Antique English Silver Half Hunter Pocket Watch

An antique silver half hunter private label pocket watch made by the Lancashire Watch Company

In 1882, Thomas Hewitt purchased the movement making business of John Wycherley in Prescot, Lancashire. The business was a success and in 1887 Hewitt proposed a company, called the British Watch Company, to be set up with the aim of producing machine made movements (Hewitt had seen the success of both Rotherham and Ehrhardt using similar methods). A year later the Lancashire Watch Company Ltd was registered at the Stock Exchange with a capital of £50,000 and the factory opened in 1890.

In 1897, a reconstructed company was formed with authorised capital of £200,000. However, by 1906 the company was running into financial trouble and share holders took over the running of the business. Two years later, receivers were appointed and in 1911 a nine day auction of tools and stock took place, after Rotherham and Erhardt and turned down the opportunity of acquiring the company.

This particular watch has a ¾ plate stem-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement is signed S Burman, 9 Wine Street, Bristol. He was listed in the 1871 Bristol trade directory listed as a goldsmith, silversmith and jeweller. Therefore it seems that the watch was made as a private label watch by the Lancashire Watch Company.

The watch itself measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside all three covers for Chester 1898 with the initials for TPH, Thomas Peter Hewitt. The case has a small indentation to the front (towards the edge) but otherwise is in good condition for such an early piece.

The small lens is in good condition, and it is encircled by blue enamel filled Roman numerals.

To open the front cover, you need to use your nail... the original catch has gone missing over the years but it has been altered so that the cover stays shut. Inside there is an acrylic lens… the original glass ones were often changed for acrylic when they broke as it is a much more durable material. The dial is in good condition and if viewed closely, the name of the original retailer can just about be read, although it is very faint.

The hands are initially set by way of the pin set mechanism.

The watch will be sent in a new presentation box.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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