DESCRIPTION:
APW - Hamilton, "Trade Mark A.K. Jobe RR Standard" marked dial, "A.K. Jobe, Jackson, Tenn. Water Valley, Miss." marked mvt, Grade 940, 21J, 18S, silver-filled (silver over a nickel core) OF swingout recase, white enamel SS dial, SW-LS, fully capped lever escapement, nickel damascene, s#156219. A rare and very interesting railroad grade private label, the viewer is struck immediately by the immense similarity of its dial design and signature to the style typical of Ball Watch Co. "Official RR Standard" watches. This similarity of dial styles raises the interesting question of whether this dial for A.K. Jobe was created with the knowledge and consent of Webb C. Ball, but we are not aware of any documentation that sheds light on this question. Consistent with the small number of other A.K. Jobe marked Hamilton Grade 940/941 watches we've encountered, this example is listed in the Hamilton factory ledger as having been sold to distributor J.W. Forsinger of Chicago, with this particular serial number showing a sales date of May 24th, 1901.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running, excellent-plus cosmetic mvt condition overall, bright lustrous plates with very few micro-fine scratches, some marring to balance cock foot around screw, minor oxide to regulator assembly; dial with light hl at 11:30, very faint hl at 11 and below seconds-register at 6, light hand rub within seconds-register, small edge flake under bezel at setting lever, some edge rub under bezel at 6; fine hands with oxide; case shows medium wear, a moderate overall patina with a few splotches of darker tarnish, some fine scratches and abrasions to rear, scratch at right perimeter of rear, mild dent to edge at 7, ding to center-right of rear, scattered lesser dings and nicks to rear with most at shoulder and edge; tight bow, crown shows ample wear and has some excess up/down play and will pull out completely with little effort; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$600
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$1200
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