English rare silver Massey type 4 fusee lever Circa 1888

Back
Kenmerk
AD1486
Diameter
60 mm
Estimate
€ 8.000 - 16.000
Price sold
€ 13.150

Silver open faced lever by R. Swales
–
A rare Massey type 4 fusee lever in a silver open face case, hallmarked Chester circa 1888.
Full plate gilt keywind fusee movement with Harrison’s maintaining power. Engraved cock with diamond endstone and polished steel Bosley regulator. Very large slow beating plain three arm gilt balance with blue steel spiral hairspring. Rare type four Massey lever escapement, the lever with three slots to allow the balance to rotate more than 360 degrees. Gilt escape wheel with raised teeth. Signed three piece white enamel dial, the centre and subsidiary seconds fully restored, Roman numerals, blue steel seconds hand, gilt hands. Substantial plain silver open faced case with ribbed middle vacant shield shaped cartouche on the back. Gold hinges. Maker’s mark ‘JH’ in a rectangle and number corresponding to that on the movement.
–
Diameter: 60 mm
–
Weight: 196 g
–
Signed: R. Swales Preston
–
This watch is equipped with a Massey Type IV anchor escapement according to Edward Massey . Due to its slowly swinging large three-arm ring balance (30 mm) by far the rarest and most unusual of the Massey anchor escapements.
Little is known of Richard Swales, he was a watchmaker in Preston around 1880 , and was possibly located at 34 Fylde Street. Richard was the father of the sawmill Arthur Swales which was born in 1865 . In 1886 he married Elizabeth Halliwell in Preston.

Signed: R. Swales Preston

Share this page:

Technical record

Data sheet

Explore the specifications, materials and identifying details recorded for this watch.

To top