Posted 6 years ago
dhhirsch
(13 items)
I just bought a watch that was listed as a Benrus Babe Ruth watch. The movement, however, says Kelton. The dial has a script facsimile signature by Babe Ruth and says Shock Proof and U.S.A. It does not say Benrus. The case is a 1920s art deco stepped case. It even came with a cool period metal band. In doing some googling I found several listings in auctions for the same watch, all listed as Benrus. None had pictures of the movement. The auctions included Hakes, Goldin and an old listing on eBay that shows up on Worthpoint. Also, there are ads from 1929 of a Babe Ruth watch by Benrus, but the dial does not have the signature, does say Benrus and the case is square, not a stepped art deco design.
So, what is this? Did Benrus have a connection to Kelton? Otherwise, I'm familiar with Kelton from the 40's and later (they made a well know Mickey Mouse watch in the 40s). Neat watch though, and a nice companion to my 1948 Exacta Babe Ruth watch and my 1935 Dizzy Dean watch (with the rare case)...
I should add that I’m particularly interested in finding out when the watch was made. The style is clearly from the late 1920s to early 1930s. I have an extensive collection of early Bulova watches from that period and am very familiar with the style of watches made during that era.
Also, To add to the mystery, on a post in 2011 on the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) message board a poster asked about cleaning the dial of a watch similar to mine. On the discussion thread he posted copies of ads from the Ball Watch Company for this same watch. The movement on his watch was made by the “B.W Co.” The Ball Co. ads appear to be directed at jewelers to buy the watch for resale.