DESCRIPTION:
APW - L. Goddard, serial #194, verge fusee, 55mm, unmarked silver OF pair cases, inner surface of outer case with a "Goddard" name scribed to its surface but first name is not definitively legible (though visible portions of first name appear consistent with "Parley," who was Luther's son), outer also containing a paper for watchmaker Thomas Lyon of Northboro, Massachusetts, white enamel dial, gold hands, KWKS, verge escapement, gilt mvt, balance cock with beautiful delicate piercing and engraving, s#194. An excellent example from this historically important early American maker, Luther Goddard was the first American to achieve a sizable scale of watchmaking output. Based on known examples it appears he and his sons successfully produced a bit more than 500 watches in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts in the years prior to 1817. This example features the earlier style "L. Goddard" signature, as opposed to the "L. Goddard & Son" signature seen with the following lot, and from known examples it appears this signature change took place somewhere within the 200s serial range. From the Wing family collection.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Ticking sluggishly and stopping occasionally, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, good gilt tone, some scratches around pillar positions, some typical mild fine to micro-fine scratches elsewhere, one pillar lacking a pin and will no longer accept a pin as its post has metal loss to one side, some very small bits of oxide to balance wheel; excellent dial with some scattered fine scratches, the two most notable being between 3 and 4 and at 6; excellent hands; outer case shows little wear, an attractive dark patina, ding to lower edge of rear, button latch good; inner case shows little wear, mild dent at bottom edge, two dings to right edge; bow pivots semi-freely; domed glass crystal with perimeter scratch at upper-right.
ESTIMATE:
$7000
-
$14000
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