Antique Hunter Pocket Watch, Lancashire Watch Co

An antique Prescot half hunter pocket watch by the Lancashire Watch Company.

The watch has a stem-winding movement signed Lancashire Watch Co Ltd, Vigil, which is working nicely. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover.

The watch itself measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is gold plated and was made by the Dennison Watch Case Company, a company based in England who supplied watches to various watch factories. Overall the case is in good condition, just a small indentation to the front cover and a little marking around the edge.

The winding crown pushes in to open the front cover. Inside there is an acrylic lens. When the original glass lenses broke, they were often replaced with acrylic lenses as they were much more durable.

The dial is signed Prescot and it is in beautiful condition. We are not sure why the dials were marked Prescot and the movements Vigil but have seen several examples over the years so we are happy that everything is as it should be, and everything about the movement and the case suggests they have always been together.

In 1882, Thomas Hewitt purchased a movement making business, John Wycherley of Prescot in Lancashire, UK… John Wycherley, Hewitt & Co. In 1889, Mr Hewitt founded the Lancashire Watch Company with the intention of matching the success of the big American and Swiss watch manufacturers. The company was registered at the Stock Exchange with a capital of £50,000. Although initially successful, by 1906 it became clear that the company had real financial problems and by 1911 all their assets were disposed of in a nine day auction and the company ceased trading.

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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