JW = J WYCHERLEY, Prescot, for HODDELL & Co, London & Coventry
Rare Patent 8-day rough movement, circa 1860.
£395.00
16-size hollow-back (no brass-edge) key wound movement, the unique frame with twin barrels and (uncut) fusees driving into a single train, with an extra wheel planted before the centre, the frame stamped JW (Wycherley). No escapement parts fitted at this stage and all the arbors left long ready for final depthing and replanting. 45.5 mm diameter.
John Wycherly (1817-91), one of the most important Liverpool makers of rough movements and supplier to most of the best English finishers of his day. He designed his own tooling and standardised English movement sizes, and is holder of a Patent for manufacturing “parts of a watch framework to gauge, so that they may be interchangeable.” See also his obituary in the Horological Journal, Vol 34, page 17.
James Hoddell & Co ‘watch manufacturers’ Northampton Square, Clerkenwell, the heart of London’s watchmaking district, and with their main works at Craven Street in the Chapel Fields area of Coventry. Patent No 3049, December 1857.
NB: Few watches of this calliper are known, one fine gold cased example being that sold at Sothebys (Djanogly collection) in 2015. This movement is almost certainly that included as Item 144 in the ‘Collectors’ Pieces… Exhibition’ held at the Science Museum in May 1964, of which a catalogue was produced with concise descriptions by Rodney Law – a 2nd edition, with additional plates, was produced in July.
In good clean condition, still showing the hand scrapping and spotting decoration to the plates.
Item available
Description
16-size hollow-back (no brass-edge) key wound movement, the unique frame with twin barrels and (uncut) fusees driving into a single train, with an extra wheel planted before the centre, the frame stamped JW (Wycherley). No escapement parts fitted at this stage and all the arbors left long ready for final depthing and replanting. 45.5 mm diameter.
John Wycherly (1817-91), one of the most important Liverpool makers of rough movements and supplier to most of the best English finishers of his day. He designed his own tooling and standardised English movement sizes, and is holder of a Patent for manufacturing “parts of a watch framework to gauge, so that they may be interchangeable.” See also his obituary in the Horological Journal, Vol 34, page 17.
James Hoddell & Co ‘watch manufacturers’ Northampton Square, Clerkenwell, the heart of London’s watchmaking district, and with their main works at Craven Street in the Chapel Fields area of Coventry. Patent No 3049, December 1857.
NB: Few watches of this calliper are known, one fine gold cased example being that sold at Sothebys (Djanogly collection) in 2015. This movement is almost certainly that included as Item 144 in the ‘Collectors’ Pieces… Exhibition’ held at the Science Museum in May 1964, of which a catalogue was produced with concise descriptions by Rodney Law – a 2nd edition, with additional plates, was produced in July.
In good clean condition, still showing the hand scrapping and spotting decoration to the plates.
