DESCRIPTION:
APW - Hamilton, "Time Ball Special For Railroad Service" marked mvt also with Time Ball marked image, Grade 940 with scarce two-tone damascene, 21J, 18S, gold-filled OF original case with attractive locomotive image to rear, deeply engraved detail to bezel and rear perimeter, "G. Beninghausen, Seattle, Wash." marked white enamel DS dial, SW-LS, two-tone gilt and nickel damascene, s#473202. A very rare watch that features one of Hamilton's most eye-catching and stylish movement signatures with its detailed Time Ball image. Gerhard Beninghausen established his jewelry business in Seattle in 1885, served as a time inspector for the Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad, and 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, and residents and passerby made use of Beninghausen's Time Ball to set their watches to the correct time. Please see our photos of this lot for the image of an advertisement Beninghausen ran in the February 4th, 1902 issue of the "Seattle Star" newspaper and for the image of an advertisement ran in the January 1904 issue of "The Coast" magazine; with Beninghausen prominently promoting the Time Ball in each of these advertisements. From the well-known Hamilton collection of Robert Bennett of Olivehurst, California.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, fine-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, reduced two-tone color, some scattered small fine to micro-fine scratches and mild small surface spots, mvt lettering appears to have had its black color re-applied and surfaces have some toning in areas around lettering; excellent dial with small edge chip under bezel at setting lever, short curved fine scratch above center of seconds-register; excellent hands, hour with some finish loss; case shows little wear, no dents or dings, good overall engine turning and engraving detail though with notable reduction of engine turning detail at rear shoulder, small bits of wear to brass to some of the high engraving detail of bezel and rear perimeter; tight bow, crown shows light wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$800
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$1600
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