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MI Tobias
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Genuine Tobias watch. It measures 50mm in diameter, has a fusee movement with an early Massey Type II escapement, and is key wind and key set. The watch is housed in a heavy, solid 18K gold, open-face case which bears English hallmarks dating to 1824. The watch is very highly jeweled for this time period, and has the distinctive large, clear jewels commonly referred to as "liverpool windows". The movement is marked "M.I.TOBIAS & Co.", "Lord Street", "Liverpool" and "7223". The balance cock is marked "PATENTED" and "DETACHED". The inner lid of the case and the inside of the removable dust cover are both marked with the same serial number that is found on the movement, which indicates that the movement is original to the case. The outer lid of the case is marked with the casemaker's initials, T.H. & Co. (which I've been told stands for Thomas Helsby, a well-known Liverpool case maker), as well as "T & C" (which I've been told stands for "Tobias & Co.")
Having spoken with a well-known expert on Tobias watches, Mr. Michael Edidin, I have recently learned that watches produced by the Michael Tobias's company were signed with different names according to their grade, and that “M.I. Tobias & Co.” was reserved for top grade watches. In addition, the very finest of these were also signed “Lord Street,” which would make my watch among the very finest. Mr. Edidin has also informed me that the serial number on my watch makes it the earliest known example of a Lord Street model, which explains why it has the earlier Massey Type II escapement instead of the more common Massey Type III usually found in these watches.
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MI Tobias 2
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M.I.Tobias Liverpool Unusual mvt NR
Note that the watch runs but I have not touched the movement. This watch measures 1.9 inches in diameter. The pictures may show the watch larger than it is. It is a Patent Lever, fully jeweled. Key wind and set from the back. Will come with the correct keys. The watch will run for a period of time, but it may stop. The watch is marked "M.I. Tobias, Liverpool, No 4178". I believe this watch is English. This is the first Tobias I have seen with this movement. All others are Swiss ebauches. The English movements are less common and therefore more prized as a collectible. The hands and silver case are nice. There is dial repair at the one hour chapter and many hairlines. The crystal appears to be new, no scratches, and is the bullseye type.The case is a 2 oz silver. This could be an early Tobias watch. Tobias was in business from 1805 to 1868.
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MJ Tobias Ebauche 2
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As M.J. Tobias watches go, this one is actually rather nice. It is key wind and key set from the rear, has a flawless gilt dial and an ornate 18k gold case, and measures 45 mm in diameter. The movement, although a typical Swiss ebauche from the mid 1800's, has a lever escapement and 13 jewels. The back of the case has engine turned engraving with a small uninitialed shield. The dust cover has fancy engraving with inlaid enamel and reads "DETACHED LEVER", "13 JEWELS", "No. 12044", "M.J. TOBIAS" and "LIVERPOOL". The rear cover is marked with the name "F.H. LOCKWOOD" and the same serial number as the dust cover. This watch was most likely made for the American export market, as evidenced by the American eagle engraved on the gold dial. Again, a pretty nice watch, even if it is "just" a Swiss fake.
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MJ Tobias Ebauche Gold Case and Dial
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M. I. Tobias was a well known watchmaker who made mid to high grade watches (mostly fusees) in the early to mid 1800's. At some point around the mid 1800's, however, watches such as this one started showing up with Swiss movements, Swiss cases, and with the name "M. J. Tobias" on the dust covers instead of "M. I. Tobias". Many, if not all, of these were made for export, and the general consensus among experts is that these are basically "Swiss fakes" that used the name "Tobias" as a marketing ploy. There is such a wide variety of quality and workmanship of watches so marked that it is clear that many different companies were involved. Although all the M.J. Tobias watches I have seen used standard Swiss ebauches, a number of them at least came with solid (albeit thin) gold cases, gold dials, lever escapements, and a fair amount of jewels. Others, however, were really bottom of the barrel and had silver or base metal cases, plain enamel dials, cylinder escapements, and as little as 6 jewels. The engravings found on the cases and dials of these watches also vary widely from the very crude to the wonderfully ornate.
This particular watch dates to the mid to late 1800's, as evidenced by the straight barrel bridge on the Swiss ebauche movement, and is pretty middle of the road as far as M.J. Tobias watches go. It is key wind and key set, and has a cylinder escapement. The dust cover is marked "4 holes jewelled," which means the movement might have as many as 8 jewels in total. The case measures approximately 45mm in diameter and, although not hallmarked, is solid 18-karat gold. The gilt dial has a wonderful engraving of a village scene, as does the back of the case.
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NY Standard
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Circa 1890 Size 0 hunter case 7 jewel excelsior movement from NY Standard watch company. Stem wound and stem set. Main plate shows a line of engraving that simulates a third plate. Note jewels on the 3rd and 4th wheel - these are only on the top plate, not on face plate.
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