Interesting Ball 435C

[CentreKeystone]

Today I received in the mail a Ball 435C pocket watch with some interesting details. The watch serial #4117 is below that of published estimated serial numbers for the 435C. The Star Case appears to be original but clearly was modified to fit. There are two cutouts on the front for the lever set and a cutout on the case for a non existent adjustment screw. It would appear that the case was intended for an Elgin 571 and modified to fit the Ball.

 

[musicguy]

Very nice find.

I would think a Ball(made by the Swiss Record Watch Co) in the mid 50's?
would come in a factory case. A very interesting watch.

According to jeff Hess they have a long history with swiss movements

The Ball Company has been putting other peoples movements in their watches for about 100 years. Even Swiss movements were used by Webb C. Ball about 100 years ago.

Rob

 

[Bila]

Most of the 435B & 435C's we have seen have been in "Ball Model" marked "Stirrup Bow" cases, the "Commercial Standard" models which were we think aimed at Business people, Bus Drivers and the like were regularly cased in Star Watch Case Co cases as you have there. Although the one you have definitely appears to have had another resident some time in the past, as you have alluded too

 

[rrwatch]

In the database that Kent and I maintain we have the 21 jewel Ball Record movements in the following ranges:

Grade.........Lowest S/N..Highest S/N....No. of Examples
435...............0043..............0483...................14
435 B............0553..............4113...................82
435 C............4126..............7597.................102

CentreKeystone's 435 C with S/N 4117 appears to be right at the beginning of the 435 C's run. We will add his example to the database.

 

[Kent]

Today I received in the mail a Ball 435C pocket watch with some interesting details. The watch serial #4117 is below that of published estimated serial numbers for the 435C. ...

I've edited the Ball Watch Co. Encyclopedia article to show the 435B/C changeover point as 4115/4116. Thanks for your clear pictures and for bringing it to our attention.

... The Star Case appears to be original but clearly was modified to fit. There are two cutouts on the front for the lever set and a cutout on the case for a non existent adjustment screw. It would appear that the case was intended for an Elgin 571 and modified to fit the Ball. ...

This is a typical replacement case of the 1950s+. They were made with the two lever slots and the notch in the rim to facilitate casing a variety of movements. Waltham 16-size wind indicators and Waltham late 16-size movements had their setting levers in the 56-minute position.

When Ball supplied 435-series watches in cases that looked similar to this one, they only had a single lever slot.