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Alcan · 23 January 2011, 01:54 AM

This pocket watch, dated to 1762, came into my custody a couple of years ago. A friend owns it, having it handed down from his great-great (great?) uncle, an English sea captain. When I received the watch, it had some problems. His 5 year old grandson had found it in a drawer and tore it apart one morning, on a thick pile living room carpet. He went through all the usual routines; search the carpet, run a magnet across it, new bag in the Hoover and empty it afterwards. At the final count, three wheels (gears) were missing.

So, shouldn’t be too difficult to find someone to fabricate 3 new wheels, or so I thought. It took 6 months of research and emails to finally find someone to take the project on, and I eventually was referred by the British Horological Institute to Arthur Jones, a transplanted Brit living in Belgium.

Mr. Jones still cuts wheels and agreed to take on the project as a side job. Six months later he finished it, fabricating the 3 new wheels and restoring the movement.

When he shipped it back I was elated, until I unpacked it and wound it. It didn’t tick. Crappola!!! Now what? Then I opened the caseback and spotted the folded piece of paper he’d placed between 2 wheels to stop the movement. My guess is that was done to protect the balance in transit. I removed the paper and................. this 250 year old movement chugged back into life.

So, here’s what a really, really old pocket watch looks like, up close and personal. A colleague at work took some high res photos, and that’s when we started to realize the actual workmanship in this watch. We spotted the 2 birds, then saw the Lady’s head, engraved in the upper plate. The chain fusee drive shows very well, and the overall finish is outstanding for a watch made entirely by hand 250 years ago.

I have another thread’s worth of info on the watchmaker, J Gilbert, LONDON, including his astrolabe, backstaff, and brass telescope which are in various museums around the world, but that’s for another day. In the meantime, here are the images of a watch accurately dated to 1762 and still running:

Maxtor · 23 January 2011, 01:59 AM

A beautiful museum quality piece. Thanks for sharing.

EvEr34 · 23 January 2011, 02:00 AM

WOW!

Route 66 · 23 January 2011, 02:07 AM

Absolutely fascinating Al.

Thanks for sharing the pics with us.

It must be incredible to hold such a timepiece in your hands. If only it could talk...

LouS · 23 January 2011, 02:19 AM

Brilliant post. I enjoyed it very much. what is the wheel numbered 1-6?

tfduff723 · 23 January 2011, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvEr34

WOW!

WOW is right!

Very interesting piece

Alcan · 23 January 2011, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouS

Brilliant post. I enjoyed it very much. what is the wheel numbered 1-6?

That's the timing regulator.

WatchTimes · 23 January 2011, 03:46 AM

WOW
What a great piece.
Congrats on getting it back up and running, it sounds like it
was quite a battle but well worth it.

Ranfni · 23 January 2011, 05:23 AM

Cool story

asadtiger · 23 January 2011, 07:21 AM

what an amazing piece and what a story and accomplishment...but what amazes me most is, they were doing it all way back in 1762! thats absolutely fascinating!..these are the points when I feel we've truly progressed only in electronics and man's other achievements were done for centuries ago..just a thought...but ofcourse on serious reasoning I am wrong but it is absolutely breathtaking that someone did all that with no modern technology, advanced science, electricity and above all, created fusee and chain timing devices without calculus!!!!

Skullring · 23 January 2011, 07:30 AM

Beautiful. That is one of a kind. Amazing attention to detail.

salem65 · 23 January 2011, 08:30 AM

They certainly don't make them like that anymore, and what a shame because that is amazing engineering coupled with beauty.

vukotab · 23 January 2011, 11:00 PM

That`s incredible piece of history.
Thanks for posting, Al!

jatco · 24 January 2011, 01:35 PM

That.. is a piece worth telling about.
Fabulous looking...and still ticking..!
Kudos to you for having a classic heirloom restored..

dodie paneristi · 22 March 2011, 03:06 AM

I TOTALLY AGREE!! this one hell of a craftsmanship watch!

SoftwareDrone · 22 March 2011, 03:17 AM

That is beyond insane!

Could you imagine being the first guy in your town to own one of these back then? Talk about a conversation piece!

s.justinlee · 22 March 2011, 03:28 AM

great story.
thanks for posting

witch watch · 22 March 2011, 03:34 AM

Timeless! Can anyone honestly tell me that such craft will ever go out of vogue? Thank god for people like Nicolas Hayek.

liptonnr · 24 March 2011, 04:07 AM

Unbelievable! Great pick-up!

beowulf566 · 24 March 2011, 08:42 AM

Great! I love it and I love that you had the drive to go through the work needed to get it fixed. Congrats on one beautiful peice of history. I love to look at my pocket watches and think of how many people carried them over the years and how many moments of their lives it marked!

general · 27 March 2011, 08:39 AM

What a great find. Congratulations on restoring it and thanks for sharing with us.

