DESCRIPTION:
APW - Ball Howard, B of LE Standard (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers), 17J, Series VIII, N-S (just over 19S), heavy 14K gold OF case with HWW (Hayden W. Wheeler) retailer marking, gold cuvette engraved "Presented to J.H. Moore by employees of N.Y.L.E. & W. Elmira, N.Y., April 1st 1894," case was originally with glazed observation mvt cover which is no longer present, white enamel SS dial, SW-SS, spiral pattern nickel damascene, s#307436. Gross weight of assembled watch 88.2 dwt (137.1 g). A rare watch, total production of the Ball Howard open face is believed to be 190 made with this total divided among 120 made that were marked as "B of LE Standard" and 70 made that were marked "O of RC Standard." The case inscription of this example is for Joseph Haywood Moore in recognition of his service as General Foreman of the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad (N.Y.L.E. & W.) shops in Elmira, New York, and a May, 1894 issue of the "National Car & Locomotive Builder" periodical notes Moore's transfer from this post to an appointment as Master Mechanic of the N.Y.L.E. & W. shops in Buffalo, New York. Although the case of this example does not have Ball signature as is the typical and desired norm among gold cased Ball Howard production; we do find the present case intriguing as it is model-specific to Howard Series VIII production showing no sign of having held another movement, as the cuvette inscription date coincides neatly with Ball Howard production (which spanned April, 1893 to July, 1896), and as the presentation is to a prominent railroading figure of the time. Whether one interprets these factors to allow a possibility of this case's originality to this movement will depend on how rigidly one holds the belief that Ball Howard production must have come exclusively in Ball marked casing, as opposed to if one believes there is the possibility that presentation pieces could have been cased in styles other than the Ball marked norm.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running after a sluggish start, overhaul recommended, fine cosmetic mvt condition overall, main plate with profuse scratching at perimeter outside "Ball & Co. Cleveland." marking, scattered fine scratches and fine scratches elsewhere to main plate, balance cock with sizable area of abrasion through space between index engraving and stepped portion where regulator seats, numerous pinpoint pecks to perimeter portion of balance cock, marring to top of third wheel jewel setting, balance jewel setting with mismatched screws, center jewel setting with a mismatched screw; nearly flawless dial with fine scratch at perimeter between 12 and 1, few small fine scratches within seconds-register, small paint loss to the "o" of "Ball & Co." marking; fine hands, hour and minute of differing blue shade, seconds-hand with oxide; case shows medium wear, very mild soft ding to upper rear, engine turning detail fully lost throughout rear shoulder; tight brassy gold-filled replacement bow, crown shows ample wear; glass crystal with scratch left of center.
ESTIMATE:
$5000
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$8600
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