Also commonly referred to as the waltham watch company, the american waltham watch company was the first watch company to mass produce watches in america and is generally considered to be the most important american watch company. Brief history of the ball watch company including serial numbers and production dates. The pocket watch database has compiled data covering the major american pocket watch manufacturers and created an easy way to find information using the serial number on the watch movement. Make offer circa 1916 ball waltham 21j rr grade in original 10k gold filled case 16 s. We are proud to present this fine collection of vintage ball watches, historical documents and other ball material. Waltham 21 jewels antique pocket watches for sale ebay.
Ball hamilton pocket watch grade 999p 21 jewel official. How i diagnose and fix mainspring problem, waltham youtube. Find great deals on ebay for ball pocket watch and howard pocket watch. A strong example of this scarce grade 999b variant, the total production of the grade 999b with 2bprefix serial number is only 700 made with all having been produced in a single span of serial numbers from 2b001 to 2b700 that was finished between july 1943 and march 1944. Ball later added a 25 jewel selfwinding version of the watch. The 21 ruby jewel, lever setting, 18 size movement has beautiful damaskeening with gold accents including the gold smoke stack style jewel settings, gold balance screws, and diamond endstones. History of the american waltham watch company waltham, ma. The number of positions adjusted in railroad pocket watches is normally five, which is often marked on the movement, but there are some finer examples with six. Although many of my brother engineers purchased the ball approve wrist watch. Ballwaltham 21 jewel pocket watch balance staff nawcc. We buy and sell vintage pocket and wrist watches and watch accessories including ball, elgin, hamilton, hampden, howard, illinois, rockford, south bend, swiss, waltham, and us and foreign watches. This had the combined effects of increasing productivity and lowering the prices of walthams watches to its customers.
This was followed by a 16size made by the waltham watch company and. Ball wristwatches, ball pocketwatches, ball antique. New listing 182 vanguard waltham mass 21 ruby jewel 18 size pocket. He wrote me that the people at ball said that their best running watch was the 16size, 19 jewel waltham ball model. What i have found so far on wwco type watches that they were usually where 15 jewel and mine has 17. Its a 16 size lever set movement adjusted to 5 positions. The higher the quality of the watch, the more jewels it will have. Ball official rr standard cleveland pocket watch image. This heirloom waltham pocket watch with a swing out case was restored to running condition. The number of jewels is an indicator of quality, with the most highly prized watches having 21 or more jewels. The movement only occurs in run 1004290110043500 which is listed in the gray book as a run of 17 21 jewel crescent streets.
In 1964 the uprr approved the bulova acutron tuning fork quartz watch. Nicely finished railroad grade model 1892 movement with gold jewel settings, gold balance screws, and an attractive fancy nickel damaskeen. Official ball waltham 16s pocket watch 19 jewels model 1899 c1905 serviced. Antique ball hamilton 18s, 999a 21 jewels pocket watch. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you. Waltham watch company was the first watchmaker to massproduce watch movements on an assembly line. Like any other collectors items, the oldest and rarest pieces are the most valuable, so it is important to know as much information as you can about a watch before buying or selling it. It has bold spade hands and nice bright bold arabic numbers for hour markers. Each watch depending on age, model, style, original quality, usage, previous repairs, parts availability, and overall care, demands very individual care. Vintage ball company 21 jewels gold plated railroad pocket watch b246092. I need several jewels for a 15 jewel waltham pocket watch. The following pricing is a guideline of what your pocket watch may need to again become a beautiful and dependable daily companion. Vintage stuff and antique designs old watches, antique watches.
Grade official standard, model 1899, adjusted 5 positions, made in 1918. Vintage waltham railroad shock resistant 17 jewels antimagnetic pocket watch swiss made. In my opinion, from the late 1850s until just after wwii, the american watch industry produced more and probably better portable timekeeping machines than the rest of the world combined. Ball hamilton 18s 999 adjusted railroad pocket watch running.
Also, the waltham representatives that called on them felt that their best running railroad watch was the 19 jewel. In all but one run, the 17 jewel movements are two tone and have been adapted from the royal grade. The term jewel refers to the industrial grade gemstones used as bearings for gears. Looking online i do not see much on this type of watch. Buy waltham pocket watches with 15 jewels and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay. As there are no jewels on the main barrel i count 19. Discussed the differences between jeweled and nonjeweled bearings and illustrates common wear conditions in seven jewel watches. Waltham 21 jewel pocket watch image of blouse and pocket.
