My oldest watch

[Erik_H]

Some of you may have seen this watch before on NAWCC. It is my Wm Upjohn fusee verge, made around 1775 to 1780 according to opinions from NAWCC and the watchmaker in England who serviced it recently (he is an author of a book describing repair of verge fusee and other watches). William Upjohn was a watchmaker in Exeter, and according to Loomes he was active 1775 to 1803.

The movement is hinged at 12 o'clock in a gilt case of about 47 mm diameter, there are no case hallmarks as was the norm for gilt cases. The front bezel has a bullseye crystal. It has a steel three arm balance and Tompion regulator. Movement is marked Wm. Upjohn, Exeter, and with serial number 773.

Worm and wheel set up is used to pre tension the main spring so that the more linear part is used. On later watches this was done with a simple ratchet under the dial but on this watch, as was common at that time, worm and wheel method is used. This consist of a worm which can be turned with a key which engages with a wheel under the spring barrel. As you turn the worm so the wheel rotates thereby tensioning the main spring. Picture four shows where the key can be engaged. Winding, also by key, is from the back of the movement, refer to picture two.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o301/Erik_H_album/WM1.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o301/Erik_H_album/WM2.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o301/Erik_H_album/WM3.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o301/Erik_H_album/WM4.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o301/Erik_H_album/WM5.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o301/Erik_H_album/WM6.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o301/Erik_H_album/WM7.jpg

[river rat]

Nice verge I like the pillar's on the movement.Here is some photo's of my oldest watch if the date mark's are right 1812 but on mine it just has the serial no,No maker so it's hard to realy date it.It's neat how these were all handmade.
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo147/riverratone/001-2.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo147/riverratone/010.jpg

[Erik_H]

River Rat, with the Bosley regulator and narrow foot on your watch 1812 seems likely to me. What hallmarks are there?

[river rat]

Erik here is a photo of hall marks.
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo147/riverratone/005-14.jpg

[Marrick]

The crowned leopard's head was only used till 1822. The R makes it 1812.

http://www.governmentauctionsuk.co.uk/hallmarks/london.htm

The TB could be Thomas Wilkes Barker of Hatton Garden, London.

http://www.silvercollection.it/englishsilvermarksXT.html

[Erik_H]

It is good to have an expert on English hallmarks around. :-!

[Marrick]

It is good to have an expert on English hallmarks around. :-!

Not me! I'm only good at googling!:-d:-d

[Eeeb]

Not me! I'm only good at googling!:-d:-d

Ah, but you are a Google Meister!!

[GinGinD]

Ah, but you are a Google Meister!!


Sounds like something you'd use to frighten small children. "Go to bed now, or the Google Meister will get you!" :-d

Jeannie

[Erik_H]

Mike, is your 1812 a runner? How accurate is it? My William Upjohn is about 5 to 10 minutes slow after 24 hours, I understand that is as accurate as you can expect from a verge fusee from that age. They may not have performed better when new.

By the way, I found a website with highlights of what happened in a specific year. 1812 was very eventful:

http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/1812/

That being said, I would like others to join the thread with their oldest watch. It need not be 200 years old like the two already here, just post the oldest you have, it may just as well be from the 1960'ies.

[river rat]

Mike, is your 1812 a runner? How accurate is it? My William Upjohn is about 5 to 10 minutes slow after 24 hours, I understand that is as accurate as you can expect from a verge fusee from that age. They may not have performed better when new.

By the way, I found a website with highlights of what happened in a specific year. 1812 was very eventful:

http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/1812/

That being said, I would like others to join the thread with their oldest watch. It need not be 200 years old like the two already here, just post the oldest you have, it may just as well be from the 1960'ies.
Hi Erik
Yes mine is a runner and it's about the same 5-10 minute's a day slow.We are lucky they still run as old as they are almost 200 years old.And it's hard to find some one who works on these it took me a while to find one.Had it service once last year.

[aditya]

Here's mine.

A verge fusee by Tobias Fletcher of Barnsley in a nickel case. Unfortunately, it does not work.

The discussion on NAWCC board concluded that the movement dates to 1780-90. Sometime around 1840 this case might have been made for it. The dial is larger than the movement, indicating that the opportunity was used to make this watch larger (as per the trend in the 1840's :-d)

Kind regards
Aditya

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/asambhare/verge%20tobias%20fletcher/verge_front.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/asambhare/verge%20tobias%20fletcher/verge_dial.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/asambhare/verge%20tobias%20fletcher/verge_side.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/asambhare/verge%20tobias%20fletcher/verge_mov.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/asambhare/verge%20tobias%20fletcher/verge_mov_eng.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/asambhare/verge%20tobias%20fletcher/verge_hallmarks_inside.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/asambhare/verge%20tobias%20fletcher/verge_hallmarks_back.jpg

[Eeeb]

Wonderful closeups! Thanks.

[RON in PA]

Let me join the party with my approximately 1780 vintage John Wightwick, London. Outer case is missing and guilt inner case has been lacquered over as was commonly done when the gold gilt wore through. Still runs within 5-10 minute/day.

[Erik_H]

We have some great verges here on the forum! :-!
Anyone else lurking around and having an old watch that should be shown? Please let us see it!