yesjb
586
A little more on Frodsham from George Daniels.
George Daniels was quite an admirer of Frodsham watches.
In his book with Cecil Clutton he writes:
"The numerous members of the Frodsham family were in business from some time before 1780. William Frodsham, the second generation of watchmakers, married Alice, a grand-daughter of John Harrison. Charles, the last member of the family to be active in watchmaking, died in 1871, but the firm still continues.
From some time before the middle of the last century (1) they began making lever escapements and chronometer escapement (2) watches of the very highest quality, and continued to do so until the outbreak of the war in 1939. For the 1851 Exhibition they introduced the 3/4 plate calibre which they marked AD.FMSZ, which continued subsequently to be put on all their highest grade work. The significance of FMSZ is said to be found by putting the name Frodsham against the numbers thus
F R O D S H A M Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0
Thus FMSZ gives the date 1850.
During the first part of this century (3) the firm was closely connected with Nicole Neilson who made most of the movements, including some of the most perfect tourbillons ever made, which can still perform with almost unrivalled accuracy. When other watches were becoming increasingly ugly during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Frodsham watches are almost elegant and well proportioned, and evenas late as 1914 some of them with engine-turned dials were worthy of Breguet."
(1) 19th century
(2) pivot detent escapement
(3) 20th century
Daniels adds elsewhere under a photo of of No. 09655 from 1913, a lever escapement one-minute tourbillon had on four separate occasions between 1913 and 1946 taken a Kew certificate.
During the first part of this century (3) the firm was closely connected with Nicole Neilson who made most of the movements, including some of the most perfect tourbillons ever made, which can still perform with almost unrivalled accuracy. When other watches were becoming increasingly ugly during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Frodsham watches are almost elegant and well proportioned, and evenas late as 1914 some of them with engine-turned dials were worthy of Breguet."
(1) 19th century
(2) pivot detent escapement
(3) 20th century
Daniels adds elsewhere under a photo of of No. 09655 from 1913, a lever escapement one-minute tourbillon had on four separate occasions between 1913 and 1946 taken a Kew certificate.
More posts:
The Sound of Music
Although a committed V&C collector, this Charles Frodsham timepiece from 1869 proved too much to resist. To begin with, it is a minute repeater! Have a look, a sound clip is included at the end... Charles Frodsham was a celebrated English watch maker ...
Great history.....
Can you include your still photos of the watch as part of the thread? I would like to look at the movement more. Have you been able to track the provenance of this piece? It is wonderful that you have been able to research this piece to this degree. Thank...
Sure thing, Bill
As my one and only English-style watch, I find the differences fascinating: ...
Great story. I was reading an old Watchtime article on the
Dresden Mathematics and Physics salon, which is essentially a museum with an amazing horological collection. Even they have a piece by Mr. Frodsham.
Another interesting Frodsham by LB Audemars
This piece was auctioned by Antiquorum. It was acquired by Frodsham in 1880 and features a two-train grand and petite sonnerie with "trip" minute repeater (meaning the repetition spring is wound with the mainspring). ...
One of the best kept 'secrets'!
Wonderful watch! Thanks for sharing this great video! You have one of vintage pocket watches great secrets there: A private label Louis Audemars :) Frodsham watches are spectacular to begin with, and then to have one manufactured by Ls. Audemars is even b...
See reply to Bill for pics
Love your username! Have you ever been to the LB Audemars home at Crêt-Meylan? They only manufactured ebauches for other makers until about 1850, when the company decided to offer completed watches under their own name. Those made up till about 1880 were ...
I like your watch and even more I like your kind of ...
research. " This timepiece, with it's Frodsham number, appears in the registers of LB Audemars; made available by Hartmut Zantke in his substantial book "Louis-Benjamin Audemars His Life and Work" I have the book you mentioned ... ... and I tried to find ...
You are correct about Zantke
Thanks for asking, Oliver :-) Zantke's list of Frodsham numbers only begins with 1878. The more recent book by Paul Audemars, The Story of Louis Audemars & Cie, contains additional ledgers and serial numbers that weren't available to Zantke when he pu...
If you are interested in the other book
shoot me a pm and I'll provide contact info. ...
Congratulations, Dean!
What an amazing addition to your collection. It is really something to get to hear as well as see this piece. Thank you for including a sound clip in the video. Just astonishing to see this watch this old fully functioning and in such magnificent conditio...
Hard to resist
asking my watchmaker to disassemble the movement, because I'm dying to know more about its construction and any unique LB Audemars touches hiding under that top plate. But it works well, keeps good time, and the possibility of breaking screws, etc., witho...
A little more on Frodsham from George Daniels.
George Daniels was quite an admirer of Frodsham watches. In his book with Cecil Clutton he writes: "The numerous members of the Frodsham family were in business from some time before 1780. William Frodsham, the second generation of watchmakers, married Al...
Congrats Dean!
What a story and research! And of course the lovely pocket watch minute repeater with so much research you have shared. Thanks Dean for this very enjoyable read. Cheers Robin
