DESCRIPTION:
APW - "F.H. Clark & Co, Memphis, Tenn." marked to mvt, dial and case, lever fusee of English manufacture with American Civil War era military inscription, 51mm, 18K gold original HC with fixed gold cuvette engraved "Lieut. E.S. Johnson From His old clerks Feb.y 22.d 1864," white enamel SS dial, lever escapement, diamond endstone, jeweled fusee arbor, marked as "19J" though possibly a false marking as evident actual jeweling suggests likely an actual count of 16J, gilt mvt with gilt locking dust-cap, s#16900 with matching serial number to dial and within case. Gross weight of assembled watch 81.0 dwt (126.0 g). Although of English manufacture, we have chosen to present this watch among the American portion of our catalog due to the significance of its Civil War era military inscription and American retailer's signature. A search of Civil War records available through www.ancestry.com reveals a number of individuals as possibilities of matching the E.S. Johnson name, but with a cursory investigation have not been able to pinpoint one as definitive.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Ticking very sluggishly on a full wind, overhaul recommended, plates with good gilt tone though with some evident surface dirtiness, some scratches adjacent pillar positions, some oxide to steelwork, mvt with excess play at its hinge to case; dial with numerous scattered hls; fine hands with mild bends and areas of oxide and finish loss; case shows medium to ample wear, front lift spring is broken and partially missing so front must be lifted opened manually, few mild shallow dents to rear, cuvette with a protruding ding, reduced engraving detail; tight replacement bow of somewhat different gold tone, push shows ample wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$2000
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$3000
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