Ball model case, 19 jewel, 16 size, ball waltham pocket watch. This is a 21 jewel waltham crescent street pocket watch from 1906. I loved the watches pictured and the discussion prompted by the recent post who did it better. The current condition of your pocket watch will determine all. Get the best deals on waltham open face antique pocket watches. Circa 1916 ball waltham 21j rr grade in original 10k. The waltham vanguard and riverside maximus are considered the top of their line by many. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
The ball museum reveals the rich history of the ball watch company and vividly illustrates the impact that webb c. Also, the waltham representatives that called on them felt that their best running railroad watch was the 19 jewel waltham riverside, upon which the ball was based. In this system, 1 530th inches is the base measurement and is called 0size. The movement has been serviced recently and is ready to use. A large view of a waltham 16 size 21 jewel ball marked adjusted 5 positions gold seal pocket watch movement. Any number of jewels over 21 usually failed to gain any additional timekeeping improvement.
Vanguard grade 17, 19, 21, and 23 jewels the best grade. The watch is a 21 jeweled pocket watch in working order. Ball 21 jewel railroad model 1899 pocket watch lofty marketplace. Inside, ball peen hammers and leather punchers hang next to a 3d printer and a laser engraver. Buying or selling a waltham watch is relatively straight forward. Waltham 21 jewel crescent st rr pocket watch movement. How to identify a waltham pocket watch our pastimes. Ball 999 b 21 jewel 6 pos official rr standard cleveland 10 k g f pocket watch. The nickel 17 jewel crescent street story is a short one. Pocket watches with 21 jewels 16 pocket watch for sale ebay. Waltham pocket watches with 15 jewels for sale ebay. Inside, ballpeen hammers and leather punchers hang next to a 3d printer and a laser engraver.
High jewel examples are fervently sought by pocket watch collectors. How i diagnose and fix mainspring problem, waltham bunnspecial. Railroad 21 jewel caliber 992 circa 1920 ball 21 jewel railroad model 1899 double roller 21 jewels railroad pocket waltham vanguard pocket watch 18 s 21 jewel railroad model 6. Could anyone tell me what balance staff i need for a ball waltham 21 jewel pocket watch. In a few instances, the gray book lists 17 21 jewel crescent streets. Great savings free delivery collection on many items. However the pallet arbor uses hole jewels with no cap jewels on either end. Vintage waltham railroad shock resistant 17 jewels.
Watch has a 19 jewel movement with the extra 2 jewels in the mainspring barrel. Keeping time with waltham, hamilton, and illinois pocket watches cool. Four 17 jewel crescent streets have been reported in the 1004330110043500 range, suggesting that 200 of these movements were made. The term vanguard was originally the name for the 1892 movement, but later was used to refer to a grade of movement among other 1892 grades. This is a signed hamilton ball case and across it is 50mm so it is for sure a 16 size. Sekonda las watches pocket watch a sekonda pocket watch estimate an offer sekonda gold pocket watch sekonda pocket watch 18 jewels vine sekonda pocket watch 18 jewel fs make an sekonda pocket watch ussr image of blouse and pocket antiques atlas 1970s russian sekonda pocket watch. Ball 21 jewel official standard pocket watch for repair or parts. There are mixed jewel runs but they are more clearly grouped than in the mixed runs of the vanguard grade and are for the most part combinations of 19 and 21 jewel movements. Hello, i am trying to sell a waltham wwco 17 jewel pocket watch. Waltham was a leader in mass production technology that allowed them to produce high quality 23 jewel watches at lower prices than most of their competitors. Unfollow waltham pocket watch 17 jewel to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Hold waltham vanguard pocket watch 21 jewels, diamond end.
The waltham model 1892 actually hit the market in 1892. In 1857 the american watch company in waltham, massachusetts. A large view of a swiss avia 435c ball 21 jewel pocket. Many of the vintage pocket watches i restore are already 70 years old, and are in need of parts do to wear, fatigue, or breakage. Waltham watches can also bought and sold on online auction sites such as ebay. Ball to create the general railroad timekeeping standards. The case is a ball official rr standard 10k gold filled and is in very good pocket worn condition, no brassing. The movement was disassembled, cleaned and lubricated. Waltham 21 jewels antique pocket watches with 12hour dial.
