Preface

Starting in 1894 and ending in 1954, Hamilton produced over 100,000 watches with various private label markings and/or special finishes specifically for Webb C. Ball.  The earliest watches were marked “Ball’s Standard, Superior Grade” and were designated only as grades 936 and 937 in the Hamilton factory records.  These watches were quickly replaced by the more widely recognized “Official RR Standard” marked watches as well as the “Railroad Watch Co.”, Railroad Brotherhood and other Private Label examples.  After the initial 936/937 examples, a few watches were made in grades 938/939 before the grade number 999 was adopted.

Grade number “999” was inspired by New York Central and Hudson River Railroad locomotive 999, a 4-4-0 type having 86” drive wheels that achieved a speed record of 112.5 miles per hour on May 10, 1893.  “999” was trademarked by Ball in January 1896.

Grade designations were used by the Hamilton factory to distinguish between grades (i.e. 999A, B, C, D, E, F, and H).  They were not used outside of the factory.  Grades 999G, K, M, N, P and R have been added by the author and researchers as an aid to identification.  The 999 trademark was widely used by Ball for advertising and sales purposes.  It was not until 1904 that it appeared on a watch movement.

In addition to the information presented here, a number of early 16 size movements were also produced with Webb C. Ball markings.  Examples have been seen in a number of grades including 962, 972/973, 974/975 and 976/977.  These watches appear to be relatively scarce, but are not included in the information below.

Grade Descriptions

18 Size

936             Full Plate, Open Face, Nickel, 17 Jewels, Single Roller, Adjusted, Hamilton  Regulator, Ball Circular Damascening.  Marked “Ball’s Standard, Superior Grade, Cleveland, O.” on Barrel Bridge.

                   (Dial:  S.S. Marked “Webb C. Ball, Cleveland, O.)

937            Full Plate, Hunting, Nickel, 17 Jewels, Single Roller, Adjusted, Hamilton Regulator, Ball Circular Damascening.  Marked “Ball’s Standard, Superior Grade, Cleveland, O.” on Barrel Bridge.

                   (Dial:  S.S. Marked “Webb C. Ball, Cleveland, O.)

938            Full Plate, Open Face, Nickel, 17 Jewels, Double Roller, Adjusted Five Positions, Hamilton Regulator, Ball Circular Damascening. (Top Hamilton Grade).  Marked “Official RR Standard” with or without Private Label Markings.

939            Full Plate, Hunting, Nickel, 17 Jewels, Double Roller, Adjusted Five Positions, Hamilton Regulator, Ball Circular Damascening. (Top Hamilton Grade).  Marked “Official RR Standard”.

999A          Designation for all 18 size, 21 jewel Ball movements.  Full Pate, Nickel, 21 Jewels, Double Roller, Ball Regulator, “Sun-burst” Damascening.  Marked “Official RR Standard” or Brotherhood Markings.

Type 1:      Early Production Marked “Adjusted”.  Hamilton Hairspring Stud. Equivalent to Hamilton grade 942.

Type 2:      Hamilton Hairspring Stud.  Going Barrel Marked “Adjusted Five Positions”.  Equivalent to Hamilton Grade 942.

Type 3:      Hamilton Hairspring Stud.  Motor Barrel Marked “Adjusted Five Positions”.  Equivalent to Hamilton Grade 940.

Type 4:      As Type 3 with Ball Patent Hairspring Stud.

999B          Full Plate, Nickel, 17 Jewels, Double Roller, Ball Regulator.  Circular Damascening.  Equivalent to Hamilton Grade 938.  Marked “Official RR Standard” or Brotherhood Markings.

                  Type 1:       Marked “Adjusted” and “Patented” on Barrel Bridge

Type 2:      Marked “Adjusted” on Barrel Bridge with Patent Dates on both Barrel Bridge and Balance Cock. 

999C          Exclusive designation for Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.  Full Plate, Nickel, 17 Jewels, Adjusted, Double Roller, Ball Regulator, Hamilton Hairspring Stud.  Special “Brakewheel” Damascening Pattern (Five Curved Spokes from Center to Outer Double Ring)

999D          Exclusive designation for Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen.  Full Plate, Nickel, 17 Jewels, Adjusted, Double Roller, Ball Regulator, Hamilton Hairspring Stud.  Special Damascening Pattern. (Wavy Sun-burst Pattern within Outer Four Rings Circular).

