DESCRIPTION:
APW - Isaac Thomas, Willistown, Pennsylvania, verge fusee, 56mm, silver OF original pair cases bearing London hallmarks for 1764, "H . B" marking in cameo possibly for casemaker Henry Billinghurst, rear of inner case with scratched "ExR" initials and 1784 date, signed silver champléve dial, beetle and poker hands, KWKS, verge escapement, gilt mvt with pierced and foliate scrolled balance cock having bird of prey at its neck, s#4779 with matching serial number within inner case. Clockmaker Isaac Thomas of Willistown, Pennsylvania was born in 1721 and died in 1802. Though this movement was presumably an English-made import, American signed movements of the true colonial era (pre-1783) are quite scarce. Selections from the collection of Tom McIntyre. Mr. McIntyre's website contains stories on many of the watches, and discussion of the present piece can be viewed at this link: https://awco.org/awcoshow.php?artname=Isaac+Thomas&artid=125&collid=117&cidx=1
CONDITION:
Mvt: NR, fully wound, balance wheel not moving freely, overhaul needed, fine cosmetic mvt condition overall, scratches and fine scratches to main plate; dial with some fine scratches, complete loss of wax fill; fine hands with areas of oxide and finish loss; outer case shows light wear, a dark patina of mottled appearance, numerous dings and small shallow dents to rear, opening tab missing from bezel at 3, good button latch function but with loss of upper portion of button; inner case shows light wear, prominent dent to rear center, numerous lesser dents elsewhere to rear and around sides, repair evident to pendant junction with ample solder excess visible internally; bow pivots freely; domed glass crystal with some small scratches.
ESTIMATE:
$600
-
$1200
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