The Art of American Horology Part ll,...

Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Avenue @ 45th Street, Dec 04, 2002

LOT 702

The Ball Watch Co., Cleveland, "Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen" Standard, No. B 232143 by Waltham, circa 1913.Fine, gold-filled and enameled, Railroad Brotherhood watch.

USD 5,000 - 6,000

C. Three-piece, "bassine" by "Dueber", screw bezel and back, polished, back with applied multi-colored enamel logo of "B of L F & E". D. White enamel with Arabic numerals, outer minute ring, sunk subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "Spade" hands. M. 16 size, nickel, 3/4 split plate, damascened, 19 jewels, the top ones in screwed raised gold settings, straight line lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold screws adjusted to 5 positions, blued steel Breguet balance spring, Ball'patented micrometric regulator, lever-set.Signed on dial and movement, dial and movement also signed "Trademark B of L F & E".Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 17 - 01

Notes

B of LF.The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen was founded by Joshua Leach and ten Erie Railroad firemen at Port Jervis, New York, in 1873. The following year, delegates from 12 lodges met and formed the "BLF Insurance Association" to provide medical and death benefits for locomotive firemen. The motto of the Firemen is "Protection, Charity, Sobriety, and Industry." The organization also believes in identifying interests between workers and employers, in the necessity of cooperation, and in the cultivatin of harmony.B of LF & EIn 1906, the B of LF changed its name to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, and joined with three other major railway unions.In 1919, now with 116,990 members, the BLF&E fought for an eight-hour work day for rail workers, and in 1926 the organization succeeded in securing the Railway Labor Act.