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CHARLES FRODSHAM FUSEE - C. 1861 "Click" to Login or Register 
posted
Firstly I'd just like to comment, having a dedicated European Forum is terrific.
I think we all owe Lindell and the team for listening to, and accommodating
the ever growing needs of the IHC 185 membership. Big Grin

Shown below is a wonderful solid 18K Gold,fully hallmarked pocket watch made by
Charles Frodsham who lived from 1810-1871. All the markings on this key wound
fusee watch date it to London C. 1861-1862. As you'll see the dial, movement
and case all bear the same 01868 serial number.

Note: I believe the name Arnold on the dial refers John Roger Arnold who was
a watchmaker working at 84 Stand in London from 1830-1843. He was later
succeeded by Charles Frodsham in 1843 who ran the watch making business
at 84 Strand until his death in 1863. Maybe I could ask some of our
European colleagues if they can help further define the true connections
which may apply to this watch.

Figure I


Dave Freeman
IHC Member 321


 
Posts: 976 | Location: Texas in the U.S.A. | Registered: January 27, 2004
posted
Figure II

How about this dial Smile


Dave Freeman
IHC Member 321


 
Posts: 976 | Location: Texas in the U.S.A. | Registered: January 27, 2004
posted
Figure III


Dave Freeman
IHC Member 321


 
Posts: 976 | Location: Texas in the U.S.A. | Registered: January 27, 2004
posted
Figure IV


Dave Freeman
IHC Member 321


 
Posts: 976 | Location: Texas in the U.S.A. | Registered: January 27, 2004
posted
Figure V


Dave Freeman
IHC Member 321


 
Posts: 976 | Location: Texas in the U.S.A. | Registered: January 27, 2004
posted
Figure VI


Dave Freeman
IHC Member 321


 
Posts: 976 | Location: Texas in the U.S.A. | Registered: January 27, 2004
posted
Figure VII


Dave Freeman
IHC Member 321


 
Posts: 976 | Location: Texas in the U.S.A. | Registered: January 27, 2004
posted
Dave: You and I have compared watches these watches before. Mine is hallmarked for 1853, which goes along with an inscription on the watch.
However, the serial number is out of sequence! The case and movement bear the same serial number. I hope some of our European members can give us some ideas about these watches. I am adding three pictures.

 
Posts: 767 | Location: Los Osos, California USA | Registered: December 12, 2002
posted
Hallmarks.

 
Posts: 767 | Location: Los Osos, California USA | Registered: December 12, 2002
posted
Movement.

 
Posts: 767 | Location: Los Osos, California USA | Registered: December 12, 2002
posted
Charles Frodsham had two runs of serial numbers. His first sequence finished at 9999 in about 1859. His second sequence then started and had an added 0 in front of the number i.e. 01000.

After Charles death in 1871 the family company continued making watches using this sequence.

The number 17567 does not fit the sequence of known numbers but 7567 would fit exactly.


Regards
Dave Thomas
 
Posts: 27 | Location: Warrington, in the United Kingdom | Registered: December 08, 2002
IHC Life Member
Picture of Cooksey Shugart
posted
Movements signed "Arnold & Frodsham 84 Strand London" are from 1843 to 1858. Later moving to New Bond Syteet.
Cooksey
 
Posts: 62 | Location: Cleveland, Tennessee USA | Registered: November 27, 2002
posted
100 Years of Precision Timekeepers from John
Arnold to Arnold & Frodsham 1763-1862 Page 543
By Hans Staeger

Arnold & Frodsham Pocket Watches

Examples--

S/N 14686 Ca. 1863

S/N 15897 Ca. 1864

S/N 21968 Ca. 1865

See John Arnold & Son by Vaudrey Mercer Pg 215


Frank Menez
 
Posts: 39 | Location: Somersworth, New Hampshire USA | Registered: February 18, 2005
posted
You're correct, when John Rogers Arnold, the son of Arnold & Son, died in 1843, his business at 84 Strand was bought by Charles Frodsham, also the son of a well known chronometer maker. According to Gould (The Marine Chronometer) JR Arnold was an indifferent maker.

Frodsham bought out another maker, Benj. Lewis Vulliamy in 1854, and one assumes he felt sufficiently established with in his own right to drop the Arnold name in 1858.

Frodsham & Co. continued 84 Strand until 1896, when apparently, in some kind of early "urban renewal" scheme, the shop was taken over by a hotel.

Very nice watch, thanks for showing it to us.

Norman
 
Posts: 153 | Location: Northeastern United States | Registered: December 18, 2005
posted
The Frodshams by Vaudrey Mercer Page 243

Charles Frodsham & Co. Ltd.

1897-1902 115 New Bond St. & 11 Duke St
1903-1914 115 New Bond St
1915 27 South Molton St.n WI
1916-1919 27 South Molton St. & Davies
St. Grosvenor Sq.
1920-1941 27 South Molton St
1942-1946 62 Beauchamo Place
1947-1958 173 Brompton Road
1959-1962 173 brompton Road & 31 & 32
Palmer St.
1963-1973 173 Brompton Road
1974 47 South Audley St.
 
Posts: 39 | Location: Somersworth, New Hampshire USA | Registered: February 18, 2005
posted
Various publications on the watches signed
Arnold, Charles Frodsham appear to have descrepancis pertaining to serial numbers and
date of manufacture.

The Frodshams by Dr Vaudrey Mercer Page 244
has the following info--

Arnold & Frodsham Watches

2379-9737
12692-15897
36283
1005ll

It appears that after Frodsham decided
to discontinue using the Arnold name on his
watches old stock was sold in the 1860s with
Arnold, Charles Frodsham on the movements
 
Posts: 39 | Location: Somersworth, New Hampshire USA | Registered: February 18, 2005
Picture of Sheila Gilbert
posted
Dave,
Beautiful Watch!


Sheila
 
Posts: 3094 | Location: La Plata, Maryland U.S.A. | Registered: May 22, 2004
posted
Dave,
Many thanks for your kind comments, I couldn't agree more!

Thank you for showing us you beautiful watch, not often we get to see the products of Frodsham and his ilk, I hope we can winkle a few more treasures like this out of bank vaults! Razz

What I particularly like, is that someone has actually used the watch as a daily wearer and not kept it as a museum piece, just look at all those service marks scribed into the dome - wonderful!

Best regards

John
 
Posts: 1282 | Location: Northern England, United Kingdom | Registered: January 07, 2006
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