Early 18th C Henry Neve fusee

[Doc Mark]

Good Morning, Friends,

I promised, quite a while ago, that I'd take photos of my Henry Neve fusee and post them here. I apologize for taking so long in making it happen. Here are the promised photos.

The first shot is of the watch, with it's high-domed crystal, chains, and sterling fob. The fob is an exact reproduction of an original in the Williamsburg collection.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1376.jpg

Here, you can see that the dial has been replaced, probably in the late 18th, or early 19th century. It is scratched, has hairlines, and also some cracks, but, it's stable. The hour hand looks original, the minute hand, is an obvious replacement. I would LOVE to find an original "poker" minute hand for this fusee, to match the hour hand. It would be outstanding to replace the dial, too, with one that more fits the time period of this watch, but that probably won't ever happen.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1377.jpg

Here is a nice photo of the back of the movement. The gilding is still quite bright and lovely, actually, though this photo does not do it justice.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1388.jpg

In this close-up, you can better see the Tompion regulator and some of the beautiful scrollwork in the piercings. You can also see the balance jewel and the interesting "face" on the balance cock table.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1381.jpg

Here is Henry Neve's signature. There are two listings in Britten's. He is listed as having worked in London (Strand) from 1700-1705; and also listed as being there from 1700-1752. Father and son, maybe, or just two listings for the same man?

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1380.jpg

Here is a shot of the mainspring barrel, with it's chain, the fusee, and also the let-down worm.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1383.jpg

A shot of the contrate wheel.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1385.jpg

One of the crown wheel.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1384.jpg

In this photo, you can see the touchmarks of the inner case, or box. The touchmarks are confusing to me. If the cases are original to the watch, then the date letter should denote the year 1731. But, this letter looks more like the one from 1811, to me. If this is true, the where is the duty mark of the King's head? If the cases were made in 1811, then the casemaker might have been Joseph Glenny. If they were made in 1731, the casemaker might have been John Gibbons, listed in 1723, or John Gammon, listed in 1731-32. I'm guessing here.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1387.jpg

Here's a shot of the touchmarks in the outside case.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1386.jpg

From the style of this fusee, I would guess that it dates from the 1720-1730 period. My suspicion is that the dial, one hand, and the cases, date to the later time period, and were replacements for the original parts. My thought is that this watch, originally, had a nice repousee case, and either an early enamel dial, or maybe a champleve dial. But, these are just guesses on my part, and I could be totally wrong. What are your thoughts on this wonderful fusee, Friends? It runs nicely, and is good to between 10-15 minutes, in 24 hours. This is the fusee that I usually carry when portraying a colonial doctor, in Williamsburg, and many other places all over the US. I am quite proud of it, and it was my very first verge fusee!! I will appreciate your thoughts on this and look forward to hearing from you. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc Mark

[Doc Mark]

Good Morning, Friends,

I promised, quite a while ago, that I'd take photos of my Henry Neve fusee and post them here. I apologize for taking so long in making it happen. Here are the promised photos.

The first shot is of the watch, with it's high-domed crystal, chains, and sterling fob. The fob is an exact reproduction of an original in the Williamsburg collection.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1376.jpg

Here, you can see that the dial has been replaced, probably in the late 18th, or early 19th century. It is scratched, has hairlines, and also some cracks, but, it's stable. The hour hand looks original, the minute hand, is an obvious replacement. I would LOVE to find an original "poker" minute hand for this fusee, to match the hour hand. It would be outstanding to replace the dial, too, with one that more fits the time period of this watch, but that probably won't ever happen.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1377.jpg

Here is a nice photo of the back of the movement. The gilding is still quite bright and lovely, actually, though this photo does not do it justice.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1388.jpg

In this close-up, you can better see the Tompion regulator and some of the beautiful scrollwork in the piercings. You can also see the balance jewel and the interesting "face" on the balance cock table.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1381.jpg

Here is Henry Neve's signature. There are two listings in Britten's. He is listed as having worked in London (Strand) from 1700-1705; and also listed as being there from 1700-1752. Father and son, maybe, or just two listings for the same man?

