Code: 4.33
This is an English silver pocket watch with clear hallmarks for Chester 1852
This is an early English silver fusee pocket watch which has a slow beat balance. The balance has a deliberate slow return and to see this in action, please click on the link below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urjoIpibU0o
These curious watches were invented by Thomas Yates of Preston and to quote Dr Robert Kemp from his “The Fusee lever watch” – Chapter 9, Thos. Yates of Preston and his slow beat watch”: The man himself appears as a curious amalgam of one who spent his life trying to put his theories into practice as a theorist at the bench, combining this with pushing salesmanship in the front shop. The theory embodied in his patent of 1846 was that a slow beat watch (7,200 or 10,800 train instead of the usual 14,400 train) wold stand up better to the minor shocks of being carried in the pocket. Unfortunately this didn’t prove to be so, indeed quite the reverse”
This watch is the slower 7200 variant as mentioned above
This watch will be accompanied by a copy of the chapter in this book.
The watch runs well but gains around 10 minutes in 24 hours.
Please note we cannot offer a guarantee on the fusee watch chain. Should this break, repairs will be charged at cost.
Movement – the gilt full plate fusee movement has a lever escapement and a gold 3 arm balance with a diamond endstone. The watch cock is decorated with engraving and signed “Patent”. The movement is signed “Manufactured for “J W Scott, Burnley, N 2013” and is in 90% mint condition – some scratches on the plate pins.
The movement is protected by its original gilt dust cap signed “Yates Patent”.
Case – the movement comes in a silver open face case, which has a hinged back and bezel. The watch is wound from the back, set from the front and the movement is accessed from the front also. The case has a smooth plain finish with light traces of engine turning and coin edged sides – now mostly rubbed away. The case has case makers marks for RS and is numbered 2013 The case is in 80% mint condition
Dial – the off white enamel dial has a pair of blue steel hands and a large blue steel sub seconds hand. The dial is signed “Yates Patent” and in 99% mint condition
The watch has a mineral glass
The watch measures 50mm wide x 17mm deep
The watch is key wound / key set and comes with an old dog clip style pocket watch key
