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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Tobias & Co, M.I. Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This pocket watch, held in the collection of the Museum of Gothenburg (accession number GM:20002), is documented as a timepiece created by the maker Tobias & Co, M.I., with the institution attributing its origin to London. The object is officially dated to 1950. Physically, the watch is constructed from metal and silver. It features a classic round case design consistent with traditional pocket watch configurations, though specific movement details are not provided in the institutional record. The watch is presented with a dark green fabric ribbon attached to its bow, and the dial features clear Roman numeral hour markers and a subsidiary seconds sub-dial located at the six o'clock position. The documentation reflects an institutional record maintained by the museum and processed through Europeana, establishing the basic identity and holding context of the piece while noting that further verification of its technical specifications is required.

A pocket watch with a white Roman numeral dial and an attached green ribbon, catalogued as GM:20002.
A pocket watch with a white Roman numeral dial and an attached green ribbon, catalogued as GM:20002. — Museum of Gothenburg via Europeana. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Tobias & Co, M.I.
Reference
/91668/GSM_objekt_10853
Catalogue / lot identifier
GM:20002
Source-reported date
1950
Source-reported place
United Kingdom

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

Physical Configuration and Construction

The timepiece is identified as a pocket watch featuring a white dial marked with Roman numerals for the primary time display. A subsidiary seconds dial is positioned at the base of the main dial, calibrated to indicate increments of the minute.

Attached to the bow is a dark green woven ribbon. This ribbon remains fixed to the watch, providing a mounting point for the device.

Evidence for this section
  • “material recorded as metal; silver”
  • “tidmätare, fickur”

Institutional Attribution and Documentation

The watch is catalogued by the Museum of Gothenburg under accession number GM:20002. The museum identifies the creator as Tobias & Co, M.I., further specifying a connection to London. This information is documented in the institution's primary records and cross-referenced by the Europeana digital aggregator.

The record maintains an official dating of 1950. The provenance is explicitly linked to the Museum of Gothenburg, which maintains the physical specimen. The museum classifies the watch under 'Metal craft: Silversmith' and 'Time reckoning,' indicating the context in which the object was preserved within the collection.

Evidence for this section
  • “M.I.Tobias & Co, London”
  • “Museum of Gothenburg, dated 1950”
  • “GM:20002”

State of Research

Current documentation provides a baseline for identifying the watch within the museum system. However, the existing information is described as 'partial' by the aggregator, indicating that specific technical details such as movement specifications, serial numbers, or maker's marks are not provided in the current dataset.

Further research is required to verify the specific relationship between the maker Tobias & Co, M.I. and the 1950 date provided. The museum has recorded the object for administrative and cultural preservation purposes, but independent verification by horological experts remains pending for this specific specimen.

Evidence for this section
  • “Research required: confirm materials, dimensions, maker and wider type”

Open research questions

  • Does the 1950 date signify the date of manufacture or the date of collection entry?
  • Can the maker's mark be corroborated against known London silver hallmarks?
  • What is the internal mechanism configuration of this specific specimen?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Tobias & Co, M.I. Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerTobias & Co, M.I.“Tobias & Co, M.I.”
Accession NumberGM:20002“GM:20002”
MaterialMetal and silver“metall; silver”
OriginLondon“M.I.Tobias & Co, London”
Holding InstitutionMuseum of Gothenburg“Museum of Gothenburg”

Visible details

  • White dial with black Roman numeral hour markers
  • Subsidiary seconds dial at the six o'clock position
  • Attached green fabric ribbon
  • Silver-toned metal bow and case

Research qualifications

  • Institutional dating of 1950 may reflect acquisition or registry date rather than manufacture date
  • Maker attribution to M.I. Tobias & Co, London, requires technical verification
  • Composition listed as metal and silver requires independent material analysis

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

Consulted source

Timepiece, pocket watch, Tobias & Co, M.I., 1950

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record e2ea1f6dd4

Terms in this record

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

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