A Royal watch by Samuel Houston
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1807
According to the Science Museum Group, this silver consular pocket watch is associated with maker Samuel Houston and bears a London hallmark for 1807 with casemaker mark 'CC'.
The source records an engraved Royal Crown on the case rear alongside an inscription stating the watch was worn by Princess Charlotte until age twelve and presented to Henry Kuper. The white enamel dial features upright Roman numerals, gold spade and pointed hands, and a winding aperture at IIII. Source documentation describes the full-plate movement as having a verge escapement, a five-armed steel balance, an engraved index scale, and a backplate signed 'Saml.
Houston, London. 794'.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Verge pocket watch
- Hallmark Date
- 1807
- Movement Type
- Full-plate movement with verge escapement
- Casemaker Mark
- CC
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- Samuel Houston
- Backplate Inscription
- Saml. Houston, London. 794
Design
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial with upright black Roman numerals and an outer minute track • Winding aperture visible through the dial near the IIII numeral • Silver consular case with top bow and spherical pendant • Gold spade hour hand and pointed minute hand mounted centrally
- Movement Specifications
- The watch contains a full-plate movement with a verge escapement and a 5-armed plain steel balance. It features an early wedge-shaped cock and a blued-steel index that indicates against a scale engraved on the plate. The movement backplate is signed 'Saml. Houston, London. 794'.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The source documentation includes a hallmark for 1807 and a casemaker's mark of 'CC'. The record also lists a Clockmakers' Museum number of 793. The source provides conflicting location references, citing 'Dublin, c.1805' in the descriptive text while the museum record header and the movement backplate signature state 'London' and 1807.
- Dial and Exterior Observations
- The timepiece features a white enamel dial with upright Roman chapter-numerals and an outer minute track. A winding aperture is positioned near the IIII numeral. It utilizes gold spade and pointed hands. The watch is housed in a silver consular case featuring a wide plain band, a top bow, and a spherical pendant. The rear of the case is engraved with a Royal Crown and an inscription: 'C.P. This watch was worn by H.R.H. the Princess Charlotte until she was twelve Yrs old & then presented by HRH to Henry Kuper.'
Identification
- Reference
- L2015-3667
- Serial number
- 794
- Museum Object Number
- L2015-3667
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Source notes conflicting locations: 'Dublin, c.1805' in description versus 'Made: 1807 in London' and 'London' on movement backplate
- Research required: Rear case engraving and movement interior are not visible in this dial-view photograph