E. Robinson Pocketwatch, 1883

While my collection typically focuses on wristwatches rather than pocketwatches, I became obsessed a few years ago with finding a watch produced in my home town (Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK.) After about a year of searching, stalking, and bidding, I brought this one home.

The design and execution of the case, dial, hands, and especially movement are typically English. The sterling silver case is hallmarked for 1883, and while it's seen a fair amount of use, it's still in serviceable shape. The gilt-frosted movement is signed "E. Robinson Co, The Square, Shrewsbury," a familiar location to anyone who has visited Shrewsbury. The next time I'm back in Shrewsbury (my last trip there was in 2004) I'll need to do some research about E. Robinson and see if I can locate its original premises - how cool would it be to bring the watch back to the place of its birth? I'm also unsure whether the movement would have been wholly made in Shrewsbury, or whether it was a Swiss ebauche that was then finished and cased in Shrewsbury - my knowledge of the English watchmaking industry during that period is pretty limited. (If any visitors have further info, I'd be much obliged if you'd let me know.)