Sir John Bennett (Rotherhams) Half-hunter 18ct gold 1921

[svenedin]

A half hunter of mine in 18ct gold. In very lovely condition. Case hallmarked for Birmingham with maker's mark "R&S" (Rotherham and Son) and dated 1921. Rotherham's movement jewelled to the 3rd. Combined gold endstone setting for lever and escape wheel. 19 jewels. Cut compensated balance with Breguet overcoil hairspring. Crown wound and pin set.

 

[John Matthews]

Stephen,

As you are probably aware the serial number is that of Rotherhams. The earliest cased example of this particular movement design I am aware of is in a open face 18K gold case hallmarked 1889/90 serial number #245684. When viewed from the back plate the train progresses anti-clockwise from the barrel to the escape like your example. I have a later open case example (#343598 1931/32) with the same quality train but the train progresses clockwise. I also own an earlier example #293056 1910/11 in a silver open case with a clockwise train - so for reasons I do not understand Rotherhams appear to have had production runs of these two designs of the same quality that were active from the end of the C19th through the beginning of the 20th.

John

Edit - got called away by a neighbour prematurely - I was going to add that the difference between the variants of their 'three-quarter plate super grade' movements, is possibly who made the frame, but I have never looked for marks on the pillar plate to check. The other fanciful suggestion is that in view of the corresponding change in the position of the pin set, it was to accommodate those customers who were left handed . I should also add that all the time that these were being produced they were also producing lowly jewelled full plate movements.

 

[svenedin]

Stephen,

As you are probably aware the serial number is that of Rotherhams. The earliest cased example of this particular movement design I am aware of is in a open face 18K gold case hallmarked 1889/90 serial number #245684. When viewed from the back plate the train progresses anti-clockwise from the barrel to the escape like your example. I have a later open case example (#343598 1931/32) with the same quality train but the train progresses clockwise. I also own an earlier example #293056 1910/11 in a silver open case with a clockwise train - so for reasons I do not understand Rotherhams appear to have had production runs of these two designs of the same quality that were active from the end of the C19th through the beginning of the 20th.

John

Edit - got called away by a neighbour prematurely - I was going to add that the difference between the variants of their 'three-quarter plate super grade' movements, is possibly who made the frame, but I have never looked for marks on the pillar plate to check. The other fanciful suggestion is that in view of the corresponding change in the position of the pin set, it was to accommodate those customers who were left handed . I should also add that all the time that these were being produced they were also producing lowly jewelled full plate movements.

Thank you John. Very interesting. I am not that familiar with Rotherhams movements. I am more familiar with movements by JW Benson. Benson too had different variants of the same movement and at one time they were selling two different designs of "The Field" simultaneously. John Lashbrook (Oxford Pocket watches) speculates that this was due to the use of a different maker to cover a surge in demand.

By the way, I am left-handed and I find that explanation as fanciful as I am sure you do!

 

[svenedin]

John,

Now that you have told me about it, I have just seen (I think) exactly what you mean. I was looking at a watch signed by Dent with a Rotherhams movement (number 57109) case hallmarked 1909 signed R&S which looks like my movement but a mirror image. The same conjoined gold setting for lever and escape cap jewels but with the escape wheel on the left side of the movement and the balance wheel on the right (when looking at the movement from the back of the case).

Stephen