Thanks to John in the UK for permission to share some of his pictures here.
This is the oldest William Bent watch discovered so far.
Serial number 8627 is now the earliest recorded number. The details of this watch have been added to the Catalogue as well as the History section of this blog.
The rear case cover, opens when the button on the pendant is pressed. This reveals the winding square on which the key would be placed to wind up the watch (in an anti-clockwise direction). All pocket watches are designed for the cover to spring open to a maximum 90 degrees. Because silver (and gold) are soft metals the hinge is often deformed by being forced with undue pressure beyond the 90 degrees.
The inside of the rear cover is hallmarked...
This Sterling silver case is hallmarked with the leopard's head for London and a lower case "d" (Old English font) for 1859. The maker's mark "J.H" is for Joseph Hirst who made the Silver case for this watch.
