Images(23)

pair-case pocket watch

Date1724

Inventory Number1990-1-0007

ClassificationWatch

Subject

Maker George Lindsay fl. 1724 - 1776

Maker William Bond born 1754

Owner William Cranch Bond 1789 - 1859

Repaired by William Bond and Son fl. 1793 - 1977

Cultural Region

Place of Origin

Place of Use

Dimensions7.1 x 5.2 x 2.6 cm (2 13/16 x 2 1/16 x 1 in.)
storage box: 5.6 x 10 x 7.2 cm (2 3/16 x 3 15/16 x 2 13/16 in.)

Material

AccessoriesWinding key; box.

DescriptionSilver pair-case watch with gilt brass and silvered brass movement.

The outer case is plain silver. Its rear interior has hallmarks of a lion passant, crowned leopard head, date letter "I" in a shield (for 1724 or 1804). The interior of the front ring is hallmarked as well with a lion passant. The rear interior is also engraved "WB" in script and stamped "B" for William Bond, the case maker and owner.

The inner watch case is plain as well. The front glass is hinged below the pendant neck. The back cover has a winding hole. Its interior has a maker's mark.

The dial is enamel black and white, with hours I-XII and minutes 0-60 every 5. The hands are blued steel. The hour hand has a fleur-de-lys.

The plates and pillars of the watch movement are gilt brass with silvered parts. The watch cock is pierced and engraved. Fusee, chain, cylinder movement.

The winding key is present and attached to a silver chain.

There are two watchmakers' papers with the equation of time. One is orange and the other blue. Both are signed by Bond & Son of Boston. The rear of the blue one is marked in brown ink, "Wm - Bond & Son / No. 8 Congress / Square / Boston." The orange one is marked, "Wm Bond & Son / Cleaned March / 18th 1844." There is a plain paper spacer between them.

The watch is kept in a wooden jewelry box covered with green leather stamped in gold.

In Collection(s)

Clocks and Watches

Signedengraved on movement: G. Lindsay Ser[van]t. / to the Prince case maker's mark and owner's initials engraved in script on outer case, back cover interior: WB case maker's mark stamped on outer case, back cover interior: B printed on watchmaker's papers: Bond & Son, / opposite the / Exchange Coffee House / Congress Street, / BOSTON. in black ink on back of orange watchmaker's paper: Wm Bond & Son / Cleaned March / 18th 1844 in brown ink on back of blue watchmaker's paper: Wm - Bond & Son / No. 8 Congress / Square / Boston

Inscribedon watch movement: 303

Curatorial RemarksThe date letter on the case is for 1724. The suggestion that the case was made by William Bond of Plymouth in 1804 is mistaken.

ProvenanceWilliam Bond, Plymouth, England, pre-1784; William Cranch Bond, Boston, Massachusetts; the Bond family; Roland Hammond, North Andover, MA, circa 1928; David P. Wheatland, Topsfield, MA, 1968.

Historical AttributesThis pocket watch movement was made by George Lindsay, and the silver case was made in London. The watch was owned by William Bond and taken by him to New England in about 1784. In America, Bond first worked in the timber business, but relocated from Falmouth (now Portland), Maine to Boston in 1793. In Boston, Bond returned to his occupation as a silversmith and clockmaker. His son, William Cranch Bond, joined him in the business William Bond & Son. The watch passed to William Cranch Bond from his father, and to later descendents of the family. In about 1928, the watch was sold with other materials from the William Bond estate to Roland Hammond of North Andover, Massachusetts. David P. Wheatland purchased the watch in 1968. The firm, William Bond & Son, continued to make and sell chronometers and watches until 1977. The business papers of the firm are currently in the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments.