Fitch Dial

Ezra C. Fitch’s Red “Annular Acorn” Dial Design, Patented March 26, 1901

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: Ezra C. Fitch’s Red “Annular Acorn” Dial with Staggered Marginal Minutes,, c.1901. While the staggered marginal minute dial attributed to Ezra C. Fitch was never granted a design patent, one variant created around the same time was novel enough to qualify. This design is...

Dials , History , Patents & Innovations , Railroad Watches , Railroads , Time-Telling , Waltham

The Freak Show: Webb C. Ball’s “Freakish” Railroad Dials: Fitch Marginal Dial

By Nathan Moore

Pictured: Waltham’s Staggered Marginal Minute Dial, Attributed to Ezra C. Fitch, c.1900. Webb C. Ball was arguably the most prolific figure associated with time inspection on the railroads. As general.

Dials , History , Railroad Watches , Railroads

Webb C. Ball Rejects “Freakish” Railroad Dials

By Nathan Moore

Shortly after Henry S. Montgomery introduced the new generation of his “Safety Dial” design in April 1920, Webb C. Ball launched an attack rejecting any dial with “fantastic figures or.