12" Pilot House Inset Clock -  signed Webb C. Ball -  circa 1920

This uncommon clock came from a train station where it served for several decades.  Mahogany base made from CCC  blueprint.  Beveled glass. A large piece, the base outer diameter is 18"!

Following a catastrophic collision in 1891 between two rail cars, believed to be the result of a conductor's watch being inaccurate, the commissioner of railroads appointed Webb C. Ball to develop and set strict accuracy standards for railroad watches and clocks.  The Ball Watch Company of Cleveland Ohio was formed.  Interestingly it never manufactured watches or clocks.  Webb C. Ball strongly (some say heavy-handedly)  enforced the strict standards and allowed those watches and clocks that met or exceeded the strict standard to be signed with his name.

By the early 1900's Webb C Ball of Cleveland Ohio, was the general time keeper for over 125,000 miles of track in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Watches and clocks were signed  "Webb C. Ball Company", "Ball Watch Co., Cleveland"  sometimes with "Official Railroad Standard" or "Ball Standard Dial, Pat. Applied. For".   This 12" Chelsea  was produced in 1920, about 24 years after the adoption of standards for timekeeping on the American Rail system. Ball watches and clocks were considered the finest watches by rail men at the beginning of and well into this century. They are becoming increasing difficult to find, particularly clocks with this signature.