English Debaufre watch in a gilt open faced case Circa 1820

Gilt Debaufre pocket watch
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An English Debaufre in a gilt open faced case, circa 1820. Full plate gilt key wind movement with a resting barrel, polished steel Geneva stop work. Pierced and engraved bridge cock with polished steel coqueret. Plain three arm polished steel balance with blue steel spiral hairspring, gilt Bosley regulator. Debaufre escapement employing two polished steel escape wheels acting alternately on a single steel roller. Winding through the white enamel dial, Roman numerals and gold hands. Plain gilt metal open face case, the movement hinging out at nine o’clock. Maker’s mark ‘WB’ in a rectangle.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Depth: 12 mm
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Signed: Thos Yeates Penrith No.12
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A rare escapement, also known as a chaff cutter, 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 ‘It’s About Time’ page 123 for a description of a similar escapement. A low numbered example from a maker listed in Baillie.