Rare W. Ehrhard Open Face Military Pocket Watch English 1920

Code: w ehrhard

Rare W. Ehrhard Open Face Military Pocket Watch

English 1920 - Worldwide Shipping!!

A rare military open face pocket watch, made in England in circa 1920 for the German army and signed by W. Ehrhard. The watch is signed four times H92. The watch is signed three times with the military number: D69934.

DIAL: The white enamel dial has golden luminous Arabic numerals with outer minute divisions. The dial has luminous hands and a subsidiary second’s dial at the six. The dial is signed in the upper centre: “W. Ehrhard, London”.

MOVEMENT: The English table roller lever escapement movement has a replaceable balance assembly, full plate unusual construction and marked with broad military arrow. The movement has a polished steel regulator and compensation balance with blue steel over coil hairspring. The movement is engraved: D69934.

CASE: The watch lies in a steel open face screw back case with a smooth finish. The back case is stamped: D69934. As well the case is stamped on the side. Please see pictures! The inner side of the case is numbered: 92.

Signed: W. Ehrhard –Made in England – Circa 1920

Diameter: 55 mm – Weight:

*The same watch is mentioned in the publication MILITARY TIMEPIECES by Z.M. WSOLOWSKI pp. 21

 

The purpose of this unusual construction is said to be the need to service the watch in the field. Should the balance staff be broken (which would have happened frequently in military use) it could easily be replaced with a new timed assembly and put into beat by unskilled personal due to the design of the cock. William Ehrhardt opened a workshop at 30 Paradise Street, Birmingham in 1855 and in 1862 opened a second manufacturing premise at 26 Augusta Street. From this second address he exhibited watches and instruments at the 1862 International Exhibition in London. The firm moved to larger premises at 72 Great Hampton Street in 1863, and later to Time Works, Barr Street. By 1880 the firm was manufacturing 500 watches a week, some by hand and some by machine because William was fair minded and appreciated that some of his older staff preferred to work with the old methods.  By 1898, a shop had been opened in London at which time they advertised that they made 500 patterns in gold and silver.

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