Geo LEGERTWOOD, London. No 6774
Good London retailed Coventry DETACH’D movement, circa 1820, from the Alan Treherne collection.
£235.00
Well finished fullpate fusee movement jewelled to the 3rd, with cap jewels on balance (diamond), lever and escape, the cock with distinctive engraved lion mask, the brass-edge stamped HH, and the cap and cock foot stamped D. Originally with Massey escapement, the roller now changed and operating as a single-roller detached lever, although the typically short lever with Massey safety fork remains intact – it could be relatively easily reinstated. Brass balance (unusual in English work), spiral balance-spring. Solid yellow and pink gold dial, weighing 6.7 grams, later hands. 47 mm diameter, 14.5 mm deep, not including centre arbor.
George Legertwood, presumably a London retailer, but certainly with the knowledge to understand the merit of these Coventry/Massey watches.
Probably supplied by Vale & Co and bearing their serial number. The firm started by Samual Vale, becoming Vale & Rotherhams around the time of this movement, was a partnership that became one of the most important suppliers of watches in England. Most of their work carries the name of its retailer, even at this early period, and this movement shows just how good was their best quality work by 1820. The ‘D’ stamp is commonly seen in caps and occasionally on cocks in Coventry movements of this period, the unidentified maker probably having strong ties to the various Vale partnerships.
Nothing appears to be broken, but not cleaned by me and not willing to tick, so priced as its scrap gold value in the hope that someone thinks it worthy of restoration.
Item available
Description
Well finished fullpate fusee movement jewelled to the 3rd, with cap jewels on balance (diamond), lever and escape, the cock with distinctive engraved lion mask, the brass-edge stamped HH, and the cap and cock foot stamped D. Originally with Massey escapement, the roller now changed and operating as a single-roller detached lever, although the typically short lever with Massey safety fork remains intact – it could be relatively easily reinstated. Brass balance (unusual in English work), spiral balance-spring. Solid yellow and pink gold dial, weighing 6.7 grams, later hands. 47 mm diameter, 14.5 mm deep, not including centre arbor.
George Legertwood, presumably a London retailer, but certainly with the knowledge to understand the merit of these Coventry/Massey watches.
Probably supplied by Vale & Co and bearing their serial number. The firm started by Samual Vale, becoming Vale & Rotherhams around the time of this movement, was a partnership that became one of the most important suppliers of watches in England. Most of their work carries the name of its retailer, even at this early period, and this movement shows just how good was their best quality work by 1820. The ‘D’ stamp is commonly seen in caps and occasionally on cocks in Coventry movements of this period, the unidentified maker probably having strong ties to the various Vale partnerships.
Nothing appears to be broken, but not cleaned by me and not willing to tick, so priced as its scrap gold value in the hope that someone thinks it worthy of restoration.