Pocket Watch

An image of a gold watch. It has a gold paper face and small hands.
Watch from the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: Unknown 
Year: ca. 1880 
Materials: Metal and paper  

Pocket watches were a staple of a men’s fashion since the 17th century and were meant to attach to a chain that would be hooked onto a waistcoat. Prior to 1820, pocket watches would not always run true, thus it was important to calibrate a watch regularly. This could be done using either a sundial or a telescope. The ability to accurately set the time was important in determining longitude. Time could be determined by noting the moment at which moons passed behind or in front of Jupiter. A watch could then be set to when that celestial event was known to happen, which could be looked up in a table. 

This watch is an open face one, where there is no metal overtop to protect the face. 

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.