Adams, Arnold & Co. of London

This maker is not listed in our reference materials. If you have any information on him/them then please let us know

This was a brand name used by a Swiss manufacturer between 1840 and 1900. As far as we can tell, there never was a watchmaker with this name.

2 watches are listed by them in the NAWCC Bulletin issue 304 pp 630 & 632. However, no dates or interesting information is given. All we can say is the repair records that they appear on were written in 1865, so Arnold, Adams and Co must have been trading before then. I second Doug’s request for photos or scans of the watch.

We think that ‘Arnold Adams & Co.’ was a fabricated name used by an unknown Swiss firm who wished to pass off their products as English; the name was designed to suggest the prestigious partnership of Arnold & Dent (successors to John Arnold, the chronometer pioneer of the 1780s) without incurring the legal penalties that would have ensued if they had copied the name exactly. Certainly the inscription ‘Detached Lever, 16 Jewels’, which was mentioned in a version of this enquiry submitted to the N.A.W.C.C. board, suggests Swiss rather than English practice.

Another watch has come to light from one of our readers. Sadly no date information on it as there was no hallmark, but, it was an Arnold Adams & Company movement inside a John E. Hyde & Sons London case. On the outside of the movement cover appears "DETACHED LEVER 18 JEWELS". Beneath that it reads "PARACHUTE AND COMPENSATION". The bottom line is "COMPOUND BALANCE". Engraved are two hunting scenes. One being a game bird , the other a rabbit. The inside of the movement cover is plain except for the number 5430. Not sure the "3" digit is correct.

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Known Trade Directory listings from trade directories that we have currently catalogued

None Found.

Note: Due to the dynamic nature of the addition of Trade Directories to our library, these results may show additional dates to the text above.

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Known Published Photos or articles

Please note that due to British copyright laws, we are not able to show any photos or articles mentioned below. However, the books etc should be available for order from your local library or see Links page for details of places to obtain copies of the sources listed below)

None Found

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Sources (see Links page for details of places to obtain copies of the sources listed below)

NAWCC Bulletin, Pub National Association Watch & Clock Collectors (www.nawcc.org)

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Photos

Photos by "minervabird"
(photo ref:3)

Photos by Arnie Adams
(photo ref:4)

THE INSIDE LID IS MARKED AS FOLLOWS: ANCHOR ESCAPEMENT FIFTEEN JEWELS ARNOLD ADAMS AND CO LONDON THE DIAMETER IS ALMOST 2" THE MOVEMENT LOOKS TO BE HAND PAINTED. Photos by Barry Parker
(photo ref:13)

Looks like a mid 1800's pocket watch made into a wrist watch. The case is sterling, but bench made with no hallmarks. The lever has counterpoise extensions that incline me to place it in that time period. I agree that it looks Swiss, but doesn't have the multiple bridges that would be typical of Swiss watches of the era - possibly again to look more British? Photos by Reid Zeigler
(photo ref:14)

Looks like a mid 1800's pocket watch made into a wrist watch. The case is sterling, but bench made with no hallmarks. The lever has counterpoise extensions that incline me to place it in that time period. I agree that it looks Swiss, but doesn't have the multiple bridges that would be typical of Swiss watches of the era - possibly again to look more British? Photos by Reid Zeigler
(photo ref:15)

This case is marked on the inner back as Thirteen Jewels, Detached Lever and bears the number 6759. The case is marked VD 1017. The face is plain with no markings and the works show no markings or numbers. This watch runs but appears to require two keys or a double key. one to wind and one to set. Photos by Ken Keeler
(photo ref:16)

photos by Tim Huizenga
(photo ref:17)

Photos by Charles Sweigart
(photo ref:699)

Photos by Ken Wheeler
(photo ref:1582)

Photos by Cathy Kelly On the inside back of the case it has "PCFS" and the numbers "44166" stamped. It also has what looks like a very small crest and the word "argent" stamped around the top of it. It also has the number "5079" stamped. The movement case reads Arnold Adams & Co London. Detached lever. 13 jewels. Parachute & Compensation. There is also the number "5079" stamped on the inside of the movement case, which is also where an owner "Marcus Miller" signed his name in what looks like very old style writing with a quill an ink pen.
(photo ref:1735)

photos by

Alan Price

 

(photo ref:2073)

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The above information and dates are correct to the best of our knowledge based on the current books etc in our library at the time this page was last written or amended. Please be aware that any dates given are not necessarily the start and finish dates of this maker, they are just the dates that it is likely that he was working based on the information we have found. These are taken from trade directories etc and it is quite possible that they were working for longer periods than shown above.

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