Vintage waltham 16s 21 jewel railroad grade pocket watch excellent condition. How to determine value of waltham watches lovetoknow. Ball commercial 435 bxc railroad pocket watch 17j swiss keystone 10k gold plated. Ball pocket watch repair image of blouse and pocket. In 1849 aaron lufkin dennison, edward howard and david davis formed a company with a plan to use machinery to manufacture watch movement parts so precisely that they would become fully interchangeable. Waltham, 21 jewel crescent street, model 1908, made around 1909, 16 size, railroad grade, lever setting, micrometer regulator, awco silveroid base metal screw type case. Winding and setting your american and swiss pocket watch pocketwatch restoration oregon has no sales tax. Find the perfect deal for waltham 21 jewels antique pocket watches with free shipping on many items at ebay.
The near mint condition 14k gold case is plain polished with scroll initials on back. Info, specs, and value american antique pocket watches, with serial number lookups for manufacturers such as elgin, illinois, waltham, and hamilton. Always input the serial number from the pocket watch movement the mechanism of the watch. Explains the wear problems inherent in nonjeweled bushings in lower grade american pocket watches. Get the best deals on waltham 21 jewels antique pocket watches with 12hour dial when you shop the largest online selection at. The watch in the photo is a ball open face pocket watch made of 10k goldfilled metal with a screw back, 16 size in working condition. See todays waltham pocket watches for sale, best offer and auction. Ball watch co pocket serial number lookup identify. Get the best deals on ball antique pocket watches with 21 jewels when you shop the largest online selection at. Ball waltham offical standard 16 size, lever set, 19 jewel.
Great looking 39mm 21j marked agassiz pocket watch movement made for tiffany co. View dial, view movement, view caseback, view inside caseback. Ball antique pocket watches with 21 jewels for sale ebay. A pocket watch or pocketwatch is a watch that is made to be carried in a pocket, as opposed.
Waltham watch repair repair service of a 1907 waltham grade no. A large view of a waltham 12 size 17 jewel commercial standard ball pocket watch dial. Ball waltham antique official rr standard 16 size pocket watch serial b0542001, it was made in 1901 and is running and keeping time. A large view of an elgin 18 size 17 jewel 333 ball pocket watch movement. The spruce crafts is part of the dotdash publishing family.
Shop by year of manufacture such as 19001909, 18801889, 18901899. Renaissance watch repair table of pocket watch sizes. The trainmaster with a swiss made 21 jewel movement, introduced by ball in 1959, was a high grade manualwind wrist watch that was gradually approved for use on most american railroads. It is fairly simple to confirm a watch is a waltham pocket watch and to identify the model and manufacturing date. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Ball 14k gold pocket watch ashtonblakey vintage watches. Its in great condition with minor wear to the back of the case. The case holds a 17 jewel ball waltham watch with circular damaskeening, screw down g.
Learn about railroad pocket watches as conductor parker talks about their history and how they were essential to the railroad. A large view of a waltham 12 size 17 jewel commercial standard ball pocket watch movement. How to determine the size of your watch watch movements are measured in an arcane english system of measurement called the lancashire system or lancashire gauge. Railroad pocket watch cleveland lot 856 ball railroad pocket watch waltham 14k gold 19 jewel official rr gone ball 999b official rr standard ball hamilton pocket watch grade 999p. Antique mechanical pocket watch repair, cleaning, repair. There is a ready market for waltham watches and many antique and vintage watch dealers are happy to deal with these collectible watches. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands affordable prices. Tom mcintyre posted a comment on page finding and downloading items for. Waltham open face antique pocket watches with 21 jewels for. Classic military specified design and exacting precision in a vintage pocket watch by the esteemed swiss manufacturer longines made to us military specifications during world war 2 wwll by longines, this vintage pocket watch incorporated watchmakers finest technology at the time to produce a 21 jewel precision timepiece with a wind indicator to show how much energy was left in the mainspring. Vintage elgin 21 jewel gold plated pocket watch no. Discusses the watches produced by the ball watch company, and the work of webb c.
These minimize friction and subsequent wear on the inner watch mechanism. It should have given waltham an immediate and early edge over the competition. Antique pocket watches for sale archives the pocket. Discussion in american pocket watches started by george, jan 4.
Ball switched to swiss avia movements as early as the 1940s in their wrist watches. A colorado startup resurrects waltham pocket watches morning. Ball wristwatches, ball pocketwatches, ball antique watches. Ball pocket watch official railroad 19 j 16s original. Find the perfect deal for waltham 21 jewels antique pocket watches. According to the nawcc waltham data base and the engraving on the plates the watch should be a 21 jewel movement. Pocketwatch 101 the problem with sevenjewel watches. Here are a few tips to find information about your pocket watch. It should be noted that additional labor to properly adjust a watch did more to improve accuracy than adding jewels above 16 or 19. A colorado startup resurrects waltham pocket watches06.