Posted 1 year ago
T.A.Brewer
(1 item)
New member and first time post. I am a bicycle collector, not a watch collector but it has occurred to me pocket watches are a lot easier to conceal from the boss than a newly acquired bicycle.
My show n tell items;
1) This is a case acquired on eBay. The stampings indicate England, early 1800's but this was not my main motivation to bid. I know practically nothing about pocket watches.
2) This was the prize. This is a digitally enhanced image of one of three pocket watch papers that were found nestled in the above case. I saved an eBay search for "Brewer watchmaker" and miraculously this case and paper came up in my feed only due to the fact that the seller just happened to add the name "Brewer" in the sale listing. The single T.A. Brewer paper is in fair condition but needed some work to fully appreciate the detail. Philadelphia Watchmaker Thomas Allibone Brewer (1809-1864) is my 3rd great-grandfather. While this case predates his period of practice, 1830-1864, it very possibly passed through his hands for repair in later years.
3) This 1846 newspaper excerpt is an account of a robbery at the shop of T.A. Brewer located at that time on Callowhill and Julianna Sts. (the later of which is no longer there), Philadelphia, Pa. And since I know little about antique pocket watches I would be particularly interested if one could comment on the description given for the stolen watch. "Gold Patent Lever Watch, worth $70., made by Jos. Johnson, two pair extra ruby jewels, 18 carat cases, very heavy and round stem". Additionally, if anyone happens to know a man fitting the description in the account; "a tall man with sandy whiskers" I would be very interested in speaking with him as well!
4) What initially brought me to this site was this post by CW member, "thisoldwatch": https: //www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/67406-sterling-silver-chain-driven-t-brewer-fu
An internet search produced the above post. I was initially pretty excited but I simply can not be sure or determine that the T. Brewer this watch is attributed to is grandpop.
Thanks for reading. Looking forward to any and all comments.
Welcome to CW.
Thank you dav2no1!