16 Size 21 Jewel Ball Hamilton Official Rr Standard Pocketwatch Sn650478

  

The American Railroad Pocket Watch. The Railroad had a tremendous impact on American lives in the nineteenth century.

Much of the progress during that era was largely attributed to the trains which carried food, goods and people to one city or another. "Truly the train station held memories for most everyone and had a link with every family" (Cooksey Shugart). On April 19 1891 an event occurred that exposed the need for railroad personnel to acquire more reliable timepieces.

On the same track an accommodation train was going west from Elyria, Ohio. The Engineer thought his train was leaving on time but did not know that his watch had stopped for four minutes and then started again. (Some say that the engineer meant to wind his watch and inadvertently set his watch back four minutes). The conductor apparently did not check his watch. The two trains met their destiny at Kipton near Cleveland Ohio. At least eleven people were killed including both engineers. The United States Post Office as well as both railroad companies suffered great losses in property. It was because of this disaster that a commission was appointed to develop standards for railroad timepieces that would be adopted by every railroad. The industry needed precision timepieces.

The United States Government appointed Webb C. Ball of Cleveland Ohio to head up a commission to develop standards to be adopted by ALL RAILROADS. From that disaster was born a watch that was more accurate than many scientific instruments in the laboratory. It was unrivaled in quality and reliability anywhere in the world. THIS IS THE TRIPLE SIGNED, BALL HAMILTON MODEL OFFICIAL RAILROAD STANDARD POCKETWATCH.

IT IS A 16 SIZE 21 JEWEL MOVEMENT SET ON A 3/4 CIRCULAR DAMASKEENED NICKEL PLATE WITH RUBY JEWELS IN SCREW DOWN GOLD JEWEL SETTINGS. IT IS A DOUBLE ROLLER ADJUSTED TO HEAT, COLD, ISOCHRONISM AND FIVE (5) POSITIONS.

IT IS SIGNED BALL WATCH COMPANY CLEVELAND OHIO. THIS MOVEMENT IS HOUSED IN AN OPEN FACED, 10 KARAT GOLD FILLED, SCREW BACK AND BEZEL, KEYSTONE WATCH COMPANY, J.

IT IS SIGNED "BALL OFFICIAL RR STANDARD". THE SINGLE SUNK PORCELAIN DIAL HAS BEAUTIFUL BLUED SPADEHOUR, MINUTE AND SECOND HANDS AND IS MARKED WITH BIG, BOLD, BLACK ARABIC TWELVE HOUR CHAPTERS AND BLACK FIVE MINUTE MARKERS.

THE SUB DIAL IS MARKED WITH SIXTY SECOND NUMBERS AT TEN SECOND INTERVALS AND A SECOND HAND. IT IS SIGNED "BALL OFFICIAL RR STANDARD CLEVELAND". THIS ITEM IS SUPERB AND IS BETTER THAN "EXTRA FINE" CONDITION. IT WINDS FROM THE PENDANT AND IS LEVER SET AND RUNS CONTINUOUSLY WHILE KEEPING GREAT RAILROAD TIME. I believe all Americans should not only be aware of the great contribution the railroad industry has made to this country but, maybe, should strive to own a small piece of it's history.

And, man, these watches are it. IF YOU SNOOZE YOU LOSE! The item "16 SIZE 21 JEWEL BALL HAMILTON OFFICIAL RR STANDARD POCKETWATCH SN650478" is in sale since Thursday, October 10, 2019. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Pocket Watches\Antique". The seller is "antiquetimetreasures" and is located in North Port, Florida. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Number of Jewels: 21 Jewels
• Model: BALL- HAMILTON
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Style: Railroad Grade
• Pocket Watch Size: 16
• Material: Gold Plated
• Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding)
• Features: Arabic Numerals
• Closure: Open Face
• Brand: Hamilton
• Serial Number: B650478