Jan Davis · 27 March 2011, 09:08 AM

Hand fabricating a movement wheel from nothing is difficult, hand fabricating three movement wheels is pure genius. 8-)

dddrees · 27 March 2011, 08:08 PM

Just came across this thread.

Al, glad to hear you were able to get it working again. Just as it should be.

Totaly amazing, and absolutely gorgeous.

The GMT Kid · 28 March 2011, 06:04 AM

Wow.

I want to thank you for taking this museum piece and giving it the chance to live again.

It warms my heart to think of this grand watch ticking away in a pocket. At any time it could be called on to tell the time. It is ready, willing and (thanks to you) able.

Absolutely fantastic!

kingblackbolt · 28 March 2011, 09:20 AM

Al your not a collector your a true enthusiast! To think of the age of this watch and what you went through to have it running again after being abused... simply amazing!

JimSnyder · 28 March 2011, 12:21 PM

Very nice Al! And here I'm all excited waiting for a new band for my Seiko

oneillba · 28 March 2011, 12:27 PM

Double WOW!

Riseman Weather · 28 March 2011, 12:29 PM

Wow. People has so much patience back then.

23 January 2011, 01:54 AM	#1
Alcan 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Al Location: Way Up North Watch: your P's & Q's Posts: 10,473	Now THIS is craftsmanship! This pocket watch, dated to 1762, came into my custody a couple of years ago. A friend owns it, having it handed down from his great-great (great?) uncle, an English sea captain. When I received the watch, it had some problems. His 5 year old grandson had found it in a drawer and tore it apart one morning, on a thick pile living room carpet. He went through all the usual routines; search the carpet, run a magnet across it, new bag in the Hoover and empty it afterwards. At the final count, three wheels (gears) were missing. So, shouldn’t be too difficult to find someone to fabricate 3 new wheels, or so I thought. It took 6 months of research and emails to finally find someone to take the project on, and I eventually was referred by the British Horological Institute to Arthur Jones, a transplanted Brit living in Belgium. Mr. Jones still cuts wheels and agreed to take on the project as a side job. Six months later he finished it, fabricating the 3 new wheels and restoring the movement. When he shipped it back I was elated, until I unpacked it and wound it. It didn’t tick. Crappola!!! Now what? Then I opened the caseback and spotted the folded piece of paper he’d placed between 2 wheels to stop the movement. My guess is that was done to protect the balance in transit. I removed the paper and................. this 250 year old movement chugged back into life. So, here’s what a really, really old pocket watch looks like, up close and personal. A colleague at work took some high res photos, and that’s when we started to realize the actual workmanship in this watch. We spotted the 2 birds, then saw the Lady’s head, engraved in the upper plate. The chain fusee drive shows very well, and the overall finish is outstanding for a watch made entirely by hand 250 years ago. I have another thread’s worth of info on the watchmaker, J Gilbert, LONDON, including his astrolabe, backstaff, and brass telescope which are in various museums around the world, but that’s for another day. In the meantime, here are the images of a watch accurately dated to 1762 and still running: __________________ Member #1,315 I don't want to get technical, but according to chemistry alcohol IS a solution!

23 January 2011, 03:46 AM	#8
WatchTimes 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: JYogi/Jeremy Location: Metro Detroit USA Watch: It's a Rolex! Posts: 5,787	WOW What a great piece. Congrats on getting it back up and running, it sounds like it was quite a battle but well worth it. __________________ "You won't rise to the occasion - you'll default to your level of training." Barrett Tillman Kentucky Colonel, Tennessee Squire & Combat Leprechaun

23 January 2011, 07:30 AM	#11
Skullring "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: Phillip Location: Alabama Watch: Triple 6 SD Posts: 1,720	Beautiful. That is one of a kind. Amazing attention to detail. __________________ It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. - Antoine de Saint Exupéry

23 January 2011, 08:30 AM	#12
salem65 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Watch: JS Watch co. 101 Posts: 1,395	They certainly don't make them like that anymore, and what a shame because that is amazing engineering coupled with beauty. __________________ JS Watch 101 ▪ Grand Seiko SBGX061 ▪ Breitling A17364

23 January 2011, 11:00 PM	#13
vukotab "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Real Name: Vukota Brajovi Location: Belgrade,Serbia Watch: ing movies! Posts: 3,812	That`s incredible piece of history. Thanks for posting, Al! __________________ My fashion blog and Instagram: https://stylebyvukota.com/ https://instagram.com/vukotabrajovic/

23 January 2011, 01:59 AM	#2
Maxtor 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Real Name: Max Location: Toronto Watch: Exp 1, DJ Tuxedo Posts: 2,472	A beautiful museum quality piece. Thanks for sharing.

23 January 2011, 02:00 AM	#3
EvEr34 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Mike Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,909	WOW!

23 January 2011, 02:07 AM	#4
Route 66 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Steve Location: Burbank, CA Watch: 214270 Mark II Posts: 4,121	Absolutely fascinating Al. Thanks for sharing the pics with us. It must be incredible to hold such a timepiece in your hands. If only it could talk...

