184.           $1200

Seth Thomas Clock Co. “Regulator No. 3 Ball Regulator”, ca. 1900.  Webb C. Ball Co. began as a jeweler in Cleveland OH in 1879 and, after a disastrous 1891 train collision near Cleveland, he was appointed “Chief Time Inspector” for railroads in the Cleveland area.  His company set standards for time pieces (clocks and watches) and purchased and distributed clocks that met these standards to railroads, placing his label inside the clock; suppliers included Seth Thomas, as found here.  This No. 3 Regulator is 41 inches long in oak veneer with an old finish; I see no missing veneer.  I note that the drop finials normally found at the bottom of the case are missing, but closer inspection suggests that they were never included on this example (see photo).  Both glasses are old/original; the dial has recently been repainted while the hands are original, including the seconds bit that was unique to Ball regulators.  The signed ST trapezoidal movement is running, driven by a ST brass weight.  There is a Webb C Ball Clock Co. label in the bottom of the case.  Schmitt Horansold a similar example in 2022 for $1400.  $1000–$1500.