Ball Watch Company of Cleveland, Ohio. "REGULATOR No. 3." 213025.
Ball Watch Company of Cleveland, Ohio, ordered several clock models from the Seth Thomas Clock Company of Thomaston, Connecticut. The more common examples included the Number 3 and the 12-inch Drop.
This Model Number 3 is constructed in oak, which retains an older, crisp, and clean finish. The veneer around the bezel is in excellent condition. The two side returns at the bottom of the case have been replaced. They are professionally made in the correct form. The color on the front matches well. This case measures approximately 44 inches long.
The painted zinc dial measures 14 inches in diameter and is original to this clock. It features a subsidiary seconds dial and large Roman hour numerals. The large dial makes this model easy to read from across the room. The retailer across the center signs this dial.
The movement is brass and of good quality. It is weight-powered and designed to run for eight days on a full wind. It features tapered plates in the form of a trapezoid; the Clockmaker's die-stamped "ST" impressed on the front plate, a Graham deadbeat escapement, and maintaining power. The pendulum is composed of a wood rod and brass-covered zinc bob. The weight is also brass and features knurled edges.
The Clockmaker's label remains at the bottom of the case. This clock was made circa 1890.
Inventory number 213025.
Webster Clay Ball was born on a farm in Knox County Ohio on October 6, 1848. After a two year apprenticeship to a jeweler in Fredericktown, Ohio, Ball relocated to Cleveland, Ohio. After several years of working for various firms in nearby cities, he formed the Ball Watch Company in 1879. At this time, the railroads were still operating under local time. It was not until 1883 that standard time began to be implemented into the system. With this came the broadcasting of the time signal from the Naval Observatory. Ball was the first jeweler in Cleveland to display the time signal or the correct time in his shop window. He was instrumental in the organization of railway timekeeping and became a general inspector for over 125,000 miles of railroad in the United States, Mexico and Canada. He help standardize the watches used in the railroad system by requiring the watch to meet a base line of quality and performance. He designed the watch inspection system. Ball used movements and clocks from the top American manufacturers and sold many under his own firm's name. Webb C. Ball died in 1922. The business was continued by the family until the 1960's. The name has been sold and is now used by a Swiss firm.
