James McCabe, London

• Movement: gilded half plate, spring detent escapement, free-sprung bi-metallic compensation balance, blued steel helical spring, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, setting square for hand-set and winding, signed and numbered Jas McCabe, Royal Exchange, London 08325  
• Dial: silver, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary at 12 for state of wind indication, Arabic subsidiary seconds at 6, gold fleur-de-lys hands, signed and numbered Jas McCabe, Royal Exchange London, 08325
• Case: plain gold case, gold hand-set button to band with protective shoulders, gold pendant and bow, polished gold cuvette, case, cuvette and pendant with maker's mark AS incuse for Alfred Stram, case and cuvette numbered 08325, hallmarked London 1875

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, p. 410, pl. 262

Movement will run when wound at the time of cataloguing, though this must be achieved by key and not via the crown. Dial with wear to the outermost edge, hands in good condition. Case in good condition scuffs throughout to be expected .
"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."

The style of this watch’s dial appears to be heavily influenced by the marine chronometers which were sold by the McCabes, with a horizontally satin finished dial and subsidiary dials for state of wind and seconds. To the movement’s backplate are winding and hand-setting squares which can be used when the movement is out of its case or if the keyless mechanism encounters a problem.

A concise history of the McCabe family by Paul Hackamack can be found in Antiquarian Horology, No. 3, Vol. 10, Summer 1977, pp. 308-316. James McCabe was born c. 1748 in Ireland near to Belfast and moved to London in 1775. The firm is recorded at Fleet Street, Cheapside and the Royal Exchange. In 1781, McCabe was made a Freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company, later becoming a Warden.  James died in 1811 and the firm was continued by his youngest son Robert. Robert died in 1860 and, in turn, his eldest son, Robert Jeremy McCabe, continued the family business until he closed it in 1879/80. Robert Jeremy appears to have spent the remainder of his life as “a man of independent means” and died in 1902 [op. cit. p. 309].