Ball Watch Co. 16-size 23-jewel 998 Elinvar railroad pocket watch

Technical characteristics

Type

Railroad pocket watch

Dimensions

51mm x 13mm deep

Adjustments

5 Positions Adjusted

Jewel Count

23 Jewels

Case Material

Yellow 10K gold filled

Serial Number

B64969

Place recorded

United States

Movement Features

Motor Barrel, Elinvar

Maker / attribution

Ball Watch Co. / Hamilton

Design

Visible features

• Nickel-finished bridges decorated with circular damascening • Visible movement markings including 'BALL WATCH CO. CLEVELAND, OHIO', '23 JEWELS', '5 POSITIONS ADJUSTED', 'MOTOR BARREL', 'ELINVAR', and serial number 'B64969' • Balance assembly fitted with whiplash micrometer regulator and blued overcoil hairspring • Patent stirrup bow mounted above a fluted crown on the yellow gold filled case

Case and Setting Mechanism

The movement is fitted into an open-face yellow 10K gold filled housing catalogued as a Ball Model case, measuring 51 mm in diameter by 13 mm in depth. It features threaded front and back bezels, with turned engine work on the rear exterior and carved bezels. The winding arbor is capped by a fluted crown and mounted with Ball's characteristic patent stirrup bow. Operationally, the pocket watch is stem wound and lever set, utilizing a bevelled mineral glass crystal over the front. Case signatures noted by the vendor include the designation 'Ball Official RR Standard'.

Dial Details and Documentation Limits

The dealer description records a white enamel dial with blued steel hands, inscribed 'Ball Official RR Standard, Cleveland'. While these features reflect standard specifications for Ball's railroad watches, the dial face, case back exterior, and inner case markings are omitted from the single available movement photograph, leaving dial condition and markings unverified by direct visual observation. The dating to circa 1941 and the production claim that 'only 2700 ever made' originate entirely from dealer catalogue copy. While the movement was supplied to Ball by Hamilton, verification of the exact manufacturing year requires cross-referencing serial B64969 against Hamilton factory ledger records.

Movement Construction and Inscriptions

The movement is a 16-size nickel bridge mechanism documented as grade 998, configured with 23 jewels and a lever escapement. The plates are finished with circular damascening and feature raised gold jewel settings, gold train wheels, jewelling extended to the winding wheel, and a gold-capped escape wheel. Regulation is governed by a whiplash micrometer assembly paired with an overcoil hairspring. Engraved factory designations across the bridges read: 'Ball Watch Co, Cleveland, Ohio, 23 Jewels, 5 Positions Adjusted, Trade Mark, Official Standard, Motor Barrel, Elinvar' along with the serial designation '# B64969'. The movement incorporates an Elinvar hairspring and a motor barrel construction, built to railroad time inspection standards.

Identification

Reference

998

Serial number

B64969

Source note

Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.

Catalogue references

No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.