English, c.1890, the clockwork housing engraved F. P. Hawksley 357 Oxford St London', with clockwork mechanism to one side, wrist strap, in original black leather covered case,

The sphygmograph is a device designed for measuring a person's pulse. It consists of a mechanism that is secured to the wrist via a strap, with a metal button positioned over the pulse location. This button is in contact with the pulse point, and a connected needle or pen component moves rhythmically in response to the pulse sensations transmitted through the button. This movement results in the creation of a visual graph that represents the pulse waveform. The sphygmograph was first invented in 1860.

In 1881, Robert Ellis Dudgeon (1820-1904) introduced a more lightweight iteration of the sphygmograph. Notably, this version could be conveniently carried in one's pocket. This is a good example of this type of portable sphygmograph