One for @Karrusel perhaps?

 

Sorry, nothing in my references: Baillie, Loomes, Dinsdale, etc, to support the above as a known clock/watchmakers.

Possibly just a retailing shop, jewellers, buying in stock & having the Company name applied to the dial/movement…which was commonplace.

City archives is probably your best bet for further information.


HTH

 

Thank you. As far as I know Joseph bought the watch and clock making business of Winterhalder and Quenett founded in 1814, in the late 1880s. The watches and clocks made by Joseph were noted for “ accuracy and general perfection”. Joseph’s 3 sons became successors to the family business and each completed a 6 year apprenticeship in Germany and Switzerland . Hopefully I can find something of theirs in my home town of Sheffield . I would love to have something for the family . Thanks for your help . Much appreciated.

 

I see you found another thread which features a Waltham pocket watch sold by J. Sermin & Sons. Picclick shows there was a J. Sermin pocket watch on Ebay some time ago, which remained unsold. The seller's id was csd369, it might be possible to contact them on Ebay, though they have nothing for sale at present.

Some 1963 Horological Journals carried a small advert for J. Sermin.

I would set up a saved search on Ebay, just for "Sermin" in Watches and Jewellery, with location Worldwide. You'll find Ebay tries to change it to "Sermon" so make sure you've put that right. You can get Ebay to send emails when something turns up. Of course, that probably won't find watches they sold like the Waltham. Also if you're near Sheffield, ask auctioneers and antiques dealers. They may even be prepared to keep a lookout for you.

 

Thank you for that great advice. I have contacted Ebay and await a reply from that seller . I will do as you suggest. Fingers crossed ! Thank you very much.

 

I too have an ancestor who had a watchmaker/jeweller business, this one in Vancouver. The first watch of his I obtained was found by my wife while searching the name for family history. Just shere blind luck. The second was from a saved Ebay search. I've found other things in the Collectables section on Ebay, including a silver spoon sold to commemorate a royal visit and the envelope of a letter to a supplier. Which actually isn't very much for years of search, but it's something. You need a lot of patience and persistence. Good luck with your search.

 

Thanks for that, dear @spinynorman. May I also draw your attention, dear @Jane Sayliss, to a relevant short piece in "The Star" published in January 2016:

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/german-watch-makers-living-in-sheffield-ended-up-in-wartime-internment-462760

In connection with the question of whether Joseph Sermin was actually a watchmaker/clockmaker working in Britain, he is entered in the online Index of "UK & Irish Clock and Watch Makers (c.1600-1940)". These two entries are for Joseph Sermin (&Co) in Sheffield. There is also a reference to a Sermin & Kaltinbach of Salford. No dates re provided with these entries unfortuntely.

 

Thank you so much for this information, much appreciated!

 

Hi I am interested in your message- not unfortunately as I can help you with getting a watch- but because my paternal grandfather was Joseph Sermin. He had a daughter Pauline and two sons my father, Dennis, who did not follow him into the trade and my uncle Gordon, who took over the business. Gordon died a couple of years ago. I guess therefore that I must be related to your husband! Kind regards Nicola Sermin

 

Really! If you care to message me on janesayliss@icloud.com I can inform you of the connection and family details . My husbands grandmother was Lucy Sermin ( your grandfather Joseph’s sister) . Ps the owner of the Sermin watch kindly sold it to me ! It arrives today !

 

First time we have been Ancestry dot com on the forum!

 

Will do! I’ve got some old pics of the family Sermin watchmakers and will round it off nicely to add them to the thread ! Glad I joined !

 

What a fab thread.

 

 

I am still not sure about a few things. If the watch was made in Waltham originally, what input did the Sermins have in its making, or were they just the suppliers of it to the public? Hence the paper insert. I will have to research a bit more I think as my watchmaking knowledge is very much in its infancy .

 

Waltham were the manufacturer of the movement, shipped to U.K. and then probably put in case by a company in England as wholesalers and then sold by your relative , hence the paper insert into the watch case.

 

I think Sermin were wholesalers as well as retailers. In 1920 they were advertising "Wanted for wholesale watch material business; some practical be most useful: watch makers ..." (grabbed off britishnewspaperarchive search, so it's a bit garbled) and there's also talk of a workshop.

