I have just found this and took a chance in it.
Can anyone tell me a bit about it. it is complete and shouldnt take much to get it working. hallmarks on case make it 1801, London, SIlver, stamped XXX Mcdowell on movement?. about 2 inch in size chunky heavy dimpled glass any inforamtion and any idea of value. I love the paired case. all looks in excellent condition given age but know noth9ing of these.
Thanks

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Chris,

It does appear to be a fine watch but with out the ability to examine in hand it may or may not be easy to get going.. Does the balance swing??? Is the chain present and attached??? The maker McDowell is a listed maker, around this time from Doublin or Belfast.. The xxx you have listed needs to be better clarified.. maybe a close up of the inscription...These English style fusee's are the main make up of my watch collection..

John Pavlik

Could we see a picture of the fusee wheel?

Dear John/Stephen,

Will try and get some better pictures ASAP,
A friend suggested a watch maker called James McDowell of Sligo in Ireland? and this comming from a Irish section of the east coast USA maybe??. As for the balance it swings and appears to be in tact and clean, however the hairspring appears to have worked loose on the shaft, the movement seems to advance when the balance swang (carefully by hand! but not going to mess further for now until I can get to my bench)chain is in tact under tension and clean, movement very clean in all so should be easy to get up and running, just one dent in lower part of inner case.

Hope these help

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The book "Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World Vol 1" by G.H.Baillie lists a James MacDowell of Silgo working in 1834. The book "Clocks and Watches and Their Makers, Ninth Edition" list him working in Silgo in 1820. No other information is given.

The watch is a typical English verge fusee of about 1800 although the hour hand on the dial is unusual.

The problem here is the spelling. McDowell or MacDowell. The people who write the books can easily use the wrong one! We have to accept that the watchmaker knew hai own namm. So, what name do you look up. I can't make out the abreviated first name. Can some one give me a clue?

I'm reading the first name as Jas. with the s superscript. That would be the abbreviation for James.

I agree with Donald...it is James McDowell.

"Mc" is more common..in the past...with Irish while "Mac" is Scottish.

It means "son" or "son of"

Alot of purists say Mc is incorrect...but now I am drifting..

There are and were McIntyres on both sides of the Irish Sea and generally the Irish use the Mc and the Scots Mac. I have never heard an explanation of why, but they are certainly the same name. It is not spelled either of those ways in Gaelic.