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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Rack lever pocket watch

Tobias 18-karat Gold Pair-Cased Rack Lever Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This early 19th-century English pocket watch by Tobias features a pair-cased design in 18-karat gold with a matching oval-shaped gold pendant and bow. The timepiece utilizes a rack lever escapement mechanism, characterized by adjustable slides for the lever pivots and a Bosley regulator in blued steel. The movement is a full-plate, gilt, fusee-driven key-wind construction with an engraved balance cock, blued steel endstone setting for the diamond endstone, and a plain polished three-arm steel balance with a blued steel hairspring. The off-white enamel dial displays Roman numerals and includes a 15-second subsidiary seconds dial, where the blued steel seconds hand is mounted directly onto the escape wheel arbor, resulting in four full rotations per minute. The case exterior bears the manufacturer's mark "TH & Co" and a serial number, 8724, which corresponds to the engraving on the movement plate.

Front view of the 18-karat gold pair-cased pocket watch by Tobias, showing the enamel dial with 15-second subsidiary seconds.
Front view of the 18-karat gold pair-cased pocket watch by Tobias, showing the enamel dial with 15-second subsidiary seconds. — Zamanito. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Rack lever pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Tobias
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
early 19th century
Source-reported place
England
Source-reported serial
8724

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

Case and Dial

The watch is housed in a pair-cased configuration crafted from 18-karat gold. The exterior construction includes a matching oval-shaped pendant and a circular hanging bow.

The dial is manufactured from off-white enamel and features Roman numerals for the hours. A unique feature is the subsidiary seconds dial, which is graduated to 15 seconds. The blued steel seconds hand is positioned directly on the escape wheel arbor, facilitating four full revolutions every minute. The hour and minute hands are gilded.

Evidence for this section
  • “بدنه ساعت شامل قاب‌های جفت (pair cases) هماهنگ از طلای ۱۸ عیار است که به همراه پندنت بیضی‌شکل و حلقه آویز طلایی ساخته شده‌اند”
  • “صفحه فرعی ثانیه‌شمار دارای درجه‌بندی ۱۵ ثانیه‌ای است و عقربه فولادی آبی‌رنگ آن مستقیماً بر روی محور چرخ دنگ نصب شده”

Movement and Escapement

The movement is a gilt, full-plate, key-wind fusee mechanism. It features an engraved balance cock equipped with a diamond endstone set within a blued steel mount, marked with the word 'Patent'. Regulation is controlled via a Bosley regulator in blued steel. The balance assembly consists of a plain, polished, three-arm steel balance paired with a blued steel hairspring.

The escapement is a rack lever type, which represents an early development in independent lever escapements. It incorporates adjustable slides for the lever pivots, designed for precision in the escapement's operation.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت از نوع تمام‌پلیت طلاکاری‌شده با مکانیزم فیوزه (fusee)”
  • “مهار چرخ‌دنده‌ای شانه (rack lever escapement) نیز دارای اسلایدهای قابل تنظیم برای محورهای اهرم است”
  • “خروسک این موتور قلم‌زنی و حکاکی شده و مجهز به نگین الماس در پایه‌ای از فولاد آبی است”

Signatures and Marks

The watch is signed 'M.I. Tobias & Co' on the movement plate. The serial number 8724 is present on the movement, and the source notes that the case also bears matching serial numbers.

Additionally, the case displays the manufacturer's mark 'TH & Co'. These marks serve to identify the piece as an authentic Tobias product from the early 19th century.

Evidence for this section
  • “سازنده: Tobias (با علامت سازنده TH & Co)”
  • “شماره سریالی منطبق با شماره ثبت‌شده روی موتور ساعت مشاهده می‌شود”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific historical significance of the 'TH & Co' mark in relation to the Tobias firm?
  • How did the use of 15-second subsidiary dials correlate with the specific precision requirements of rack lever movements during this period?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Tobias 18-karat Gold Pair-Cased Rack Lever Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerTobias“اثر Tobias”
Material18-karat gold“طلای ۱۸ عیار”
EscapementRack lever“مکانیزم مهار rack lever”
DialOff-white enamel with Roman numerals“صفحه این اثر از لعاب شیری‌رنگ ساخته شده و دارای ارقام رومی است”
OriginEngland“انگلستان”
Movement TypeGilt fusee full-plate“موتور ساعت از نوع تمام‌پلیت طلاکاری‌شده با مکانیزم فیوزه (fusee)”

Visible details

  • The balance cock is engraved with the word 'Patent'.
  • The seconds dial is graduated in 15-second increments.
  • The movement bears the signature 'M.I. TOBIAS & CO' and the serial number 8724.
  • The pendant and bow are oval in profile.

Research qualifications

  • The exact early 19th-century production date is not specified beyond the period attribution.
  • The specific identification of the 'TH & Co' mark is provided by the source without further context.

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

Consulted source

Gold Pair Cased 15 Second Rack Lever by Tobias

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record d220cb0034

Terms in this record

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