Denise Jo has kindly offered to look in the Coventry Watch Museum, I wonder could you look and see if my gg grandfather,s name is there Joseph Thomas Batting known as Thomas I believe. Quote" an other distinct loss to the horological trades is to be noted in the lamented death of Thomas Batting gold an silver dial finisher, of Coventry, at the age of seventy four years. He was apprenticed to Williamson of upper charles street, clerkenwell, became manager to Bovey of Corporation Row, and married Mr Bovey,s daughter. finding that the Swiss could beat us in cheapness and syle of work, he went to Geneva to see their methods and to make improved engines and machines for frosting the grounds of the dials also dial painting machines and in all parts of dial making to bring new and improved tool to bear. After some years he returned to England and set up in Upper Ashby street, Clerkenwell, and after a year or so went to Coventry. His dials were the flattest and most delicate in finish and were the least trouble of all dials to fit to the movement and the colouring was his own secret and has never been equalled his widow carries on the business" unquote. Jacque.
