On April 18, 1891, the Great Kipton Train Wreck transpired about 40 miles west of Cleveland when a fast mail train heading east collided head-on with a passenger train moving west. The conductor of the passenger train failed to stop at the Kipton depot and let the mail train roll by – all because his watch had stopped functioning for four minutes before restarting.
The Kipton accident is more than a footnote in American railroad history. It is a defining moment that spurred watchmaking and timekeeping revolutions. After the collision, renowned jeweler Webb C. Ball was appointed Chief Time Inspector to investigate the accident’s timekeeping issues. His work led to increased railroad watch performance and inspection standards.
During his investigation, Webb C. Ball reported that timekeeping remained inconsistent from city to city, making railroad time standardization a necessity. From April to September 1891, he formulated his new timekeeping system – an unprecedented endeavor that included the creation of requirements, the hiring and training of inspectors, the preparation and inspection of approximately 2,300 watches, and the distribution of every instrument.
Under his system, all passenger and freight trains required the use of four Ball-certified watches, carried by the conductor, engineer, fireman and rear brakeman, respectively. Webb C. Ball’s highly-skilled inspectors used a standard chronometer to test the precision and performance of every timepiece using his strict regulations. Every two weeks, the watches and clocks were compared with Standard Time from Washington’s Naval Observatory. A variation of more than 30 seconds meant the instrument had to be readjusted or exchanged for one equal in grade.
By 1908, Webb C. Ball was inspecting approximately 180 railroads and regulating more than 1 million railroad watches. Under his direction, train travel with regard to time was made significantly safer for both the public and railroad employees.
At his death, Webb C. Ball had contributed more than any other person in creating the performance and accuracy requirements for railroad watches. His work in crafting the most precise timepieces and instituting an inspection system was imperative and extraordinary. It not only improved railroad operations, it was an essential part of timekeeping’s foundation. With this heritage, BALL is continuing its role today as a key protagonist in the evolution of watchmaking history.
