English Verge Fusee

[harold]

Can anyone date this watch from the name of the maker. Could not find name in any one of my books nor on the internet. Name looks like Branscom or Branscome.

 

[MartyR]

I can't find the name either, Harold, but there were probably many thousands of English makers who never got into the books, and never will.

The movement looks first half of the 18th century to me. Unless you have an original hallmarked case, you may never date it closer than that. But you never know - someone may find the maker in a book

 

[RON in PA]

Not in Loomes nor Britten's. Movement looks 1780-1800 time-frame to me.

 

[harold]

Thank you guys for the information. I have attached a picture of the hall marks contained in this outer case. Some amateur repairer tried to fix this case. The inner case is as bad as the outer case. It shows the Exeter mark and a large A. I have not had time to look up the year.

 

[MartyR]

That's a great set of hallmarks, Harold, and Ron has hit it on the button yet again

The marks are for Chester 1797, and the casemaker is John Ellison of Liverpool, who was known to be working between 1794 and 1808. Given also that yours is a pair case (which would make a recase even more unusual than normal, I think), you can be pretty sure this is the original case and therefore your watch is dated 1797.

 

[harold]

Thank you again Marty & Ron.