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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Movement · Pocket watch movement

Pocket watch movement by John Gaskin

Partially verified

This object is a gents pocket watch movement attributed to the maker John Gaskin of Dublin, Ireland, and identified by the registration number ST 20159. The movement is serial numbered 2931, which is inscribed on the back plate. It features a white enamel dial with black Roman numerals and gold hands, with a secondary seconds dial positioned at the 6 o'clock location. The mechanical construction consists of a key-wound spring mechanism with a lever escapement and a fusee and chain drive. There is also an integrated scale for regulating timekeeping, marked fast to slow. The movement was acquired by the museum as part of a donation from J. Ingram in 1937.

View of the white enamel dial and Roman numerals of the pocket watch movement.
View of the white enamel dial and Roman numerals of the pocket watch movement. — Museums Victoria. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.museumsvictoria.com.au
Category
Movement · Pocket watch movement
Maker / attribution
John Gaskin
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
ST 20159
Source-reported date
Not established
Source-reported place
Ireland
Source-reported serial
2931

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Dial and Visual Appearance

The movement is fitted with a white enamel dial that serves as the primary visual interface. It displays the time using black painted Roman numerals positioned around the perimeter of the dial. The hands are gold in color, contrasting with the white background of the dial.

A smaller secondary dial, intended for seconds, is located at the 6 o'clock position. The overall dimensions of the movement are noted as 1.5 cm in width with an outside diameter of 4.4 cm, indicating a standard size for a gent's pocket watch of the period.

Evidence for this section
  • “White enamel dial has black roman numerals, gold hands and seconds dial at 6.”
  • “dimensions: 1.5 cm (Width), 4.4 cm (Outside Diameter)”

Mechanical Movement Construction

The movement is powered by a key-wound mainspring. The power delivery system utilizes a fusee and chain, a configuration designed to equalize the torque delivered to the escapement as the mainspring unwinds.

The escapement is a lever type. The movement also includes a regulator, which incorporates a scale marked from fast to slow, allowing for adjustment of the watch's rate.

Evidence for this section
  • “Key wound spring; lever escapement. Fusee and chain. Scale fast to slow.”

Provenance and Acquisition

This movement was donated to the museum collection by J. Ingram on 18 February 1937. It originated from the Ingram Brothers jewelers.

During the 1930s economic depression, the firm received numerous gold and silver fob watches from customers seeking to sell the precious metal.

Evidence for this section
  • “Donation from J. Ingram, 18 Feb 1937”
  • “During the 1930s Depression, customers would bring in gold or silver fob watches to sell for the value of the gold or silver. Ingrams (and other jewelers) melted down the cases to sell the metal, but kept the movements of historically interesting watches.”

Open research questions

  • What is the estimated date of manufacture for Gaskin movement number 2931?
  • Are there extant records of the original gold or silver cases that once housed these salvaged movements?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pocket watch movement by John Gaskin
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerJohn Gaskin“Maker, name: John Gaskin”
Country of originIreland“locality: Dublin, state: County Dublin, country: Ireland”
Serial number2931“Back plate marked 'Gaskin, Dublin, 2931'”
Movement typeLever escapement with fusee and chain“Key wound spring; lever escapement. Fusee and chain.”
Dial featuresWhite enamel, Roman numerals, gold hands“White enamel dial has black roman numerals, gold hands and seconds dial at 6.”
Accession numberST 20159“Registration number: ST 20159”
Acquisition date18 Feb 1937“Donation from J. Ingram, 18 Feb 1937”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with Roman numerals
  • Seconds sub-dial located at 6 o'clock
  • Registration number 20159 visible on photo
  • Key-wound movement configuration

Research qualifications

  • No specific date of manufacture is provided by the source
  • The original case is missing

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Pocket Watch Movement - John Gaskin, Dublin

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 48d7f1609e

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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