Unidentified Date Shield for Glasgow Import

Englishlever · Post by **Englishlever** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 4:36 pm

Hi Folks,
I'm hoping someone can point me to a source for identifying possible Glasgow import date marks, and help identify this one.

I have a watch stamped with the Glasgow import mark (for 1906 onwards) which is inside a plain oval shield.
The case is also marked .925 grade silver.

What I believe to be the date letter (an italic small case 'y' or 'g') is also inside an oval shield, same size and shape as the import mark.
I've seached all my books and trawled everywhere for similar date shields, but can't find anything at all similar.

The watch style dates from around 1900 - 1920 ish.

Any help appreciated.
Regards
Englishlever.

georgiansilver · Post by **georgiansilver** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 5:17 am

Could you please describe all boxes/ovals in the hallmark as they appear and will try to help. Thanks, Mike

Englishlever · Post by **Englishlever** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:37 am

Hi Mike, Many thanks for the reply,

The main watch in question is a silver demi-hunter wristwatch with silver wire strap lugs, and the case back is stamped from the top as follows:

Rectangle with curved corners, and a circle impression on the top edge with the initals G S in capitals (casemaker?)

H 93397 (Case number and matches those on band and bezel)

A Stylised 'Heart' shaped shield containing the initials ' I F '

Then in a line across the case in the following order:

A plain Oval shield containing a pair of sylised 'F''s which are positioned horizontally and opposing each other (believe these are the marks for imported silver for the Glasgow assay office)

A Plain oval (same as the import shield) with an italic 'y'

In the centre is stamped 'ACHEF' Swiss Made

To the right of centre a rectangular stamp containing the initials F W

Below these to the left of centre, a 'stretched' oval containing the grade mark of .925

To the right of this is stamped 'BREVET' in a semi-circle over a Swiss 'Cross', under which is stamped the word 'DEM.' (which I'm assuming is the case ID of Demi-Hunter.

The watch has a stem wind / Stem set movement, so I'm now guessing it's likely to be after 1920, as prior to that they were usually stem wind / pin set.

I may be able to get a photo via a microscope, but it's too small for a camera, it won't go in a scanner with the case open, and the hole for the crystal is too small for the scanner to pick up an image of the case back with the bezel shut.

Would appreciate any help with it.

Best regards
John.

georgiansilver · Post by **georgiansilver** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:55 pm

Still having a problem with this...stylised ff's doesn't sound like import mark for Glasgow...can you possibly either take photo or scan pic of marks and E-mail them to me...Best wishes, Mike.

Post by **admin** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 4:25 pm

Glasgow import for silver 1906 - 1964

1921-2 is a script Y with rightward tilt.

georgiansilver · Post by **georgiansilver** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:56 pm

Now it makes sense. Thanks admin....

Englishlever · Post by **Englishlever** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:24 am

Mike, Many thanks for all your efforts, I'll mail you an image as soon as I can get a decent shot of the shields so you can see the style.

Admin, many thanks for dating the case, could you advise me which assay office used this style of date shield please? and which reference books show it?
I've got a few other watches with similar marks, but can't find any examples of this style anywhere.
I do have a number of reference books on marks and casemakers, but none contain this example.
I'm assuming it was used by a now defunct office.
Regards
John.