Skeleton Watch c. 1790

gpmatthews · Post by **gpmatthews** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 2:17 pm

Having seen recent pictures of watches on the Forum, I had a word with my father who is a keen watch & clock man, and he lent me this watch by Thomas Wagstaff (London 1756 - 1793). It is a skeleton watch, built so as to show off the movement, and hence gives good access for photography. The style was in vogue in the late 18th century.

The images are stacks of approx 25 taken with a Wild M8 microscope with diffuse lighting (white ointment pot with a hole in the bottom and light shone on pot).

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:17 pm

An interesting piece of machinery Graham. It is amazing that they were able to make such small and precise instruments back then or it could just be that I take a lot of things for granted, I don't know. However some very good and detailed images.

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 4:06 pm

Your ointment pot rig really does the business Graham. I like the lighting and colour balance on pic1 in particular and the stacking on both pics is excellent - especially considering the number of overlapping levels.

Just think, over 200 years ago there was a particular minute of a particular day, when the man who made that watch wound it up for the very first time and proudly held it ticking in his hand. That man could NEVER have imagined that in the year 2007, men and women from all over the world would be admiring his craftsmanship and artistry.

Bruce

gpmatthews · Post by **gpmatthews** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:02 pm

Thanks for the comments - thought you might be interested in the complete watch:

The movement, as obtained by by father, was missing its case, so the case you see now is one that my father made and is to the correct style etc., but is in fact aluminium bronze, rather than gold. Even so, the colour and appearance is very convincing (but, of course, no hallmark). The photo doesn't really do it justice.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 4:09 pm

Unbelievable......just imagine the work that went into that wonderful little piece of machinery. All done by hand. Do you have any idea how much time it took a craftsmen to make one watch and the worth of this timepiece now Graham??????? Does it work???? Excellent photos by the way (sorry, was blinded by the beauty of the subject)