Rare 18 size Ball Hamilton 999H 17j railroad.

A fairly rare railroad watch made by the Ball and Hamilton Watch Companies in 1906.
Webb C. Ball was a railroad time inspector who had been delegated by the railroad commissionaires to formulate a minimum quality standard to which all watches used on the railroads should comply. having devised these minimum standards Mr. Ball then founded a company to sell watches that complied to these standards to the railroad companies and their employees. He designed and specified the movements and then contracted the main American watch manufacturers to make these movements for him. The Ball watch Co. then assembled these movements into their cases, added dials and hands, and then sold them under the Ball branding.
This particular watch has a movement made by Hamilton and is one of only 8100 ever made. It has 17 jewels, a Swiss lever escapement, double roller, Sapphire pallets, gold timing screws and a Ball micro-regulator. It runs strong in all positions and keeps good time. The watch is stem wind and lever set (withdraw the small lever by the 2 and rotate the crown to set the time)
The 3 piece case is 20 year gold filled and is in lovely condition. It has screw on / off front and rear covers and both do so easily, and both close down square and tight. No dents or dings, and all of the gold appears intact. The pendant, crown, and bow are also in lovely condition.
The original single sunk white enamel dial is in good order with just a very small, very faint hairline appearing between the 11 and the centre.
A very good set of blued steel hands under a very good mineral glass crystal.
Overall, a scarce watch in fine condition.