English silver pocket watch with rack lever escapement Circa 1795

Silver pair cased lever pocket watch 
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An important pair cased English pocket watch made by Peter Litherland & Co, circa 1795. This watch features one of the earliest rack lever escapement mechanisms by Litherland. It has two cases: outer case silver, polished, à goutte, with a large lateral hinge; inner case silver, polished, with case maker’s punch mark TH (Thomas Helsby, Liverpool). The enamel dial has Arabic numerals, an auxiliary seconds hand from 1 to 15, and Fleur de Lys hands. The fine full plate movement is keywind, fire gilt, signed, with chain/fusee, moulded movement pillars, three arm steel balance, a finely engraved and pierced floral balance cock inscribed patent, and a chatoned diamond endstone on the balance.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 137 g
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Signed: Peter Litherland & Co., Liverpool
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Peter Litherland (1756-1805)
Peter Litherland was a watchmaker and inventor. He was born in Warrington and later moved to Liverpool, then the centre of the watchmaking trade. In 1791 he patented the rack lever escapement for watches, which was more accurate than the commonly used verge escapement. One of his watches is on display in the World Museum Liverpool.