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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch

Silver Pocket Watch by Fisher

Partially verified

This silver pocket watch was produced in 1816 by the London-based maker N. Fisher. The watch features a white enamel dial with black Roman numerals for the hours and minutes, accompanied by a smaller secondary sub-dial indicating 60 seconds. The timepiece is housed in a silver case which carries the London hallmark for the year of production. Internally, the watch utilizes a gilded movement protected by a gilded brass dust cover. A notable mechanical feature is the balance cock, which supports the upper pivot of the verge and balance staff; it is adorned with decorative scrollwork and set with a faceted diamond end stone. It reportedly belonged to a railway foreman shouter and is colloquially identified in the museum records as a "railwayman's timekeeper."

Front view of the silver pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and subsidiary seconds dial.
Front view of the silver pocket watch showing the white enamel dial and subsidiary seconds dial. — University of Reading Museum Database. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.reading.ac.uk
Category
Pocket watch · Verge pocket watch
Maker / attribution
N. Fisher
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
58/10
Source-reported date
1816
Source-reported place
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
11961

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 Exterior

The pocket watch is encased in silver, which bears the London hallmark indicating an origin in 1816. The watch measures 5 centimeters in diameter and is fitted with a standard circular pendant for suspension.

The dial features a dual-display configuration. The primary dial tracks hours and minutes, while a smaller, separate sub-dial is integrated into the lower portion of the enamel plate to track 60 seconds.

Evidence for this section
  • “The silver case carries the London hall mark for 1816.”
  • “The watch has two dials: one for hours and minutes, and a smaller inner one for 60 seconds.”
  • “Dimensions: Diameter 5 cms.”

Movement and Escapement

The interior of the case houses a gilded movement that is revealed by removing a gilded brass dust cover. The movement is inscribed with the maker's mark 'Fisher London' and the individual serial number 11961, which provides a specific identifier for this unit.

The escapement mechanism incorporates a verge system, with the balance cock serving as the support for the upper pivot of the verge and balance staff. The balance cock is detailed with a decorative pattern described as rococo. To reduce friction and wear on the staff, the mechanism includes a faceted diamond end stone, a detail often found in watches of this quality and period.

Evidence for this section
  • “This is gilded and has 'Fisher London' inscribed and the number 11961.”
  • “The balance cock, which supports the upper pivot of the verge and balance staff has Rococo decoration and a faceted diamond end stone.”
  • “The watch has a gilded brass dust cover, which when removed reveals the movement.”

Provenance and Documentation

The watch was acquired by the University of Reading and is indexed as object number 58/10. The provenance is associated with the donor's family history, noting that the watch was originally owned by a grandfather who served as a foreman shouter on the railway.

The watch's connection to railway history is marked by the donor's specific referral to the watch as a 'railwayman's timekeeper.' Archive documentation notes that the previous owner passed away in Reading in December 1890, providing a terminus ante quem for its period of active service in the family. The history of the item is maintained through the Institute of Agricultural History's accession records.

Evidence for this section
  • “This watch at one time belonged to the donor’s husband’s grandfather.”
  • “He was a foreman shouter on the railway, and was killed at Reading on 24.12.1890”
  • “Referred to as the ?railwayman?s timekeeper?.”

Open research questions

  • Are there existing movement records for Fisher of London to confirm the production year via the serial number 11961?
  • Does the specific rococo decoration on the balance cock align with other known pieces by Fisher from 1816?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Silver Pocket Watch by Fisher
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerN. Fisher“made by Fisher of London”
Date1816“1816 - 1816”
Serial number11961“number 11961”
MaterialSilver, gilded brass, enamel“silver; enamel; gilded brass”
Diameter5 cm“Dimensions: Diameter 5 cms.”
HallmarkLondon 1816“The silver case carries the London hall mark for 1816.”
Movement featuresVerge escapement with diamond end stone“balance cock, which supports the upper pivot of the verge and balance staff has Rococo decoration and a faceted diamond end stone”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with subsidiary seconds dial
  • Bold black Roman hour markers
  • Silver case with circular pendant bow
  • Decorative balance cock visible inside movement

Research qualifications

  • The 'railwayman's timekeeper' moniker is donor-provided and may not reflect specific industrial utility
  • The precise identification of the rococo style is a museum archival description

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

Consulted source

Watch, pocket, 1816

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record cb627a419f

Terms in this record

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

Other verge pocket watch records