The Waltham watch, as explored in the original thread, has the A.B. sponsors mark of Alfred Bedford, manager of Waltham Watch Co in London, so it looks like they bought in the whole watch.

The one I showed earlier, with the J. Sermin name on the dial, could have been assembled by them. They may have bought the movement and case separately, then put the watch together themselves.

 

Waltham were the manufacturer of the movement, shipped to U.K. and then probably put in case by a company in England as wholesalers and then sold by your relative , hence the paper insert into the watch case.

Ah , thanks for that!

I think Sermin were wholesalers as well as retailers. In 1920 they were advertising "Wanted for wholesale watch material business; some practical be most useful: watch makers ..." (grabbed off britishnewspaperarchive search, so it's a bit garbled) and there's also talk of a workshop.

The Waltham watch, as explored in the original thread, has the A.B. sponsors mark of Alfred Bedford, manager of Waltham Watch Co in London, so it looks like they bought in the whole watch.

The one I showed earlier, with the J. Sermin name on the dial, could have been assembled by them. They may have bought the movement and case separately, then put the watch together themselves.

Thanks for that information, it maybe basic knowledge to most of you , but I appreciate your helpful explanations . I understand the process a bit more now. Thanks.

 

Ah , thanks for that!

Thanks for that information, it maybe basic knowledge to most of you , but I appreciate your helpful explanations . I understand the process a bit more now. Thanks.

No problem, a pleasure in this case. Of course, another thing the Sermins would have done, even with watches they bought in, would be to regulate it before it went out to a customer, to make sure it was keeping good time.

 

Hi Jane following up to my post regards the clock ,is this company still operating

 

Afternoonit looks my first message was not posted. I was given a clock by my friend he had kept in his workshop. He said I could have so today I started to clean it up. Inside was a small envelope with the the name J Sermin &Son 8 Sharrow lane Sheffield . I have taken a photo hoping to send to this business just to get some information on it. While I was looking for this business I came across your post. My first time on this site.

 

They had a watchmaking business on 8 Sharrow Lane which opened after the shop on Watsons Walk in Sheffield city centre was bombed during the war. Looks like they had little paper inserts that they placed inside their work. There’s a photo on Google of a gold bracelet and jewellery box embossed with their names. I would love to have them , but could properly only afford the box 😂.

 

Ah, no the business ceased some time ago in the 1960’s. Interestingly, off the back of this thread, I have spoken to and arranged to meet one of the Sermin family. Her husband and son bear a striking resemblance to the original Joseph Sermin watchmaker!

 

Hi Jane, from trying to find a girl I lost touch with in the mid 1970's, she worked at Sermins at that time. Unfortunately I've not been had much success yet but if you join or look on Sheffield Forum, search Sermins Jewellers or shops on Sharrow Lane...... you should find some mention the shop. A member called hillbro or Hillsbro I've forgotten which, well he used to go there with his Grandfather to buy watchparts. If you can contact him he might give a little more info. Someone recalled a man (who worked there) having wore metal framed specs with really thick lenses. Just thought you might gain a bit more insight to the family

 

Will do! Thanks for that. It all builds a family picture and insight into their world .

 

I'm actually holding one right now its a bit battered and bruised was actually taking it to find out more about it my email is shaneol@live.co.uk I can send pics if you like maybe it's something you would like Regards Shane

 

Hi I'm actually holding one right now its a bit battered and bruised was actually taking it to find out more about it my email is shaneol@live.co.uk I can send pics if you like maybe it's something you would like
Regards Shane

 

hi jane i'm not sure if i helps fully but i have my grandfathers pocket watch which has a paper insert (which is in very good condition) in the back saying j.sermin & sons watsons walk est 1814, the watch face itself looks like it says harris but is faded or worn, i will email you some photos so you can decide if it helps in any way. john

 

Ooh thanks! Look forward to seeing the pictures.

 

My wife had a sermin watch that belonged to her grandmother. Do you want photos?

 

That would be lovely to see ! Thank you very much .

 

Hi Jane,
I've recently been clearing out my Mum's and come across a J Sermin & Sons pocket watch. I'm not sure who it belonged to. It could have been her Dad's. I've tried unsuccessfully to send pictures.
If you would like to see it I could send them via my email - jaynehoole@live.co.uk
Unfortunately, even though I've not tried winding it I don't think it's in working order.