Craigdarroch Castle : Object : watch, pocket [2000.009.001.001a-c]

Comments and Tags (0)

Object

Accession Number

2000.009.001.001a-c

Description

One gold-cased pocket watch with an attached chain and winding key. (a.) The watch is round and its gold case plainly-finished except for a fine radiating cross-hatched design on its back which includes a bare circular area at its centre. The large white dial is enamel on brass or copper featuring Roman numerals. There is a small dial face on the bottom middle of the larger dial, and this has a second-hand in it featuring Hindu-Arabic numerals. Stamped inside the first hinged back cover are the following marks: "18", meaning 18K gold; an image of a leopard head, meaning that the gold was assayed in London; a Crown, indicating the English gold standard; the letter "L", being the date letter for 1866; "AS", being the mark of the maker of the case, Alfred Stram, working from 12 Ashby Street, Northampton Square, London, UK; "38715", which is the maker's model or inventory number; and eight hand-scratched groups of numbers appearing to have been made by the hands of three different people who serviced the watch. There is a second cover inside the back that is also hinged. It opens to reveal part of the movement. (b.) Attached to the watch is a 14K gold bar-link chain with thirty-five squared columnar links. The chain is stamped "585", which is the British and Continental indicator of 14K (14 karat) gold. The swiveling join between the chain and the watch is made of gold, but is more orange in colour tone than the watch or the chain. At the other end of the chain is a smaller swiveling join made of gold that is of a colour matching the chain. This swiveling join is attached to a small key for winding the watch. (c.) The key has a cast brass disc-shaped head with a star on one side of it and the number "6" on the other side. A hollow steel columnar shaft comes out of this disc and it has an opening shaped to fit the watch's winding mechanism.

Narrative

This very fine watch was made by two separate makers.

According to the book, Watch Case Makers of England: A History and Register of Gold & Silver Watch Case Makers of England, 1720 - 1920 by Philip T. Priestly, the "AS" hallmark on this watch's case is the mark for Alfred Stram, a London watch case maker working from 12 Ashby Street, Northampton Square, London, UK. The number 38715 is the serial number of the case. The maker of the watch's movement has not been identified. The maker's name and/or a serial might be found under the cover.

The watch's movement has been described as a fine 3/4 plate English-made example. It has a fully capped escapement. Because the case was assayed in London, it is reasonable to conclude that the movement was made or assembled in the London watchmaking district around Clerkenwell. If the movement has a serial number, it might match the number on the case. The serial number might be under the cover or perhaps under the dial. One expert who examined photographs of this watch believes the movement is Swiss, but made in the English style. Another expert has concluded that the movement has an English escape wheel and right-angle lever and that the movement is therefore English.

History of Use

This watch was owned by Hon. James Dunsmuir until his death in 1920. It was then inherited by the donor's grandfather, Guy Mortimer Audain, who was then married to James Dunsmuir's daughter, Sarah Byrd Dunsmuir. It was next inherited by the donor's father, James Guy Payne Audain, and next by his son, the donor, Michael James Audain. Because of the watch's age (made 1866), there is a possibility that it once belonged to James Dunsmuir's father, Hon. Robert Dunsmuir.

Part of the reasoning for this hypothesis is that James Dunsmuir was only 15 years old when this watch was made and would not likely have been given such a valuable object at that young age. It is also reasonable to assume that such an important personal object, if owned by Robert Dunsmuir, would have been given to one of his sons by their mother. If it had been given to son Alexander Dunsmuir, and not to James Dunsmuir, then James would have inherited it from Alexander because James was Alex's sole beneficiary when Alexander died in 1900.

Various photographs of James and Robert Dunsmuir wearing watchchains have survived. These are: Craigdarroch Castle Collection: 2009.019.020; BCA HP99183; BCA C-4922; BCA E1246; BCA A-1253; BCA E-1248. In all of these photographs, the chains are much more substantial than the one currently attached to this watch.

The photographs of James Dunsmuir wearing a thick curved-link chain were all taken after 1881, the year that he received a gift of a gold watch and chain from the residents of Wellington. He may or may not be wearing this watch (2000.9.1.1). Only the chain is visible in these photographs, and watchchains are easily changed. No photographs depicting the actual watch worn by James, Alex, or Robert Dunsmuir are known to exist as of March, 2022. However, it is certain that this watch (2000.9.1.1) is not the one presented to James Dunsmuir in 1881, because that one was engraved.¹

The rationale for thinking that this watch might have belonged to Robert Dunsmuir is of course speculative. However, its history of use by James Dunsmuir is certain. In summary, the donor's father, James Guy Payne Audain, knew his grandfather James Dunsmuir and knew that this was his watch. Mr. Audain told his son, the donor, about its history of use by James Dunsmuir.

1. Nanaimo Free Press, February 5, 1881: "On Friday evening last a large number of residents of Wellington sat down to a sumptuous supper in the Forester's Hall...After ample justice had been done to the delicious viands, the principal event of the evening took place - the presentation to Mr. James Dunsmuir of a gold watch and chain, and a silver tea service to Mrs. Dunsmuir, from the residents of Wellington...The watch and chain and the tea service was obtained from C.E. Redfern, Victoria, and are really beautiful articles. On the watch is the following inscription: Presented to James Dunsmuir, Esq., as a mark of respect by the employees of the Wellington Collieries, Feb. 4, 1881".