English explorer’s watch crown protection Circa 1893-1929

Explorer’s watch with crown protection
–
An English fine open-faced explorer’s watch with crown protection, circa 1893-1929. Gilded 3/4 plate movement, ratchet tooth lever escapement, free-sprung bimetallic compensation balance, diamond endstone, signed and with Admiralty broad arrow.
Signed, white enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer minute ring, blued steel spade hands, and subsidiary seconds, with Admiralty broad arrow. Plain screw on case back, winding crown with a screw on protective cap with short safety chain, screw on bezel.
–
Diameter: 59 mm
–
Signed: Usher & Cole London
–
The present watch case has no marks, however, the extant workbooks of Usher & Cole show that this watch was originally sold as a deck watch to the Admiralty in March 1893 for £ 16.0.0. In May 1929, the watch was repurchased for £ 6.0.0, converted to a ‘travellers’ watch, and re-sold the next month for £ 18.10.0. Interestingly another watch, no. 28613, was re-purchased in 1925, modified to the same specification, and sold to the retailer J.W. Benson.
–
When Joseph Usher died in 1903, the March issue of the Horological journal lauded him as “one of the most accomplished watchmakers of his time… Mr. Usher had the remarkable ability as a springer and timer and was also a recognized expert in complicated watch mechanism”.