The 1893 General Railroad Timepiece Standards.

It is this standard that both defines and identifies a true Railroad pocket watch. Watches used for railroad timekeeping were required to meet the following specifications:

“Be open faced, size 18 or 16, have a minimum of 17 jewels, adjusted to at least 5 positions, keep time accurately to within a gain or loss of only 30 seconds a week, adjusted to temperatures of 34 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, have a double roller, steel escape wheel, lever set, micrometric regulator, winding stem at 12 o’clock, grade on back plate, use plain Arabic numbers printed bold and black on a white dial, and have bold black hands.”

These standards changed from year to year but the basics remained constant. Some rail lines also required a Breguet hairspring, adjustment for isochronism, and 30 degrees Fahrenheit with a minimum of 19 jewels. Dark blue hands were also acceptable in most cases.

Webb C. Ball was instrumental is establishing a system of individual watch inspections, and any watch that gained or lost 30 seconds or more in 7-14 days had to be repaired by an experienced and approved watchmaker. Because this system was adopted and strictly adhered to, American watch manufacturers were required to develop and produce a superior railroad watch, and the traveling public was assured of increased safety.