It was founded in 1891 by Webb C. Ball in Cleveland, Ohio, and is linked to American railroad history.

Ball is owned by Hong Kong-based Asia Commercial Holdings Ltd. Before the development of railroads across the United States, there was no need for a standardization of time or any real accuracy in timekeeping.

When trains began to connect distant cities, it became problematic and difficult to avoid collisions.

That day, one of the conductors’ watches stopped for four minutes, leading to the fatal collision.

Ball’s criteria for accuracy and reliability were so strict that they later inspired others like the Swiss Official Testing Institute (COSC).