Thomas Mudge (1715-1794)was an apprentice of George Graham and may be considered his spiritual successor. For the King of Spain, he constructed an hour-striking watch with minute-repeating and equation of time display. He was one of the first makers to produce constant-force watches. His ordinary watches with cylinder escapements are constructed along the same general lines as those of Graham. In 1755 he went into partnership with William Dutton, another of Graham's pupils. In the 1760's he developed the free lever escpement. Along with Larcum Kendall, he was nominated in 1765 to examine Harrison's marine watch. In 1770, after a great deal of difficulty, he succeeded in making the first lever escapement for a watch. This watch was purchased by George III and is still part of the Royal Collection. In 1771 he retired to Plymouth, where he devoted himself entirely to research on marine chronometers. It is there that he developed his constant-force marine watch, described by his son in a publication of 1799. He ws also the inventor of a free escapement with remontoir, whose principle was described in the "Philosophical Transactions" of 1794.The equation work operates on the differential principle, the mean time and solar time being shown by the two minute hands. Throughout the year, the variation between the two hands is automatic, but initial or resetting is accomplished by the calendar dial on the reverse of the movement in the following manner: a key is applied to the square in the center of the enamel "month" dial on the back plate and turned until the required month on the silver month dial is opposite the indicator point. Theblack triangular pointer at the edge of the same month on the enamel dial, is then aligned alongside the correct date. The date circle has 36 divisions with a gap between 31 and 1 in order to enable the arrangement of the months (that do not run consecutively) in such a way that the pointer of the following month always starts at 1 when the preceding month ends. With this arrangement the calendar is correct for four years (29th February being the only exception).The historical context of the watch is discussed below, but the following details, noted when the movement was dismantled for cleaning, are of considerable interest. Scratched on the underside of the barrel, beneath the gilding, but still visible, is the name "Mu..e 7/2. The name was obviously scratched onto the barrel during construction, but not completely erased by the gilding and finishing. On the equation wheel is scratched through the gilding "Taylor Inve". Little is known of this maker, ecept a signed watch with a fine enamel balance spring regulator index, and similar watches signed Mudge, Ellicott etc.; it is thought that he worked with or for the leading precision watchmakers of the day. Apart from the above, and the general overall quality of the watch, attention may be drawn to the "bridge" balance cock, a feature that Mudge is known to have used (watch No. 318, HM 1756), but was otherwise virtually unknown amongst his English contemporaries. The mainspring is a fairly earlreplacement signed Berthoud.Excluding the watch now offered for sale, four equation watches, all signed Ellicott, but firmly attributable to Mudge, are known. None of the four are hallmarked, and only two are numbered (not unusual in view of their experimental nature). However comparison with Ellicott's known work provides a reasonable estimate as to the date for these two:o Unnumbered: Ex. Webster sale, Sotheby's, May 1954, lot 216. Gold cases.o Unnumbered: Ex. Sotheby's, October 1988, lot 246, now in the British Museum. Gilt brass, inner case only.o No. 2700: Private collection. Illustrated in Daniels & Clutton Watches, 1st ed. 1965, fig. 262-5. Gold cases. Circa 1748-1750.o No. 5060: Private Collection, circa 1762-1763.Thomas Mudge's relationships with John Ellicott, Ferdinand IV King of Spain, and a certain Michael Smith, watchmaker, have been catalogued in various books and articles, and the Richard Gregg watch clearly links into the story. According to the Universal Magazine of July 17951, Ellicott, having been commissioned to make, but unable to complete, an equation watch for the King of Spain, asked Mudge to carry out the work. Ellicott was much esteemed in Spain, and the signing of another maker's workas perfectly acceptable. The article continues with the story of how the watch was damaged, and Ellicott was forced to admit that Mudge had made it and was the only man able to repair it. Confirmation that Mudge was indeed the maker is provided by two letters from the aforementioned Michael Smith to Mudge, dated July 1752 and December 17572. In the first, he affirms his own position as "Watchmaker to His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain"3, talks of his recent visit to Mudge's workshop whilst iLondon, and mentions seeing "part of a movement that is intended to shew ye Equation of the sun such as you made for Ellicott, which the King has here at present...". Smith continues by saying that he has told his Majesty about the watch and recommended Mudge to the King and several courtiers, expecting this to bring orders. In conclusion he surmises that "Ellicott will be Greatly vexed for my Recommending you....". The second letter, dated 1757, describes the King's satisfaction with a quarterrepeating watch made by Mudge upon Smith's instructions, and goes on to order a minute-repeater.Richard Gregg can be directly linked to Smith and the Spanish court by the existence of a remarkable miniature grande sonnerie bracket clock with balance wheel escapement and signed "Richard Gregg London, Por Orden de Miguel Smith Madrid"4. It seems that this complex clock is no more likely to have been the work of Gregg's own hand than the equation watch, even if the technical evidence for the latter being by Mudge is discounted. The question therefore arises as to how he was able to commissionsuch exceptional pieces for his own account, from masters among his peers.The answer must surely lie with Gregg's connections and the location of his premises: St. James's Palace was the official London residence of the King at the time, and Gregg acquired premises in St. James's Street in 1742 and an appointment as watchmaker to the King and Keeper of the Palace Clocks. The survival of a superb watch5, with case decorated by the French artist Aglae Cadet, and dial enameled with the arms of Charlotte Windsor, wife of Lord Viscount Windsor, further reinforces the imporance of his situation. There is at present no information as to the identity of the client for whom Gregg ordered this watch, but as previously mentioned, the current mainspring is signed Berthoud, indicating that the watch was on the continent shortly after its completion.1 Universal Magazine, July 1795, pp. 42-43. also George Daniels: Antiquarian Horology, V, No. 11, June 1968, p. 396.2 A. J. Turner, A. C. Crisford: Two Letters Addresssed To Thomas Mudge, Antiquarian Horology, X, No. 5, Winter 1977, p. 580.3 Michael (Miguel) Smith was an Irish watchmaker from Kilkenny, living in Spain and appointed Court Clockmaker in 1752 at 30,000 reales per annum.4 Illustrated in Antiquarian Horology, I, No. 12, September 1956, p. iv.hexagonal5 Pierpont-Morgan Collection, Metropolitan Museum, New York.