Lever escapement watch by John Grant

Gold straight-line lever escapement watch by John Grant, London. Gold case, stamped VW (for casemaker Valentine Walker) and hallmarked 1795 – 6. White enamel dial with central minute hand and subsidiary dials for hours and seconds. Gold hands. Signed 'Grant, London'. Straight-line lever escapement, without draw. Four-arm bimetallic compensated balance. Balance staff mounted with double roller with triangular ruby impulse pin. Smaller roller slotted to allow guard-pin of lever to pass. Helical balance spring with end curves. The lever pallets embrace four teeth of the escape-wheel. The teeth rise vertically from the plant of the wheel, enabling very deep locking of the curved pallets. Movement fully jewelled, up to and including the fusee, and signed 'Grant, Fleet St, London, No. 1479'.

John Grant became a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1781. He became Junior Warden in 1810 and died in office. This watch was presented to the Company by his son, John Grant Junior in 1874. Clockmakers' Museum No. 456.