H.L.Brown & Son, London & Sheffield

• Movement: nickel silver half plate, escapement with gold lever, brass ratchet tooth escape wheel, jewelled to the centre, bi-metallic compensation balance, micrometer regulation, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, signed H.L. Brown & Son: London & Sheffield, Watchmakers to the Admiralty, No. 37918
• Dial: Venetian white enamel, bold black Roman numerals, outer minute ring, two recessed subsidiary dials for state of wind indication at 12 and subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, blued steel spade hands, signed H.L Brown & Son, London & Sheffield
• Case: plain gold polished covers, gold hand-set button to the band with olivette, a second larger gold pusher to the band engages movement to allow winding, gold pendant and thief-proof bow, the back opening to reveal a hinged plain gold cuvette, covers and cuvette with maker's mark FT London with incuse A above for Fred Thoms and numbered 37918, London hallmarks for 1905 

Sotheby’s Geneva, 17th May 2000, lot 222
Christie’s South Kensington, 23rd July 1987, lot 158

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 444, pl. 288

movement will run when wound at the time of catalouging and state of wind advancing. Dial and hands in excellent condition. Case with scuffs throughout to be expected, overall superb condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

Most unusually for an English watch, the half-plate movement is made of nickel silver and the wheel train is a gold alloy. The nickel silver alloy is much less likely to tarnish than brass and usually consists of around 50% copper, 30% zinc and 20% nickel. In order to wind the watch, the pusher to the band between 2 and 3 o’clock must be pressed simultaneously whilst turning the crown – this feature was intended to encourage careful winding, which together with observation of the state of wind indicator would have helped to prevent over-winding of, and thereby damage to, the fusee movement.

Brian Loomes in his book, Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, notes the firm Harris Leon Brown of Sheffield was already active by 1871 [op. cit. , Vol. 2, 1989, p. 32]. H. L. Brown appears to have been a successful retailing business and it is known that Usher and Cole supplied them with a repeating chronograph (their number 28180) in October 1894, especially signed and numbered 26515.