LITHERLAND, DAVIES & Co, Liverpool. No 10373
Good DETACH’D LEVER movement with Massey type-1 roller, circa 1820, from the Alan Treherne collection.
£75.00
Fullplate fusee movement with balance-brake, the cap stamped H. Massey detached lever escapement with type-1 steel roller, the typically early straight-sided lever being short and the pallets looking to have no draw. Gold balance, spiral balance-spring. One piece cream enamel dial. 47 mm diameter 14 mm deep, not including centre arbor.
The firm of Peter Litherland, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool. known for their invention of the rack-lever escapement but also one of the first watch manufacturers to fit the new detached lever escapements designed and patented by Edward J Massey.
NB: Alan designated the various Massey escapements numbers in the order he identified them. They are not an indication of which came first. Over the years it has become clear that the steel roller, type-1, was the earliest to be used, apart that is, from the very first form shown in his 1812 Patent application. At some point around 1820 Massey started to offer jewelled rollers, the type-5 being the earliest. This was followed by the type-2 roller, which itself was soon followed by type-3, the most common.
Previously sold in my 2002 Postal Auction Catalogue No 6, item 88. Dial with edge chips, lacking hands and top balance pivot now broken. Otherwise a fine complete example both of Litherland’s output and Massey’s escapement. Not, of course working.
Item available
Description
Fullplate fusee movement with balance-brake, the cap stamped H. Massey detached lever escapement with type-1 steel roller, the typically early straight-sided lever being short and the pallets looking to have no draw. Gold balance, spiral balance-spring. One piece cream enamel dial. 47 mm diameter 14 mm deep, not including centre arbor.
The firm of Peter Litherland, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool. known for their invention of the rack-lever escapement but also one of the first watch manufacturers to fit the new detached lever escapements designed and patented by Edward J Massey.
NB: Alan designated the various Massey escapements numbers in the order he identified them. They are not an indication of which came first. Over the years it has become clear that the steel roller, type-1, was the earliest to be used, apart that is, from the very first form shown in his 1812 Patent application. At some point around 1820 Massey started to offer jewelled rollers, the type-5 being the earliest. This was followed by the type-2 roller, which itself was soon followed by type-3, the most common.
Previously sold in my 2002 Postal Auction Catalogue No 6, item 88. Dial with edge chips, lacking hands and top balance pivot now broken. Otherwise a fine complete example both of Litherland’s output and Massey’s escapement. Not, of course working.