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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch

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

Partially verified

This is an American railroad pocket watch retailed by the Ball Watch Company using a 16-size Hamilton nickel bridge movement, catalogued as grade 998. The movement is marked with serial number B64969, 'Motor Barrel', 'Elinvar', 23 jewels, and adjustments to five positions. It is fitted with circular damascening, raised gold jewel settings, gold train wheels, and a micrometer regulator. The mechanism is housed in an open-face yellow 10K gold filled Ball Model case with the signature patent stirrup bow, measuring 51 mm in diameter and 13 mm in depth.

Movement view showing circular damascening, 23 jewels, stirrup bow, and serial number B64969
Movement view showing circular damascening, 23 jewels, stirrup bow, and serial number B64969 — Atlam Watches. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.antiquesboutique.com
Category
Pocket watch · Railroad pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Ball Watch Co. / Hamilton
Reference
998
Catalogue / lot identifier
4.68 (AB-219857)
Source-reported date
c. 1941
Source-reported place
United States
Source-reported serial
B64969

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement – this high quality nickel bridge movement has a lever escapement with a micrometer regulator and a gold capped escape wheel.”
  • “The movement also has gold train wheels, raised gold jewel settings and is jewelled to the winding wheel also. The movement is decorated with circular damascening.”
  • “The movement is signed “Ball Watch Co, Cleveland, Ohio, 23 Jewels, 5 Positions Adjusted, Trade Mark, Official Standard, Motor Barrel, Elinvar” # B64969.”

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'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case – the movement comes in a yellow 10K gold Filled open face case, which has a screw off back and front. The case is the BALL Model case with the patent stirrup bow and is signed “Ball Official RR Standard””
  • “The watch is stem wound / lever set”
  • “The watch has a bevelled mineral glass”

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.

Evidence for this section
  • “Dial – the white enamel dial has a full set of blue steel hands and is signed “Ball Official RR Standard, Cleveland”.”
  • “with only 2700 ever made.”
  • “Pristine 16 Size 23 Jewel 998 Elinvar Ball Hamilton Pocket Watch c1941”

Open research questions

  • What specific inner case markings, serial numbers, and case maker trademarks are stamped inside the screw-off back of this yellow gold filled Ball Model case?
  • Does Hamilton factory production ledger data for Ball serial number B64969 corroborate the seller's approximate dating of circa 1941?
  • Which dial configuration (e.g., standard Arabic railroad dial, Boxcar numerals, or marginal minute track) is fitted beneath the bezel, and does it retain original blued spade or poire hands?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Ball Watch Co. 16-size 23-jewel 998 Elinvar railroad pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Serial NumberB64969“B64969”
Jewel Count23 Jewels“23 Jewels”
Adjustments5 Positions Adjusted“5 Positions Adjusted”
Case MaterialYellow 10K gold filled“yellow 10K gold Filled open face case”
Dimensions51mm x 13mm deep“The watch measures 51mm x 13mm deep”
Movement FeaturesMotor Barrel, Elinvar“Motor Barrel, Elinvar”
Setting MechanismLever set / stem wound“The watch is stem wound / lever set”
Reported Production Total2,700 units“with only 2700 ever made”

Visible details

  • 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

Research qualifications

  • Dial and case back exterior are documented in the seller description but not visible in the provided image
  • Dating to circa 1941 is seller-reported

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Pristine 16 Size 23 Jewel 998 Elinvar Ball Hamilton Pocket Watch c1941 in Antique Mens Watches

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 982fabb369

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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