English gold à tact quarter repeating watch Circa 1759

Gold open faced lever pocket watch
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A fine English 22 carat gold pair-cased quarter dumb repeating watch with à tact option, circa 1759.  A polished double body, Inner case also polished, punched with P.M. (Peter Mounier) Master mark. White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Blued steel poker and beetle hands.

Hinged gilt brass full plate movement with conical pillars, fusee with chain, later lateral lever escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass cock pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage with diamond endstone, worm gear set-up. Dumb quarter repeating with all-or-nothing, the hammers striking on the case by depressing the pendant, à tact lever at 6, gilt brass dust cap. Dust cap and back plate signed.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Thomas Mudge – William Dutton  London
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Originally fitted with a cylinder escapement, this watch was later upgraded with an English lateral lever escapement with pointed tooth escape wheel and jeweled pallets. Thomas Mudge (1715-1794) was an apprentice of George Graham and may be considered his spiritual successor. He was one of the first makers to produce constant-force watches. His ordinary watches with cylinder escapements are constructed along the same general lines as those of Graham. In 1755 he went into partnership with William Dutton, another of Graham’s pupils. In the 1760s he developed the free lever escapement. Along with Larcum Kendall, he was nominated in 1765 to examine Harrison’s marine watch. In 1771 he retired to Plymouth, where he devoted himself entirely to research on marine chronometers. He was also the inventor of a free escapement with remontoir, whose principle was described in the Philosophical Transactions of 1794.