Antique Denco Silver Hunter Pocket Watch, Military

Antique Denco silver half hunter pocket watch, military history.

The watch has a Swiss 15-jewel stem-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement is signed Denco Watch Co, a brand name registered by the Dennison Watch Case Company in 1915. Up until then the company had concentrated on manufacturing watch cases, supplying various watch companies and of course Waltham UK. However production temporarily ceased at the start of World War II when the company starting manufacturing military equipment for the British Royal Air commenced.

The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which has a charming inscription, ‘The Royal Borough of Kensington, Horse Parade, 1928, (long service horse & man), First Prize, A E Botwright’.

This is believed to be Albert E Botwright, born in 1898 in St Katherines Road, Kensington. Albert enlisted at the age of 19, (Fulham) Brigade Royal Field Artillery Driver.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside the three outer covers for Birmingham 1924 with a case maker’s mark for Dennison Watch Company. Overall, the case is in good condition for such an early piece, light surface marks and a hint of unevenness to the hinged case back.

The front cover has a small central lens surrounded by dark blue enamel filled Roman numerals. The winding crown pushes in to open the front cover. Inside, there is a glass lens which is in lovely condition.

The dial is signed with the name of the original retailer, The Alex Clark Co, London and also with the name Denco. The Alexander Clark Manufacturing Company was originally a silversmith and silver plate manufacturer established in 1890. The company opened up its first shop in Sheffield in 1900 and went on to have three shops in London, and offered items manufactured in-house and items bought in for retail.

The dial is in lovely condition and has blued steel hands, including the special half hunter hour hand so that the time can be read when the front cover is closed.

The watch comes with a single chain, 36cm long including the T-bar and the clasp... this came to us with the watch. Each of the links on the chain has a good clear lion mark. The T-bar and clasp are also hallmarked for Chester 1930 and 1927 respectively.

The watch and chain come in a new presentation box.

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Please contact us regarding international shipping.

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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