Hi Alan,
This is interesting!
The movement looks like a typical French or Swiss verge movement of the period around the turn of the 18th/19th century. Pity that all hands are missing.
The case has probably been purpose made for the movement, but will likely date decades later. In the second half of the 19th century it was not uncommon that old verge movements were "recycled" by integration into other items, like mirrors, boxes and the like. But that is just a hypothesis and might be completely wrong.
The name "F. Straka" in the case might point to a person in former Czechoslovakia , or at least coming from that region, who has made the case. The name is somewhat typical for this region. That would somewhat support the above hypothesis.
Now it would be interesting to read the family fable and look for a match ... 😀
Cheers, Bernhard
It seems that the top plate of the movement has no signature? This is rather unusual.
You could take loup and look onto the inside of the base plate, directly under the contrate wheel and near the rim of the ground plate. Sometimes one finds there tiny makers signatures. If nothing is there either, the only other place to look for marks indicating the origin would be on the ground plate and under the dial.
Many thanks Bernhard Well According to his family legend the watch was a gift from the Prince Regent (George) to a mistress…who happened to be this guys great, great Grandmother. The watch has been in the family since then, handed down along with the story. There is no hard evidence but they are wondering if anything about the watch makes it more or less likely?
It is very small less than 40mm.
George IV was 48 when he became Regent in 1811, as a result of the illness of his father, George III. He succeeded to the throne in January 1820.Born August 12, 1762, London, England—died June 26, 1830. The eldest son of he had become by age 17, as he said, “rather too fond of women and wine.” His way of life and his close friendship with Charles James Fox and other loose-living Whig politicians caused his father to regard him with contempt.
How does this all fit with your thoughts on the watch?
Its only a legend. Maybe it was not George III but George V ????
Watch case signed F. Straka is from Austria (Austria-Hungary Empire)
Straka, Franz Silversmith , Active: 1867-1908 Vienna
Alan, almost certainly true about the Prince Regent and his mistress. This would explain why, in his efforts to remain low key about the mistress, he never posted Instragram photos.
Logical indeed.
