James McCabe Gold Duplex Hunter Pocket Watch, English Circa 1802

A gold duplex hunter pocket watch, maker James McCabe English…
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A gold duplex hunter pocket watch, maker James McCabe English circa 1802 5 cm diameter, 7.7 cm case hight. A gold duplex hunter pocket watch, maker James McCabe. English Circa 1802. 18 carat gold hunter, plain consular case. Long flattened pendant, gold stirrup bow. The case. bears London hallmarks for 18 carat gold and the year 1802. It also bears the case-maker's. mark "IR" and the number 4848. Grimwade's "London Goldsmiths" lists James Richards as. having this mark; he was a case-maker who worked in London from 1762 until at least 1816. White enamel dial, Arabic hour numerals, gold spade hands. A plain but attractive dial. Key wind, fusee drive, duplex escapement. Solid narrow balance cock, chased on the foot and. table with a foliate pattern. Three arm bi-metallic balance. Signed on the backplate "James. McCabe, London, 4848". Plain cylindrical pillars. Reference: Britten says James McCabe worked from 1780 to 1811; he was admitted to the freedom of the Clockmakers Company on the 2nd of April 1781, appointed to the livery in 1786, appointed warden in 1811 when he died. He was well known for fine watches and clocks, and. he specialised in duplex escapements. His best watches such as this example were engraved "James McCabe", second class "McCabe" and lowest quality "Beatson". McCabe watches are illustrated in "The English Watch 1585-1970" by Terence Camerer Cuss, and in Clutton and Daniels. "Watches". Dimensions: 5 cm diameter, 7.7 cm case hight

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  • Hunter - A hunter pocket watch is the type where the case includes a spring-hinged circular metal lid or cover, that closes over the glass face of the watch, protecting it from dust, scratches and other damage or debris. The majority of antique and vintage hunter-case watches have the lid-hinges at the 9 o?clock position, suiting the right handed user.
  • Fusee - The fusee movement was used in clocks and pocket watches from the mid 17th century. The fusee is a cone shaped drum within the works that is linked to the barrel of the spring, usually by a length of chain.

    As the mainspring loses its tension over time, the cone shaped barrel compensates for this by increasing the tension, by pulling the mainspring tighter, thus ensuring the time remains constant.

    Use of the fusee in clocks was superseded by the "going barrel" in the mid 19th century and for pocket watches at the beginning of the 19th century.

    The fusee continued to be used in marine chronometers until the 1970s.
  • Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.
  • Carat - A carat (abbreviated "ct") is a unit of measurement used to describe the weight of a diamond or other gemstone, and separately is a unit of measurement used to describe the weight of precious metals such as gold,.

    For gemstones, one carat is equal to 0.2 grams or 200 milligrams. The weight of a diamond is one of the Four Cs (along with cut, colour, and clarity) that are used to determine a diamond's value.

    It is important to note that a diamond's weight does not necessarily correspond to its size. A diamond's cut, which affects how well it reflects light, can make a diamond of a lower weight appear larger than a diamond of a higher weight. Additionally, the carat is not the only factor to determine the value of a diamond, other factors such as clarity, colour and cut are important too.

    In the gold industry, the purity of gold is measured in carats (abbreviated "ct"), with 24 karats being pure gold and lower carat numbers indicating a lower purity level. So, for example, 18 carat gold is 18/24 or 75% pure gold, and 12 carat gold is 12/24 or 50% pure gold.
  • Duplex Escapement - A duplex escapement is used in clocks and watches to control the release of energy from the mainspring to the timekeeping mechanism. The duplex escapement is a variation of the lever escapement and is characterized by the use of two pallets, or escape wheels, to control the release of energy.

    In a duplex escapement, the balance wheel, which oscillates back and forth, alternately pushes against the two pallets. This allows the energy stored in the mainspring to be transferred to the balance wheel in a controlled manner, keeping the timekeeping mechanism accurate.

    One of the advantages of the duplex escapement is its relatively low friction, which helps to maintain accurate timekeeping and prolong the life of the clock or watch. Additionally, the duplex escapement is relatively easy to maintain and repair, making it a popular choice for clockmakers.
  • Back Plate - On many types of clocks, the movement operates between two plates, usually made of brass, one at the back, and the other at the front, which forms a mount for the dial.

    On English bracket, mantle and table clocks the backplate was often visible through a glass door or panel from the late 17th century, and could be profusely engraved with scrolling decorations, flowers, foliage, birds, and figures. The engraving could also include the maker?s name.

    The amount of engraving reduced and became simpler as the 18th century progressed, and by 1800, had been reduced to a border, often with the maker's name in the centre. By the early 1800s all decoration had ceased, and only the maker's name was added, and by the Victorian era, most bracket, mantle and table clocks had no engraving.
  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.

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