Front, Back, Front Open, Inner Front, Inner back, Dial, Dial signature, Inside outer case, Outer case hallmarks, Inner case hallmarks, Movement, 2nd view of movement, 3rd view of movement, Side view of Barrow's regulator, Side view of contrate wheel, Side view of crown wheel, Side view of Tompion sector, Closeup of outer joint, Closeup of inside of outer joint

This is a contract watch for the well known Clockmaker Isaac Thomas of Willistown Pennsylvania.* 

The cases are both marked with London hallmarks for 1764. The maker's mark H.B. is for Henry Billingshurst who registered his mark in 1759. The back of the inner case has a scratch engraved monogram, ExR and the date 1784.

The champleve dial is rather crude for London work and may have been made in the Colonies. Another possibility is that the watch is Swiss rather than English. The roman numerals on the Tompion regulator and the arcaded dial point in that direction. However, the hallmarks look to be genuine, so the watch was at least cased in England.

Given that the hallmark dates are accurate, it is easily the earliest watch in the Early American collection. The pillar design and the presence of the Barrow regulator (the small square for setting up the mainspring) are further evidence of the relatively early date.

There is a lot of interest in Civil War watches with the work on the Hunley and Captain Dixon's watch. It is interesting to speculate if this watch might actually have been carried during the Revolutionary War.

The watch has not been disassembled and more information may come to light when the dial has been removed. It is in need of repair as can be seen from the fact that the Tompion sector is visible on the wrong side of the balance. However, the overall condition is rather good for a watch made in 1764 and used in the rough environment of the American Colonies.

*Thomas was an exceptional cabinetmaker who purchased movements or traded them for cases. One of his clock cases is in the NAWCC permanent collection. A signed clock sold in a 2005 auction in Boothwyn, PA. Thomas was born in 1721 and died in 1802. Three Thomases from Willistown fought in the Revolutionary War. (Isaac Thomas, Joseph Thomas and Samuel Thomas). Isaac would have been 55 in 1776.  The Revolutionary War Isaac Thomas is probably the Clock-maker's son who was born in 1754. The others are likely his nephews.

According to a 2003 story in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Thomas was a Quaker and had a mill on Crum Creek in Willistown township. He was one of the most prolific Chester County clock-makers in the 18th century. His home and mill have been preserved. The home contains three of his clocks and has one of his best examples displayed in the foyer.

A brief genealogy of Isaac Thomas may be found at Thomas Genealogy.