999E          Full Plate, Nickel, 17 Jewels, Single Roller, Ball Regulator, Circular Damascening Pattern.  These Were Single Roller Movements For Use on Railroads Having Less Stringent Inspection Requirements.

Type 1:      Marked “Ball’s Standard, Railroad Watch Co.” on Barrel Bridge with matching Double Sunk Dial.

Type 2:      Marked “Official RR Standard, Adjusted A” on Barrel Bridge.

Type 3:      Marked “Official RR Standard, Adjusted, Single Roller” on Barrel Bridge.

999F           Full Plate, Nickel, 16-17 Jewel, Single Roller, Ball Regulator.  Diagonal Line Damascening Pattern.

Type 1:      16 Jewel Movement Marked “Railroad Watch Co.”  Single Roller, Not Adjusted.  Equivalent to Hamilton grade 930.  Intended for railroad personnel not subject to inspection requirements.

Type 2:      Double sunk, Ball Watch co. Dial.  Barrel Bridge has Webb C. Ball inscription and Unusual Damascening Pattern.

Type 3:      “Commercial Standard” on Dial and Barrel Bridge.

Type 4:      “Commercial Standard” Marked Adjusted.  Most type 3 and 4 left the factory as 17 jewel.

999G          Full Plate, Nickel, 19 Jewels, Adjusted, Ball Regulator, Double Roller, Circular Damascening Pattern.  Marked “Official RR Standard” or with Brotherhood Markings.

                   Type 1:      19 Jewel, Marked Adjusted, Double Roller.

                   Type 2:      19 Jewel, Marked Adjusted 5 Positions, Double Roller, Motor Barrel.        

                   Different Motor Barrel Used Above Serial Number 503,501.

999H          Full Plate, 17 Jewels, Adjusted, Ball Regulator, Double Roller, Circular Damascening.  Replaced 999B and corresponds to Revised Grade 936 with Regard to Manufacture.  Less Expensive Than Earlier 938 and 999B.  Marked “Official RR Standard” or With Brotherhood Markings.

                                              

                  Type 1:       Marked Adjusted, Double Roller.  Hamilton Hairspring Stud.

                  Type 2:       Marked Adjusted 5 Positions, Double Roller.  Hamilton Hairspring Stud.

                  Type 3:       Marked Adjusted 5 Positions, Double Roller, Motor Barrel.  Hamilton Hairspring Stud.

Type 4:      Marked Adjusted 5 Positions, Double Roller, Motor Barrel with Ball (1908 Patent) Hairspring Stud.

999K          Full Plate, 23 Jewels, Nickel, Adjusted, Motor Barrel, Double Roller, with Ball Regulator and (1908 Patent) Hairspring Stud.  Circular Damascening, Marked “Official RR Standard” Adjusted 5 Positions, Double Roller, Motor Barrel.  Ball (1908 Patent) Hairspring Stud.

16 Size      (Note:  All 16 Size Movements Ball Escapements.  Pallet and Fork Do Not Interchange With Corresponding Hamilton Parts).

999M         ¾ Plate, 21 Jewels, Nickel, Adjusted 5 Positions, Motor Barrel, Gold Seal Insert, Ball Patent Hairspring Stud.

999N          ¾ Plate, 23 Jewels, Nickel, Adjusted 5 Positions, Motor Barrel, Gold Seal Insert, Ball Patent Hairspring Stud.

999P          ¾ Plate, 21 Jewels, Nickel, Adjusted 5 Positions, Going Barrel, No Gold Seal Insert.  Hamilton Hairspring Stud.

999R          ¾ Plate, 23 Jewels, Nickel, Adjusted 5 Positions, No Gold Seal Insert.  Hamilton Hairspring Stud.¾ Plate.

998             Bridge Model, 23 Jewels, Nickel, Adjusted 5 Positions, Motor Barrel.

998B          Bridge Model, 23 Jewels, Nickel.  Equivalent to 950B.  Exists in Prototype Stage Only.  Original Plates for 1000 Movements Were Later Used To Produce 950B and 999B (2B Serial Number Prefix)

999B          ¾ Plate, 21 Jewels, Nickel, Equivalent to 992B.

                  Type 1:       Circular Damascening Pattern

                  Type 2:       Straight Line Damascening Pattern.