Researching an object: sources, archives and citations

Good horological research is a chain of evidence. Every statement about an object — who made it, when, where, what has been changed — should lead back to something another researcher can examine.

Kinds of source

Reading a catalogue record

A museum record is evidence, but it is also a document with a history. Notice which fields are measured or transcribed (dimensions, inscriptions) and which are interpretations (attributions, dates, places). Look for the date of the record, the references cited and any notes about alterations.

Citing

• Give institution, accession number and URL for objects.
• Give author, title, publisher, year and page for printed works.
• Give patent office, number and date for patents.
• Quote inscriptions exactly, including spelling and line breaks where relevant.
• Say when a statement is your own inference.

Asking for help

Horological societies, museum curators and specialist forums are generous with expertise. A good enquiry includes clear photographs of the dial, movement, case interior and marks, a transcription of every inscription, and a summary of what you have already checked.

Marks, numbers and signatures

Before reading anything about an object, record what it says about itself. Note every number on the movement, case and dial, and where it appears; a movement number and a case number that belong together are strong evidence that the watch is 'right', while numbers that do not match can mean a later re-casing. Photograph hallmarks and case-maker's marks in sharp, raking light. Distinguish the signature on the dial from the one on the movement: a dial often names the retailer who sold the piece, while the movement may be signed by the maker, the finisher or no one at all.

• The dial, front and back if it can be removed safely, and the hands.
• The movement in full and in close-up around the escapement, signature and numbers.
• The inside and outside of every case, including hinges and the pendant or bow.
• Any papers, boxes, labels, repair marks scratched inside the case and previous catalogue descriptions.

Directories, patents and archives

Biographical directories — Baillie's Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World and its later revisions by Brian Loomes, and national or regional lists — give working dates and addresses for many thousands of makers, but they compile earlier sources and contain errors, so treat them as a starting point. The apprenticeship and freedom records of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, trade directories, census returns and newspaper advertisements can confirm a London maker's career. Patent registers (Espacenet, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, national archives) date inventions and name inventors. Many factories and some Swiss houses will provide archive extracts for a serial number, usually for a fee.