Antique Watch

[GavinA]

Hi, I recently came across a silver pocket watch. From the research I've done so far I think I've narrowed it down to have been made between 1910 and 1920 (1915 or 1917 if I reading the scribing on the inside properly). Here's what I've got so far:
- Made by the Beringer Bros Belfast (Went bankrupt in 1920)
- Has a silver Hallmark of HB&S (Opened in 1910) also has 3 pictures, one of an 'M', a lion and either a shield or wolf (I think)
- Has a picture on the back face but I'm unsure of what it is

And some pictures:


So any new info/research or a value on the watch would be incredible! Thanks and hope you like the watch
(Btw, sorry about the image quality)

Update:

The '13' in this photo is actually 'J.J' the maker's initials. This is a drawing of the inner back face.

[bigwull]

can you open the case so the we can see the workings,..is the lion a passant lion"walking"

[GavinA]

Yes that's exactly what the lion is like! So far I've been unable to open it that far, there seems to be a button on the inside but its stuck... I'll put up a picture as soon as I get it open though!

[Rauville]

Those dates seem rather late for a key wind watch.

[GavinA]

Yeah, I was just reading into key wind watches and you're right hmm... I'm going to try and get some higher res pictures of the hallmark, I can't seem to find any info on the shield one. And, apart from that, the hallmark is arranged in a triangle which apparently is odd.

Update:
Okay so i couldn't get better picture of the hallmark so I drew it (Disproportionate of course).

I've put it on the OP as well.

EDIT:
On closer inspection I've just realised that is not a 13 but a 'J.J' so the maker's initials, my mistake!

[bigwull]

This is a Chester hallmark.Lion Shield,&..M...denotes 1830...see chart,

http://www.925-1000.com/dlc_chester.html

[Ipcress]

It's not Chester 1830. It's London 1887.

    
Herbert Bushell and Son probably serviced the watch at some point

[bigwull]

please enlighten me,...my searching came up with Chester.."passant lion, & Shield  and date letter,= Chester....you say London with ..Such" Authority"..that i can almost here you shouting from here...therefore .please enlighten us....

[KevinM]

The first unknown image you drew is probably an uncrowned Leopard's head denoting City Mark (Town Mark) - London, England 1822 - Present.

The second image you drew is Lion - Standard Mark Silver 925 (known as Passant).

The third image you drew is Date Letter (Year & Town Mark) - 1887 - When Piece was Presented for Assay or Testing of the silver Content which in this case was London for that Font and Style and surrounding Shield.

 See : http://www.925-1000.com/dlc_london.html

Kevin

[bigwull]

When did you become a clairvoyant Kevin...the "unknown"..image is probably an uncrowned leopard.the passant, i  already noted,then the M...so it all boils down to the shield..which is a Chester mark...what,s in the shield is the decisive mark, so until that can be clarified its an English mark, of unknown origin..

[Ipcress]

Lion, leopard's head, M in a shield = 1887. " Wolf's head " is actually the leopard's head for London.

Even the date letter alone proves it's not Chester 1830, which is an M within a square.

[KevinM]

Clairvoyant, Wow!! At times I wish I was!!!

Just trying to be clear and follow the flow, I know passant was mentioned and I was listing it as in agreement as to the ID of one the 3 Marks.

The Uncrowned Leopards Head - City Mark (Town Mark) was common to use together with the Lion - Standard Mark Silver 925 and Date Letter (Year Mark) during that period of time for Sterling Silver Items. I'm only surprised to not see the Queen Victoria - Duty Mark 1838-1890 on the watch, perhaps used for for bowls, cups, flatware etc... and not items like watches.

[bigwull]

I know what you are saying...but,..its the unknown image that is the key...here is a hall mark of Chester, now just for arguments sake lets say that the shield is  obscured,....could it be mistaken for a London mark...

[Ipcress]

He's described possibly a wolf's head and if you see what he's drawn, the points at 4 and 7 o'clock could be the whiskers. Also drawn what appear to be eyes...so leopard's head for me

At no time have Chester used that type of shield for their date letters.

In fact i think only London have used that style of shield for date letters, certainly during the period this watch was made.

[bigwull]

the plot thickens,..first we,ve got Kevin thinking Leopard..now we,ve got you seeing whiskers.......meth inks you,ve had a bit too much of one thing....or not enough of the other....whiskers at 4 & 7....next it,ll be bandits at 6....