Hamilton Time Ball Special For Rr Service 17j 18s Extremely Rare Pocket Watch

  
18 size 17 jewel open face lever-set "Time Ball Special For Railroad Service" pocket watch with detailed time ball image to its movement. An extremely rare watch, in my opinion this piece also ranks among the absolute coolest private label marked watches that Hamilton (or anyone) ever made. The significance of the movement marking and image is that Gerhard Beninghausen, a Seattle, Washington jeweler and railroad watch inspector, operated Seattle's only streetside time ball. Beninghausen's Time Ball was located in front of his business in Seattle's Pioneer Square at 713-715 First Avenue and consisted of a post with a large metallic ball which dropped at a specific time each day by which passerby could set their watches to the correct time. This example is fronted by its correct double-sunk enamel G.

Signed dial as well as a set of time-zone hour hands, and watch is housed in a 20 year gold-filled Philadelphia Watch Case Co. Case which appears likely its original and which features a beautiful locomotive scene to its rear. Movement serial number is 290404. Running and a beautiful movement with excellent color and luster. Regulator spring has lost nearly all of its gilt finish.

Dial is beautiful with only a few very negligible flaws - tiny flaking around the seconds-register hole, two minuscule nicks to bottom-right perimeter of the seconds-register, a very small fracture tight along the edge under the case bezel near the 2 O'clock area, and a subtle faint line of hand rub from the minute hand tip. Minute hand appears to have been sanded and refinished in black color, presumably for added contrast with the blue and red time-zone hour hands. Case is spectacular with crisp engine turning and engraving detail, but a minor cosmetic issue of note is that the case pendant is tilted somewhat out of vertical toward one side. Please check out my other items this week for more great watches and watch related items for sale. - Check out the NAWCC!

The NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors) is a group that has a 65 year history, a terrific online message board for collectors, and the NAWCC puts on many watch and clock shows across the United States every year. I've been an NAWCC member since 1991 and recommend it to every collector of watches or clocks. The item "HAMILTON TIME BALL SPECIAL FOR RR SERVICE 17J 18S EXTREMELY RARE POCKET WATCH" is in sale since Thursday, December 17, 2020. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Watches\Pocket Watches".

The seller is "fhwatch" and is located in Dunbarton, New Hampshire. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Number of Jewels: 17 Jewels
• Department: Men
• Style: Railroad Grade
• Case Material: Gold
• Pocket Watch Size: 18
• Type: Pocket Watch
• Brand: Hamilton