English Fusee

Patrick

Probably Coventry made capped single roller fusee - unsigned, so it would be described 'as delivered to the retailer' who sold it without having his signature added to the barrel plate. It is in a silver London hallmarked open face case assayed in 1868/69 made by Samuel Freeman. He registered marks of this form on 20 August, 1862 and 8 December, 1868 - comparing with photographs of the two, I believe this to be the earlier mark.

I would be interested if there is a maker's mark punched on the inside of the cap. A photograph would be appreciated.

John

 

Patrick - thank you for posting the photograph of the cap.

Kennedy is the surname of family of cap makers at the time when your watch was made. They were based in Coventry and also had an address in Birmingham. Unfortunately, I don't have to hand a trade directory for 1860's, but I think it possible that your cap may have been made by Henry Kennedy who I know was operating from 2 York Street, Coventry in the 1870's. Christopher Kennedy was active in 6 Spon Street, also in Coventry at the same time. In the 1880's Christopher continued to work in Coventry, at 65 Butts, and is also listed at 61 Barr Street West, Birmingham. There is no record of Henry in the 1880 directory. I think we can be reasonably confident that it was either Henry or Christopher who made the cap, and I think it likely that it was Henry, but I have little evidence to justify my instinct.

John

 

Patrick - further research has revealed that Christopher Kennedy is possibly the more likely. He was established in Coventry by 1851 - in the census of that year he is recorded has having 8 employees and that he had moved from Clerkenwell in London to Coventry, shortly before. In contrast I have been unable to identify any matching census records for Henry.

John