Railroad Watches, 1890

From The American Horologist magazine, January 1942

Information Please
By W. H. Samelius

A.H.G.: - Can you name some of the railroad watches used some 50 years ago?

Ans: - From records, we find that at watch inspectors convention held in 1890, due to such a large number of watches accepted as standard for railroad service, the number reduced to 22 makes and kinds.  The ruling was that all watches going into service from that date must be adjusted to five positions and temperature and so stamped on the plate.  The watch must have a double roller, be lever set, wind at 12 and have a plain Arabic dial.  All new American watches should have the standard mark or number stamped on the plate.  12 S. watches are not considered standard for railroad work. and will not be accepted.  After considerable deliberation, a new accepted schedule was decided upon as follows:

Waltham - Vangard 23 jewel.
 - Crescent St., 21 jewel.
 - Riverside, 19 jewel.

Elgin - Veritas, 23 jewel.
 - Father Time, 21 jewel.
 - B. W. Raymod, 19 jewel.

Hamiton - No 950, 23 jewel.
 - No. 992, 21 jewel.
 - No. 996, 19 jewel.

Illinios - Sangamo Special, 23 jewel.
 - Bunn Special, 21 jewel.
 - Bunn, 19 jewel.

Hampden - Special Railway, 23 jewel.
 - New Railway, 21 jewel.
 - Railway, 19 jewel.

South Bend - Special Railway, 21 jewel, No. 227

Haward Watch Co. - 23 jewel.
 - 21 jewel.
 - 19 jewel.

Ball Official Railroad - Standard 23 jewel.
 - Standard 21 jewel.
 - Standard 19 jewel.