Johnson Jex.Watch Maker.

[binman]

His initials JJ are stamped into the cover of a fusee watch I have, I looked this man up and realised he must rank with the highest watch makers of his time. I’m going to down load his history as I find it compelling reading.I’ve saved it on notes unable to transfer but take a look.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Richard,

Any chance of some pictures of this watch?

Loomes has him as 'Born 1778, Billingford (Norfolk), succeeded grandfather at Letheringsett, (Norfolk), c.1802, died 1852, Blacksmith, precision & agricultural engineer, inventor, scientist, recluse'. Sounds interesting!

Regards,

Graham

 

[roughbarked]

Interesting indeed.

 

[binman]

Hi Graham and roughbarked Photos as requested,I’m beginning to think I has got the incus JJ incorrect there is also a VR? Anyway take a look, Johnson Jex came from Billingford,where I got my info from I’m at a loss cannot find him in the Watch case makers of England.1720-1920. I’m happy with the year London 1850.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Richard,

The case hallmarks are for Birmingham, 1838/9 and the 'VR' is probably for Vale & Rotherham in Coventry, (which has never had an assay office). The Bullingford signature is probably for Vale & Rotherham and was used for their 'second line' watches.The 'JJ' is often seen in Joseph Johnson watches but isn't part of the legal hallmarks. Priestley lists several incuse marks which are found with 'VR' but don't appear in the register, possibly for associated companies or journeymen working for V&R, but your 'JJ' isn't among them.

Alan Treherne in his article on Southwest Lancashire Horology wrote,

"Broadly speaking, the manufacturers were quite
willing to add the vendor's or importer's name
and location to the movement or dial, or to add
fictitious names, such as Bullingford, Champion,
Edmonds, Fairplay, Fondling, Goldsmith,
Hicks etc., which became very familiar in
America. Coventry manufacturers normally
added 'London' or 'Liverpool' as the location,
as both these centres had a high reputation
for producing good watches throughout much
of the world."

Regards,

Graham

 

[John Matthews]

The Bullingford signature is probably for Vale & Rotherham and was used for their 'second line' watches.T

Graham - I think to describe these Bullingford signed movements as 'second-line' is a little misleading, given that it may be taken to imply second line quality. I believe it better to describe them as a brand name for marketing in America. I have not been able to discern any difference in the quality of these VR verges and those sold to domestic retailers.

JJ is a subsidiary case mark - see here. (Priestley's list is incomplete.)

John

 

[gmorse]

Hi John,

I think to describe these Bullingford signed movements as 'second-line' is a little misleading, given that it may be taken to imply second line quality.

Indeed, but there was presumably a good reason for V&R to use a fictitious name on this part of their export trade which dissociated it from their domestic output.

Regards,

Graham

 

[binman]

Hi Richard,

The case hallmarks are for Birmingham, 1838/9 and the 'VR' is probably for Vale & Rotherham in Coventry, (which has never had an assay office). The Bullingford signature is probably for Vale & Rotherham and was used for their 'second line' watches.The 'JJ' is often seen in Joseph Johnson watches but isn't part of the legal hallmarks. Priestley lists several incuse marks which are found with 'VR' but don't appear in the register, possibly for associated companies or journeymen working for V&R, but your 'JJ' isn't among them.

Alan Treherne in his article on Southwest Lancashire Horology wrote,

"Broadly speaking, the manufacturers were quite
willing to add the vendor's or importer's name
and location to the movement or dial, or to add
fictitious names, such as Bullingford, Champion,
Edmonds, Fairplay, Fondling, Goldsmith,
Hicks etc., which became very familiar in
America. Coventry manufacturers normally
added 'London' or 'Liverpool' as the location,
as both these centres had a high reputation
for producing good watches throughout much
of the world."

Regards,

Graham

Thank you again for clearing this up I thought I had the letter P correct for London .The watch is some 12 yr younger.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Richard,

It's always best to start with the assay office mark, then you know which date letter table to look at.

Regards,

Graham

 

[John Matthews]

Graham

The reasons were in my opinion all to do with marketing and not with the quality of the product. VR established a Bullingford brand and added the names of the two centres which had the reputation of producing high quality watches. So we have Bullingford signatures, preceded by various initials, followed by either Liverpool (majority) or London. To my knowledge these were sold exclusively in America. I believe it was thought that a signature followed by ‘Liverpool’ or ‘London’ would break into the American market faster than ‘Vale & Rotherham, Coventry‘ and it appears to have worked. Who would have heard of Coventry at the beginning of the C19th in America?

John