Current Location: In storage
Maker(s)
Maker:
North, Richard
Case maker:
Oliver, Richard and Edwards, John
Entities
Categories
Description
Verge watch in silver open face case.
This is a good example of the verge watch in its last stages of development, as indicated by the seconds hand and the comparative flatness of the movement.
MOVEMENT: Full plate movement engraved on barrel bar 'North No. 5671 Lombard Street LONDON'. Balance cock with table pierced and engraved with two birds, urn on pillar on neck. Cock foot engraved. Blued steel end piece, diamond end stone. Underside of foot stamped 'I' and scratched 'X503' and '13583'. Polished steel balance. Slide plate engraved, silver regulation disc marked 10, 20 and 30 in Arabic figures. Barrel bridge with engraved chamfered edge. Turned fusee iron post, polished steel winged case bolt, in slot in plate, nib in brass edge. Potance with moulding at end of foot, screwed, counter-potance riveted to plate. Stop lever pin to contact contrate wheel. Pillar plate with four turned pillars ringed at ends. Centre wheel recessed. Third wheel bar. Stop lever, slit in pillar plate for pin to stop contrate wheel. Fusee and chain, set-up click under dial. Verge escapement. Train planted clockwise.
A balance stop is fitted, operated by a nib on the edge of the movement. Moving this brings a frictional brake into contact with the contrate wheel, and so stops the hands. As the verge escapement is self starting, the watch is ready to go again as soon as the brake is taken off
BRASS EDGE: Plain gilt brass, three feet, recess for stop lever.
DIAL: White enamel on copper, three feet. Ladder minute ring, diamond marks at quarters, radial Roman chapters. Seconds dial at 6 o'clock, with ladder seconds ring, long 5 second lines, radial Arabic figures every 10 sec.
HANDS: Gold, poker and spade.
CASE: Silver, plain, double-backed. Cover and dome London HM 1848. Maker's mark of a round cameo 'RO' over 'JE'. Small (around 1mm) round 'V' punch mark.
The nib can be operated by opening the front glass, without swinging the movement out, and it enables the watch to be used as a stop watch.
Notes
History note: Unknown before S.G. Perceval (1838-1922)
Legal notes
Spencer George Perceval Bequest, 1922
Components of the work
Dial
composed of
enamel
( white, on copper)
copper
Brass Edge
composed of
gilt brass
Hands
composed of
gold
Case
composed of
silver
Diameter 53 mm
Height 62 mm
Thickness 21.25 mm
Balance
composed of
steel
Movement (back Plate)
Diameter 40 mm
Movement (pillar Plate)
Diameter 43.5 mm
Movement (brass Edge)
Diameter 46.75 mm
Movement (pillar)
Height 5 mm
Movement
Inscription or legends present
- Location: Dome case
- Type: Hallmark
- Text: 'North No. 5671 Lombard Street LONDON'
- Location: Movement
- Method of creation: Engraved
- Type: Maker's name
- Text: 'X503' and '13583'
- Location: Movement
- Method of creation: Scratched
- Type: Number
- Text: round cameo 'RO' over 'JE'
- Location: Case
- Type: Maker's mark
References and bibliographic entries
Identification numbers
Accession number: PW.32-1923
Primary reference Number: 207301
No.: 5671
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Wednesday 9 December 2015
Updated: Wednesday 14 March 2018
Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
