Information of Ball Brotherhood safety tag

[watchnut007]

Hi Folks
Here is an item that I think will get the Sherlock Holmes in you going.I came across this safety tag for the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainsman.It was issued to the employee in case of an accident or other mishap.
Since the tag has a id number it should be registered with the Brotherhood to the specific person and railroad he worked on.
Can anyone find out this information?

 

[Larry Treiman]

On what grounds do you link this item to Ball?

 

[watchnut007]

From the information on the back of the tag,that if found it should be sent to Cleveland Ohio.I think that Ball had its HQ in Cleveland.
I know of no other railroad having an organization other than Ball that would have a BRT.
If I am wrong please correct.:confused

 

[terry hall]

The Brotherhoods to the best of my knowledge were not 'related' to the Ball enterprise...

They may just have shared cities for HQ....

Ball did market watches to the various Brotherhoods... for obvious reasons... profit

It 'may' be possible to trace the number by contacting the remnants of the Brotherhood... but I think a long shot... good luck...

It is a nice Brotherhood related item though.

 

[Larry Treiman]

The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen moved their HQ from Peoria, Ill., to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1899, and in 1921 built a landmark office building at 820 Superior Ave. In 1969 they, along with other transportation unions, joined forces to form the United Transportation Union, which is also headquartered in Cleveland.

As Terry pointed out, Ball marketed watches to RR employees who belonged to the various brotherhoods (unions), obviously for profit, but otherwise I can't see any connection between your item and Ball.


Larry Treiman

 

[Kent]

The UTU (United Transportation Union) still exists and can be contacted at http://www.utu.org/. A large amount of the records of the brotherhoods who formed the UTU were donated to the School of Industrial Labor Relations, Cornell University, Ithica, NY. That's where Ed and I were able to copy large numbers of ads from the brotherhood journals and other information from the files (Martin P. Catherwood Library).

 

[Kent]

From the information on the back of the tag,that if found it should be sent to Cleveland Ohio.I think that Ball had its HQ in Cleveland.
I know of no other railroad having an organization other than Ball that would have a BRT.
If I am wrong please correct.:confused

If you're collecting watches, especially railroad standard watches, you really ought to do a little research on the railroad brotherhoods, here's a good start. To think that Ball "... would have a BRT." shows that you might benefit from some reading about railroad time service and the Ball Watch Co.

 

[Jeff Hess]

They still exist all right. (a related story)

Before making the the BofRT watch 5 years ago in honor of them and their relationship with Ball, I contacted them to get their blessing. (they share offices (and own the names of) the B of LE etc)

The guy said "sure. that would be good. But one question before I give you permission. Are there union workers making them watches?"

i explained that most watches are now made in Switzerland and that they had no unions there.

he said "ok. Can you send me one?"

Sure, I said.

Jeff

it is a cool building at the end of the street. If you are in Cleveland visit it...

 

[Bryan Eyring]

Cool article that ran in the paper here - another neat RR-related item to check out if one is ever in Cleveland!

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/09/brotherhood_of_locomotive_engi.html


Regards,
Bryan