
Pocket Watches · Pocket watch
Gold Quarter Repeating Fusee Lever by MCCABE, 1845
- Maker / attribution
- McCabe (maker)
- Date
- 1845
- Historical period
- Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Object type
- Pocket watch
- Materials / technique
- gold
- Dealer
- WatchMuseum.org shop
- Stock no.
- Product 6202
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, WatchMuseum.org shop (product 6202)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Gold Quarter Repeating Fusee Lever by MCCABE (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by WatchMuseum.org shop (stock number Product 6202), this is a pocket watch by McCabe, dated 1845. The Atlas places it in the Precision & Scientific Horology period (1750 – 1850) of its Pocket Watches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: gold. The record is illustrated with 4 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — WatchMuseum.org shop
The “Gold Quarter Repeating Fusee Lever by MCCABE - 1845” is an exquisite example of mid-19th century horological artistry, embodying both the elegance and mechanical ingenuity of its time. Crafted by the renowned watchmaker McCabe, this pocket watch is a testament to the precision and aesthetic sensibilities of the era. Encased in an 18-carat gold open face case with an intricate engine turned design, the watch features a stunning gold dial that exudes timeless sophistication. Its gilt three-quarter plate keywind movement is powered by a fusee and chain mechanism, enhanced by Harrison’s maintaining power, and adorned with blue steel accents that highlight the meticulous attention to detail in its construction. The English table roller lever escapement ensures reliable timekeeping, while the standout quarter repeater function adds a layer of auditory elegance, chiming the time on two polished steel gongs activated by a gold slide. The dial, with its Roman numerals and subsidiary seconds dial, is complemented by blue steel hands, further enhancing the watch’s refined appearance. In excellent condition, this timepiece is a remarkable blend of beauty and functionality, signed and numbered with the maker’s mark “WR” and “IMC,” and originating from London in 1845. With a diameter of 44 mm, the “Gold Quarter Repeating Fusee Lever by MCCABE” is not just a watch but a piece of history, reflecting the craftsmanship and legacy of McCabe, making it a coveted collector’s item for those who appreciate the art of watchmaking. This is a beautiful mid 19th century quarter repeating lever pocket watch made by McCabe. It features a gold dial and is housed in an 18 carat gold open face case with an engine turned design. The watch has a gilt three quarter plate keywind movement with a fusee and chain mechanism, along with Harrison’s maintaining power. The movement is adorned with blue steel accents, including the barrel setup on the top plate and the balance spring. The escapement is an English table roller lever escapement. One of the standout features of this watch is its quarter repeater function, which chimes the time on two polished steel gongs. The repeater can be activated by sliding a gold slide on the ribbed middle of the case. The gold engine turned dial is elegantly designed and features Roman numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial. The hands are made of blue steel, adding a touch of sophistication to the overall look of the watch. The watch is in excellent condition and is a testament to the craftsmanship of McCabe. The gold cuvette is signed and numbered, with the maker’s mark “WR” and “IMC” present. This pocket watch is a stunning timepiece that combines both beauty and functionality. Signed Jas McCabe – Royal Exchange London Place of Origin : Hallmarked London Date of Manufacture: 1845 Diameter : 44 mm Condition: Good
Historical context
Precision & Scientific Horology (1750 – 1850)
Harrison solves longitude; Mudge invents the lever; Breguet's Paris workshop defines the modern watch.
From 1750 to 1850 the watch became a precision instrument. Mudge's lever escapement, the cylinder escapement, Lépine's thin bar calibre, Breguet's innovations (overcoil, tourbillon, perpétuelle) and the pocket chronometer of Arnold and Earnshaw all date from this period, while verge watches remained common in cheaper production.
Read the period in the timelineMore pocket watches from this periodEarlier: Early Modern Horology
Atlas type guide
Repeating watches
Before electric light, telling the time in the dark was a real problem. Repeating watches strike the time on demand when a slide or push-piece is operated: quarter repeaters sound hours and quarters, minute repeaters hours, quarters and minutes. Edward Barlow and Daniel Quare disputed the invention in London in the 1680s. Early repeaters struck on a bell inside the case; Abraham-Louis Breguet introduced the gong (a coiled steel wire) around 1780, allowing thinner watches.
Repeaters require a separate train with racks, snails and a governor to control the striking speed, and are among the most demanding complications to make and adjust. Swiss makers of the Vallée de Joux specialised in repeating ébauches in the nineteenth century.
What to look for
- A slide on the case band or a push-piece through the pendant.
- Gongs encircling the movement (after c. 1780) or a bell in the case (earlier); pierced case for sound.
- The racks, snails and governor visible under the dial or on the movement.
- Terms such as 'Minutes', 'Quarts' or 'Répétition' on the dial or cuvette.
Dating clues
- Bell-striking quarter repeaters: c. 1690–1800.
- Gong repeaters and dumb repeaters (striking on the case): after c. 1780.
- Minute repeaters became more common after c. 1830 with Vallée de Joux ébauches.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Minute repeater
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