A Victorian 18ct gold keyless lever half-hunter pocket watch J.W. Benson, London, 1916 The frosted gilt three-quarter plate movement with English lever escapement regulated by sprung split bimetallic balance with ruby endstone to the tapered balance cock fitted with F/S regulation lever, the backplate inscribed THE LUDGATE, J.W. Benson, PATENT No. 4658, BEST LONDON MAKE, TO THE H.M. THE QUEEN, LUDGATE HILL, LONDON, F3086, the circular white enamel Roman numeral dial with subsidiary seconds dial and repeat signature J.W. Benson, London to centre, with correct gold half-hunter spade hands set within fixed convex glazed bezel, the case with small circular glazed aperture within blue enamelled Roman numeral chapter ring to hinged front, two hinged covers to rear and keyless winding post fitted with suspension loop at three o'clock, marks for London 1916, the case 51mm (2ins) diameter. The firm of James William Benson were in business from 1854 until 1973 and are recorded as working at 62 & 64 Ludgate Hill, London with a retail outlet at West End House, 25, Old Bond Street. An advert of theirs in the Illustrated London News of the 13th of December 1884 shows a printed view of their 'Steam Room' and 'Mezanine'. The business traded as J.W. Benson from 1856 and was continued by James Benson's sons James, Alfred and Arthur after his death in 1878; in 1891 the firm became a limited company. Their range of 'The Ludgate' watches formed part of a series others called 'The Bank' and 'The Field' which were introduced in 1891/2 a product of the firms new steam-powered factory which opened at 38 Belle Sauvage Yard, London at that time. The factory continued producing watches until the Second World War when it was destroyed by a bombing raid.