1875 Open-faced Silver Dial Fusee Pocket Watch by Coventry Maker Adam Burdess

Premium-quality and all original silver pocket watch by renowned watch manufacturer Adam Burdess of Dover House, Holyhead Road, Coventry. Hallmarked London 1875. - Gold hinges, silver dial and subsidiary second’s dial with outer and inner garland rings of hand-crafted and engraved gold and silver central floral laurel leaf decoration. - Engine turned Guilloché flinqué patterned silver dial. - Blued hands and Gothic style raised gold Roman numerals. - Fusee movement, with bimetallic balance, ruby end stone, and London steel regulating indicator bar. - Case maker is: “IH” (John Harris, 3 Hertford Place, Coventry). - Case and movement serial # is: 9152. - Dust cap maker is: “W&A.O” (William & Alfred Oxley Bros., 51 Spon End, Coventry). - Watch also retains its original service paper. - Comes with winding key. Born at Hetton, Durham, in 1823, Adam Burdess was also an inventor. His Patent winding system allows the watch to be wound by swinging a lever from left to right. The companion setting system uses a small, toothed wheel at the edge of the dial to set the hands. On the 30 April 1849 Burdess (Jr), son of Adam Burdess (deceased) married Martha Pemberton (1824-1899) daughter of Samuel Pemberton, labourer in Lambeth. By the 1851 census Burdess and Martha were living at Castle Street, North Banbury, Oxfordshire, and Burdess’ occupation was a 'Locomotive Fireman'. Burdess and Martha's only child, Martha Jane (1858-1885), was born on 3 February 1858 in Spon Street, Coventry, dying before both her parents. Burdess was listed as a publican which continued until the 1861 census: Burdess publican, living Public House, Spon, Street, Coventry with wife Martha. By 1867 Burdess had taken up watch manufacturing, and he was recorded at 19 Butts Lane, Coventry. Burdess was also an inventor. Along with Edward Massey and Viner, he was associated with the early ‘pump wind’ system of winding watches. In 1869 he patented (No. 2286), this keyless mechanism for winding a pocket watch by moving a lever from left to right to wind the fusee. Set on the edge of the watch, a lever and ratchet acts on the fusee-square for winding, and a milled wheel which meshes with the minute wheel is used to set the hands. By 1871 he was living at Dover House, Holyhead Road, Coventry (a property that still remains today!): Burdess (47) watch manufacturer, wife Martha (46), Martha Jane (13) and servant Phoebe Southam (24). In the 1881 census he was still living at Dover House, Holyhead Road but daughter Martha Jane had married Arthur Townsend in 1880, so the residence housed: Burdess (58) Watch Manufacturer, wife Martha (56) and servant Elizabeth Atkins (23). Burdess took out a second Patent in this year, but no watches are known to have been made under this Patent. In 1882, 'Sterling' Tricycles was created. Sometime around 1887, Burdess entered into partnership with Arthur Townsend and was trading as Burdess & Townsend. However, by 1891 he was trading as Adam Burdess & Co. In that year’s census, Burdess and Martha were still living at Dover House: Burdess (67) watch and cycle manufacturer wife Martha (66) and servant Frances Dewis (30). In February 1888 he exhibited at the Stanley Exhibition of Cycles in Westminster, London, launching his “Spring for Cycles” mechanism. Payment - We Accept: - Debit / Credit Cards. - BACS Transfer. (Our bank details are on our invoices). - Cash. (If collecting or on delivery).