23 January 2011, 02:19 AM	#5
LouS "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York City Watch: GMT II 16710 Black Posts: 142	Brilliant post. I enjoyed it very much. what is the wheel numbered 1-6?

23 January 2011, 05:23 AM	#9
Ranfni "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Real Name: Rob Location: SoCal Watch: Rolex Panerai AP Posts: 433	Cool story

23 January 2011, 07:21 AM	#10
asadtiger "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Asad A. Awan Location: kabul, Afghanista Watch: Tissot PRX Posts: 2,698	what an amazing piece and what a story and accomplishment...but what amazes me most is, they were doing it all way back in 1762! thats absolutely fascinating!..these are the points when I feel we've truly progressed only in electronics and man's other achievements were done for centuries ago..just a thought...but ofcourse on serious reasoning I am wrong but it is absolutely breathtaking that someone did all that with no modern technology, advanced science, electricity and above all, created fusee and chain timing devices without calculus!!!!

24 January 2011, 01:35 PM	#14
jatco 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Real Name: Thomas Location: YVR Watch: 116233/79190 Posts: 50,536	That.. is a piece worth telling about. Fabulous looking...and still ticking..! Kudos to you for having a classic heirloom restored.. __________________ . ..- ' A Crown for every achievement '

22 March 2011, 03:06 AM	#15
dodie paneristi "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Real Name: wilfredo Location: bulacan,Philippin Watch: SD/DSSD/pam88 Posts: 4	I TOTALLY AGREE!! this one hell of a craftsmanship watch!

22 March 2011, 03:17 AM	#16
SoftwareDrone "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Real Name: Mike Location: San Jose, CA Watch: <-- likes to Posts: 506	That is beyond insane! Could you imagine being the first guy in your town to own one of these back then? Talk about a conversation piece!

22 March 2011, 03:28 AM	#17
s.justinlee "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Real Name: Justin Location: california Posts: 349	great story. thanks for posting

22 March 2011, 03:34 AM	#18
witch watch "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Scotland Watch: Milgauss GV Posts: 1,201	Timeless! Can anyone honestly tell me that such craft will ever go out of vogue? Thank god for people like Nicolas Hayek.

24 March 2011, 04:07 AM	#19
liptonnr "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Nate Location: Pottsville, PA Watch: Sub-c LV, GMT's Posts: 988	Unbelievable! Great pick-up!

24 March 2011, 08:42 AM	#20
beowulf566 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Matt Location: new hampshire Watch: Rlx,Omga,CyS,brtln Posts: 1,520	Great! I love it and I love that you had the drive to go through the work needed to get it fixed. Congrats on one beautiful peice of history. I love to look at my pocket watches and think of how many people carried them over the years and how many moments of their lives it marked! __________________ R.I.P. Smoke em' if you got em'

27 March 2011, 08:39 AM	#21
general "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Earth Posts: 723	What a great find. Congratulations on restoring it and thanks for sharing with us.

27 March 2011, 09:08 AM	#22
Jan Davis Fake Identity Cyber-Criminal Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: Jan Location: Hong Kong Watch: DateJust Posts: 394	Hand fabricating a movement wheel from nothing is difficult, hand fabricating three movement wheels is pure genius. 8-)

27 March 2011, 08:08 PM	#23
dddrees "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Dan Location: USA Watch: This N That Posts: 34,253	Just came across this thread. Al, glad to hear you were able to get it working again. Just as it should be. Totaly amazing, and absolutely gorgeous. __________________ When it captures your imagination, that's when you know you have found your passion. Loyal Foot Soldier of The Nylon Nation. Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

28 March 2011, 06:04 AM	#24
The GMT Kid Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: S.F. Peninsula Watch: what you say! Posts: 815	Wow. I want to thank you for taking this museum piece and giving it the chance to live again. It warms my heart to think of this grand watch ticking away in a pocket. At any time it could be called on to tell the time. It is ready, willing and (thanks to you) able. Absolutely fantastic!

28 March 2011, 09:20 AM	#25
kingblackbolt "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Real Name: Ren Location: Toronto On Canada Posts: 1,886	Al your not a collector your a true enthusiast! To think of the age of this watch and what you went through to have it running again after being abused... simply amazing! __________________ “Hail to the king, baby" Ash (Army of Darkness 1992)

28 March 2011, 12:21 PM	#26
JimSnyder "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Real Name: Jim Snyder Location: Ohio Watch: Ask me later..... Posts: 7,726	Very nice Al! And here I'm all excited waiting for a new band for my Seiko __________________ "You ain't lived, 'til you've had your tires rotated by a red-headed women."

28 March 2011, 12:27 PM	#27
oneillba "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Brian Location: Hamilton, MI USA Watch: My beloved TT DJ Posts: 3,831	Double WOW! __________________ My Trusty TT DJ

28 March 2011, 12:29 PM	#28
Riseman Weather Banned Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: U.S.A. Watch: G-Shock Riseman Posts: 198	Wow. People has so much patience back then.

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