or run it), don't bother getting it serviced. Many of the watches in my collection (that aren't run) haven't been cleaned and oiled in 20 or 30 years or more.

You have a nice family heirloom,

 

[Andrew McPhee]

Thank you for an excellent reply Kent, the info is much appreciated.

It's funny, but just after I posted this question I found a web page that listed Hamilton serial numbers and dates. But to have it confirmed by you gives me a lot more confidence.

The watch has been unused since 1941. We always thought it was broken because we could never adjust the hands (but I found out today about the lever behind the face). So I adjusted the time and wound it up last night, it's been ticking away beautifully all day.

I've decided to start using it. Keeping it stashed in a drawer seems like such a waste. Sure, it's valuable and is an irreplaceable heirloom but it was made to be used and appreciated, and since next year it will be a centenarian that will be a nice anniversary for it to 'come out'!

But before I start using it I'll get it serviced (and thanks for the use and care link).

 

[StanJS]

Andrew,

Welcome aboard.

As Kent notes, get that sucker cleaned and oiled before running it. I just got my Hamilton 990 circa 1907 up and running. Yeah, a 100 years is a nice anniversary to put a watch back in service.

Cheers,
Stan