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1380.jpg

Here is a shot of the mainspring barrel, with it's chain, the fusee, and also the let-down worm.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1383.jpg

A shot of the contrate wheel.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1385.jpg

One of the crown wheel.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1384.jpg

In this photo, you can see the touchmarks of the inner case, or box. The touchmarks are confusing to me. If the cases are original to the watch, then the date letter should denote the year 1731. But, this letter looks more like the one from 1811, to me. If this is true, the where is the duty mark of the King's head? If the cases were made in 1811, then the casemaker might have been Joseph Glenny. If they were made in 1731, the casemaker might have been John Gibbons, listed in 1723, or John Gammon, listed in 1731-32. I'm guessing here.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1387.jpg

Here's a shot of the touchmarks in the outside case.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a35/MRutledge/DSCN1386.jpg

From the style of this fusee, I would guess that it dates from the 1720-1730 period. My suspicion is that the dial, one hand, and the cases, date to the later time period, and were replacements for the original parts. My thought is that this watch, originally, had a nice repousee case, and either an early enamel dial, or maybe a champleve dial. But, these are just guesses on my part, and I could be totally wrong. What are your thoughts on this wonderful fusee, Friends? It runs nicely, and is good to between 10-15 minutes, in 24 hours. This is the fusee that I usually carry when portraying a colonial doctor, in Williamsburg, and many other places all over the US. I am quite proud of it, and it was my very first verge fusee!! I will appreciate your thoughts on this and look forward to hearing from you. Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc Mark

[Frank Menez]

The date letter appears to be 1811

The Guide to Marks of Origin on British Silver-

The Sovereign's head appeared on all articles made between 1st December 1784 and 30th April,1890, except on those articles not liable to compulsory hallmarking and on watch cases after 1798.

I believe Joseph Glenny is the case maker

[Oliver Mundy]

Thank you for these pictures, Doc Mark!

I am sure Frank is right about the case; apart from anything else, the flattened bow with its cylindrical (rather than spherical) sleeves is typical of about 1800.

The movement probably dates from about 1720-1730. The clue here is the fact that the inner margin of the cock-foot is angled slightly back towards the perimeter of the movement - the first step away from the straight-edged 'D' pattern of the Tompion period towards the narrow wedge-shaped foot of a century later.

It is quite unusual to find a jewelled endstone as early as this, the technique of making jewels having been patented as recently as 1704; and yet it looks entirely original.

The original case may well have been much more elaborate - scarcely appropriate, perhaps, for a physician to carry as a working tool - and so one could say that the watch is better suited to your chosen 'persona' in its present guise.

Oliver Mundy.

[m.bredewold]

Nice verge Doc Mark!
I've bought some reproduction hands on ebay.
I think they are still for sale, i recollect that his name was P.Warden.
They will need some filing to fit, but with a set of diamond files it wil be very easy to do.
If there not, i have a pair here for you.
I also have a dutch champleve style, enamel dial that looks better than this one.
But you will need to measure its diametre.

[Doc Mark]

Good Morning, Gentlemen,

Many thanks for your thoughts and kind comments on my Neve fusee! What you have said supports what I've already thought about this wonderful watch. The confusing part about the touch marks, was compounded by what appear to be dates, scratched into the box, from old repairs. I do not know what "codes" were used, but I see what could be dates: 1774, 1734, and a few others. I realize that those number are probably not dates, afterall. But, at first they were confusing to me.

Mario, thank you, VERY much, for your kind offer of parts for this watch! I would be very interested in seeing a photo of the beetle and poker hands, if you could PM me one. Also, I'd like to see the dial you mentioned, if that's possible. However, as this is a nice English watch, if I choose to renovate it, the dial should probably be a typical English dial, and not Dutch. Like my Dutch fusee by Pieter Swaan, which has the proper Dutch dial, I'd like to keep this fusee as "English" as I can. Still, if possible, please send me some pics of your hands and dial, just for fun. I appreciate your offer and your efforts!

Thanks, again, to one and all, for your thoughts and comments! MUCH appreciated! Merry Christmas, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc Mark