1824 Gold Parkinson & Frodsham Duplex Pocket Watch, English
A gold duplex pocket watch, maker Parkinson and Frodsham English circa 1824 2.09 in. diameter, 2.64 in. high. A gold duplex pocket watch, maker Parkinson and Frodsham. English Circa 1824. Gents 18 carat gold open face watch. Plain case with a Wyvem engraved on the back ( a. Wyvern has two legs; a Dragon has four). Short round pendant, round bow. Inside back cover. inscribed "F. T. Ward" with lightly chased geometric decoration above and foliate decoration. below. Winding hole in inside back cover. Case has London hallmarks for 18 carat and 1824. Casemaker's mark "WM", possibly William Mordan whose mark was entered in 1820 when. he was at Lambeth and then when he moved to 3 Berkly Street in 1821. He is listed as a. watchcase maker. White enamel dial, black Roman hour numerals, subsidiary seconds dial with Arabic seconds. numerals. Printed name on dial "Parkinson & Frodsham, London" beneath 12 o'clock. Gold. spade hands. fusee drive, duplex escapement. Two arm bi-metallic chronometer type balance. Solid. balance cock, diamond end stone, neither backplate nor balance cock decorated, although the. backplate is signed "Parkinson & Frodsham, Change Alley, London, 7555". Brass dust cover. Reference: William Parkinson was working between 1801 and 1847 and was in partnership with W. J.Frodsham during that period. Frodsham was born in 1778 and died in 1850. He was Master. of the Clockmakers Company in 1836 and 1837. They were chronometer makers and. published reports on trials of their chronometer in 1832 and 1833, and an article in Nautical. Magazine 1833 on "The Change of Rates in Chronometers". There is a chronometer made by. them in the Greenwich Museum. Provenance: Purchased at an Isles Love & Co. auction sale in 1968. Dimensions: 2.09 in. diameter, 2.64 in. high
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- 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. - Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.
- 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.
- 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.
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