English Kendal & Dent History

[Airdale]

Hi All,
I live in New Zealand and my MUN recently passed and I got her fathers Kendal and Dent pocket watch. I have tried to research but can’t find anything about it. I am hoping someone can give me some help as I would love to know a bit more about it.

 

[novicetimekeeper]

It is an English case on an imported swiss movement. Kendall & Dent are not the famous company of Dent.
The case is dated 1936, so in the brief reign of Edward VIII, assayed in Birmingham, I think ALD is Dennison.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Airdale, and welcome to the forum,

Kendall & Dent are not the famous company of Dent.

That's right, no connection with Dent or Kendal, (note the single 'L', but probably intended to suggest Larcum Kendall, a prominent 18th century watchmaker). I believe Dents took legal action regarding the use of the name, and as far as I know, the company was never an official supplier of anything to the Admiralty either.

assayed in Birmingham, I think ALD is Dennison.

Aaron Lufkin Dennison set up a case making company in Birmingham after his adventures with various watchmaking enterprises in the US, which became one of the largest in the UK; quite a colourful character! The case is sterling silver and there's nothing fake about it, Dennisons made good cases.



The inner back will hinge open to reveal the movement if you use a thumbnail or if that doesn't work, a blunt knife in the gap in the picture above, but be careful to keep it under control; it should be twisted rather than stabbed. It looks as though some earlier attempts have caused some scratching.

Regards,

Graham

 

[Airdale]

Hi Guys,
Thank you so much for replying very interesting to know. It has been tucked away for a while so wound it last night and it has kept perfect time overnight
Graham, awesome did not know how to open so yes managed to amazing movement and see perhaps where the Kendaltick comes from as it is on the movement. Maybe a tongue in cheek for the maker and the tick of a watch??
Have attached pics just in case you wanted to see the inside. Thanks very much for your interest and help, appreciated.

 

[John Matthews]

A quick search yields multiple results including this.

John

 

[Tom McIntyre]

I do not have time at the moment to verify this, but I recall that Dent's suit against Kendal & Dent also mentioned that the Dent had had his name changed to Dent as part of the setup for this adventure.

 

[Bernhard J.]

Hi Guys,
Thank you so much for replying very interesting to know. It has been tucked away for a while so wound it last night and it has kept perfect time overnight
Graham, awesome did not know how to open so yes managed to amazing movement and see perhaps where the Kendaltick comes from as it is on the movement. Maybe a tongue in cheek for the maker and the tick of a watch??
Have attached pics just in case you wanted to see the inside. Thanks very much for your interest and help, appreciated.

View attachment 765069 View attachment 765070

While most "Kendal & Dent" had inferior or in the best case average Swiss movements, this one is really nice and well made. In summary, I would say a watch being a lot better than the signature alone would suggest. And apparently in a lovely condition.

Cheers, Bernhard

 

[Tom McIntyre]

Buren has been mentioned with their relationship to Williamson and it has been my impression that Buren was capable of making a medium to high grade English watch about as well as anyone in the UK. They seemed to be able to make whatever grade was requested. i.e. the only thing obviously Swiss was their name on it.

 

[John Matthews]

The link I provided above identified this to be a Dimier Freres & Cie movement. Not my area but appears to match. Enrico (eric the bully) would be best to confirm.

John

 

[eric the bully]

Great observation John, it's a Gedeon Thommen caliber derived from the 30 or 31 caliber, the mainspring bridge was the base but the gear train bridge could have different designs from three bridges to a single bridge but the caliber was the same. In the U.K. it was also marketed under the Limit and Syren brand names (also used by Record).
These supplies, a movement ready to be encased (the correct term was "Chablon"), were strongly opposed by the Swiss casemakers because they took jobs away.
Regards enrico

 

[Bella8Corey]

Hi Airdale, and welcome to the forum,


That's right, no connection with Dent or Kendal, (note the single 'L', but probably intended to suggest Larcum Kendall, a prominent 18th century watchmaker). I believe Dents took legal action regarding the use of the name, and as far as I know, the company was never an official supplier of anything to the Admiralty either.


Aaron Lufkin Dennison set up a case making company in Birmingham after his adventures with various watchmaking enterprises in the US, which became one of the largest in the UK; quite a colourful character! The case is sterling silver and there's nothing fake about it, Dennisons made good cases.

View attachment 765006

The inner back will hinge open to reveal the movement if you use a thumbnail or if that doesn't work, a blunt knife in the gap in the picture above, but be careful to keep it under control; it should be twisted rather than stabbed. It looks as though some earlier attempts have caused some scratching.

Regards,

Graham

I have a similar watch that I got from my grandfather! For a long time I tried to open the back with my fingernail, I was afraid to damage the watch)) And your watch looks just great!