A10958
Rare Early Debaufre Watch
£3,950.00
Signed
Wm Garrat - Ormskirk
Hallmarked London 1776
Diameter 49 mm Depth 14 mm
Hallmarked London 1776
Diameter 49 mm Depth 14 mm
Out of stock
Description
A very rare 18th Century English debaufre in silver pair cases. Full plate fire gilt movement with square baluster pillars. Pierced and engraved cock, pierced and engraved foot and plate for the silver regulator disc. Fusee and chain with worm and wheel barrel setup between the plates. Plain three arm steel balance, blue steel spiral hairspring. Rare form of Debaufre escapement, the brass escape wheel, similar to a standard verge, acts on a two polished steel pallets formed as part of the balance staff giving impulse in both directions. White enamel dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, blue steel beetle and poker hands. Matching plain silver pair cases, oval pendant and bow, maker’s mark “RP”.
In excellent overall condition. A rare variation of this escapement sometimes referred to as an Ormskirk offset verge. The debaufre escapement is also known as a chaffcutter, Ormskirk or club footed verge. It was the first frictional rest escapement invented by Debaufre in 1704. Rarely used until it was taken up by Lancashire makers early in the 19th Century. The escapement is not affected by variations in power as was the case with the verge and some watches dispense with the fusee. See Chamberlain's "Its About Time" page 123 for a description of a similar escapement. An almost identical movement by the same maker, no. 88 is in the British Museum (Museum Number 1994,0105.1). This is a movement only, lacking dial and case. The oval pendant of this watch is later in style. On close inspection it can be seen it has been changed requiring the outer case to also be altered.
