I was generously given this nice watch from my wife's family some time ago but it's been sitting in a safe for years. Having recently "found" it again, I have been trying to establish its history. What I've gleaned from the internet so far....
Brook & Son traded between 1891 & 1941 and were based at 87, George Street, Edinburgh. They were successors to Marshall & Sons. Alexander James Steel Brook's father started working at Marshalls in 1853, Alexander himself worked there from 1873. In 1891 they acquired Marshall's, and restyled the business as Brook & Son. They appointed Daniel Stewart as designer, and in 1935 it was noted that he had been with Brook & Son for 42 years. Following Alexander's death in 1908, the firm passed to his son, William, who died in 1941.
Hamilton & Inches have resided at 87 George Street since 1952 and the founders would almost certainly have known Brook & Son. I'm not sure whether the Brook & Son Company was consumed by H&I.
The Brook & Son name and address looks like it could have been engraved by the same person who engraved some of the Hamilton & Inches pocket watches I have seen elsewhere on this forum.
The casing has a London hallmark with an 1888 date letter. The "RB" sponsors mark is possibly that of Richard Macaire Ball who was a specialist watch case maker. He was born in 1820 in Clerkenwell, London and was the son of Richard John Ball, also a watch case maker. I have not been able to find another photo of the same sponsors mark or links to any other watch cases he made.
I would be interested to find out further information about Brook & Son and Richard Macaire Ball, if he was actually the case maker.
Thanks,
Richard
Brook & Son traded between 1891 & 1941 and were based at 87, George Street, Edinburgh. They were successors to Marshall & Sons. Alexander James Steel Brook's father started working at Marshalls in 1853, Alexander himself worked there from 1873. In 1891 they acquired Marshall's, and restyled the business as Brook & Son. They appointed Daniel Stewart as designer, and in 1935 it was noted that he had been with Brook & Son for 42 years. Following Alexander's death in 1908, the firm passed to his son, William, who died in 1941.
Hamilton & Inches have resided at 87 George Street since 1952 and the founders would almost certainly have known Brook & Son. I'm not sure whether the Brook & Son Company was consumed by H&I.
The Brook & Son name and address looks like it could have been engraved by the same person who engraved some of the Hamilton & Inches pocket watches I have seen elsewhere on this forum.
The casing has a London hallmark with an 1888 date letter. The "RB" sponsors mark is possibly that of Richard Macaire Ball who was a specialist watch case maker. He was born in 1820 in Clerkenwell, London and was the son of Richard John Ball, also a watch case maker. I have not been able to find another photo of the same sponsors mark or links to any other watch cases he made.
I would be interested to find out further information about Brook & Son and Richard Macaire Ball, if he was actually the case maker.
Thanks,
Richard