“Fusee, (English?)”

[Omexa]

Hi, I purchased this “Fusee, (English?)” complete movement real cheap from Canada as a parts movement to maybe get some parts for a similar “Center Seconds Fusee” that I need to get going. Yesterday I slaved for ages to get a “German Mantel Striking Clock”, going for a friend and I have learnt enough about them to give them a miss in the future. Today I am back to Pocket Watches. When I unpacked the Fusee; it immediately started running strongly and is obviously fighting for its life and wants to remain intact. I took pity on it and I now want to know more about it. The movement has “WB”, stamped under the dial and is serial number, 91639 on “Dial as 91 over 639”. Who were “WB”, and what is the significance of the 91 over 639? Photos taken at night in my Kitchen; so not top photos. I am just adding a similar movement that I mainly purchased for the Hands; maybe the Gold Balance screws are worth more than I paid for it. Regards Ray

 

[Omexa]

Hi, the only reference to "C J Wareham & Son in Coventry that I can find is: (THE LONDON GAZETTE, I?TH NOVEMBER 1970 12625
C. J. WAREHAM & SON LIMITED
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Members
of the above-named Company, duly convened and
held at 32/34 Queens Road, Coventry, on the 4th
November 1970, the following Special Resolution was
duly passed:
" That the Company be wound up voluntarily, and
that Edward Arthur Fern of 32/34 Queens Road,
Coventry, be and he is hereby appointed Liquidator
of the Company for the purposes of such winding-up."
(196) A. J. Wareham, Chairman.)
Regards Ray

 

[Dr. Jon]

YOu have a very nice movement but it is not a fusee. It has a going barrel and was stem would and cased in a half hunter case. The balance has a diamond endstone. I am surprised its runnign well since its balance spring is badly tangled. Gold balance scres do not have much gold in them but it has a very fine "Winged" balance.


It looks like a fairly standard "Prescott" movement. It dates from a time when the English industry comprised numerous specialists in the various skills required to make a complete watch Wareham brokered it. They put up the money and sent it from specialist to specialist. My guess is that it is from about 1900.

My guess is the the upper number is series or sequence number and the lower is the serial nmber in that sequence.

 

[Omexa]

Hi thank you Dr Jon, I knew that the "JC Wareham", was not a Fusee because I repair them all the time; I think that you have mixed the 2 movements up; the bottom 3 photos are of the Fusee and the top 2 photos is the "Going Barrel". It is my fault for adding the top photos; which I added because I got it real cheap for parts. Regards Ray

 

[MartyR]

My guess is the the upper number is series or sequence number and the lower is the serial nmber in that sequence.

That's the system used most famously by Barraud.

 

[Dr. Jon]

I had thought it was like Barrauds but I decided against it. Barruad numbers changed at 10,000 i.e. they went 1/1 to 1/9999 then 2/0001. The numerator never got above 4.

 

[MartyR]

I wasn't suggesting it was a Barraud, just suggesting that this structure of serial numbering was known to be used

 

[Omexa]

Hi, so it looks like the identity of “WB”, will remain a mystery. Regards Ray