ROTHERHAMS, London. No 328884
Rare best quality watch from this Coventry manufacturer, with provenance.
£2,495.00
Heavy double-back gold crystal (flat glass) case hallmarked Birmingham 1904, sponsor’s mark JR (John Rotherham), the dome with interesting dedication. Unusual (for Rotherhams) half-plate keyless going-barrel movement jewelled to the centre, 21 in total rather than the standard 19 jewels, the top plate also marked ADJUSTED. Single-roller detached escapement with ratchet-tooth escape, the classic English lever escapement. Top quality compensation balance with quarter-timing nuts, balance-spring with overcoil. Signed enamel dial in perfect condition, also bearing the Rotherhams’ trademark, with original gold hands. 50 mm diameter and weighing 115 grams gross.
Rotherham & Sons Ltd, 27 Spon Street, Coventry, with offices at 1,2 & 3, Holborn Circus, London, the UK’s premier volume watch manufacturer at this period, both pocket and wristwatches.
Rotherhams standard production of this period were jewelled to the 3rd (19), coming in two basic qualities: pressed-in jewels and those in screw-held settings. Their better movements were also adjusted, and marked as such, but these rare watches also show variations of jeweling and finish, this being amongst the best I have handled.
NB: Most watches sold with compensation balances were never adjusted, by which I mean that an ‘off the shelf’ standard balance was fitted and the watch bought to time. They have never been adjusted for temperature or position. As a fully adjusted balance looks no different, some manufacturers, including many Swiss firms, started to mark the fact that their watches had received this extra attention. Others, like the best English work of Nicole Nielsen, Kullberg, Barraud & Lunds, etc, were not marked as such, but their literature mentions the additional work and sales staff will have no doubt been keen to inform prospective customers.
The dome engraved “Presented to Joseph KIMBERLEY by his Fellow Workers in the Church of the Messiah Sunday Schools…September 1911” and some minor signs of use. Otherwise a rare and good looking gold Rotherhams watch in fine original condition. Serviced and guaranteed.
Item available
Description
Heavy double-back gold crystal (flat glass) case hallmarked Birmingham 1904, sponsor’s mark JR (John Rotherham), the dome with interesting dedication. Unusual (for Rotherhams) half-plate keyless going-barrel movement jewelled to the centre, 21 in total rather than the standard 19 jewels, the top plate also marked ADJUSTED. Single-roller detached escapement with ratchet-tooth escape, the classic English lever escapement. Top quality compensation balance with quarter-timing nuts, balance-spring with overcoil. Signed enamel dial in perfect condition, also bearing the Rotherhams’ trademark, with original gold hands. 50 mm diameter and weighing 115 grams gross.
Rotherham & Sons Ltd, 27 Spon Street, Coventry, with offices at 1,2 & 3, Holborn Circus, London, the UK’s premier volume watch manufacturer at this period, both pocket and wristwatches.
Rotherhams standard production of this period were jewelled to the 3rd (19), coming in two basic qualities: pressed-in jewels and those in screw-held settings. Their better movements were also adjusted, and marked as such, but these rare watches also show variations of jeweling and finish, this being amongst the best I have handled.
NB: Most watches sold with compensation balances were never adjusted, by which I mean that an ‘off the shelf’ standard balance was fitted and the watch bought to time. They have never been adjusted for temperature or position. As a fully adjusted balance looks no different, some manufacturers, including many Swiss firms, started to mark the fact that their watches had received this extra attention. Others, like the best English work of Nicole Nielsen, Kullberg, Barraud & Lunds, etc, were not marked as such, but their literature mentions the additional work and sales staff will have no doubt been keen to inform prospective customers.
The dome engraved “Presented to Joseph KIMBERLEY by his Fellow Workers in the Church of the Messiah Sunday Schools…September 1911” and some minor signs of use. Otherwise a rare and good looking gold Rotherhams watch in fine original condition. Serviced and guaranteed.
