CCWMS = Coventry Co-operative Watch Manufacturing Society. No 52247
Large gold centre-seconds karrusel in almost mint, unused condition.
£6,495.00
Heavy (148 grams gross) 18ct gold open face crystal case hallmarked Chester 1905, casemaker WN (William Neal, Craven St, Coventry). Three-quarter plate keyless going-barrel movement with typical ruby red Coventry jewelling to the centre, the top plate with CCWMS logo and with the usual circular ‘BB Patent No 21421’ stamp between the plates. Single-roller detached lever escapement with ratchet-tooth escape, the classic English lever escapement. Compensation balance, balance-spring with overcoil. Lovely cream enamel dial in perfect condition, signed Centre Seconds Tourbillon and Adjusted with the serial number in red. Original gold hands. 55.5 mm diameter. Together with its 3-piece mahogany box, the silk in the lid named for its retailers in full.
The Coventry Cooperative Watch Manufacturing Society, Ltd, Spon St, Coventry was formed by a group of Coventry watch finishers who were shareholders in the Coventry Watch Movement Manufacturing Company Ltd, a separate company that was set up to manufacture rough movements in Coventry should the formation of the Lancashire Watch Company restrict their usual supply from Prescot and its environs. It is known that the CCWMS purchased and finished movements from the CWMC, but the serial numbers of CCWMS Karrussels bear close relation to the serial numbers that were used by Bahne Bonniksen. This has caused at least one historian of the karrusel to believe that the two firms were interconnected – see the article by Alan A Myers ‘Karrusel Pocket Watch No 55926. A Rosetta Stone?’ in the August 2020 issue of the Horological Journal.
Bahne, Bonniksen, 16 Norfolk St, Coventry, Patent No 21,241, November 1892, inventor of a revolving carriage ‘karrusel’ in which the escapement and balance is made to turn 360 degrees in just under an hour (just over half an hour in centre-seconds movements). This was done in order to cancel out the deleterious effects of gravity in fixed escapement watches. Doing essentially the same as devised by John Arnold, and first made by A-L Breguet who called it a ‘tourbillon,’ the karrusel differs in as much as the power of the mainspring drives both the carriage and the escapement. In the tourbillon the mainspring drives only the the carriage, the escape wheel pinion being driven by a fixed wheel mounted under the carriage – the karrusel does not have a fixed wheel. Thus, despite this watch bearing the term Tourbillon proudly on its dial, it is in fact a karrusel. See also the extensive 4-part article by Clare Woodward on Bahne Bonniksen published in the March, June, September and December 2020 issues of Antiquarian Horology.
The case with no previous dedication or engraving and one of the finest condition karrusels I have handled. The box showing some signs of age and wear, and the ivory plaque now lacking. Serviced for its previous owner and working well, but I can have it freshly serviced for its new owner if wanted – at no extra charge of course.
Item available
Description
Heavy (148 grams gross) 18ct gold open face crystal case hallmarked Chester 1905, casemaker WN (William Neal, Craven St, Coventry). Three-quarter plate keyless going-barrel movement with typical ruby red Coventry jewelling to the centre, the top plate with CCWMS logo and with the usual circular ‘BB Patent No 21421’ stamp between the plates. Single-roller detached lever escapement with ratchet-tooth escape, the classic English lever escapement. Compensation balance, balance-spring with overcoil. Lovely cream enamel dial in perfect condition, signed Centre Seconds Tourbillon and Adjusted with the serial number in red. Original gold hands. 55.5 mm diameter. Together with its 3-piece mahogany box, the silk in the lid named for its retailers in full.
The Coventry Cooperative Watch Manufacturing Society, Ltd, Spon St, Coventry was formed by a group of Coventry watch finishers who were shareholders in the Coventry Watch Movement Manufacturing Company Ltd, a separate company that was set up to manufacture rough movements in Coventry should the formation of the Lancashire Watch Company restrict their usual supply from Prescot and its environs. It is known that the CCWMS purchased and finished movements from the CWMC, but the serial numbers of CCWMS Karrussels bear close relation to the serial numbers that were used by Bahne Bonniksen. This has caused at least one historian of the karrusel to believe that the two firms were interconnected – see the article by Alan A Myers ‘Karrusel Pocket Watch No 55926. A Rosetta Stone?’ in the August 2020 issue of the Horological Journal.
Bahne, Bonniksen, 16 Norfolk St, Coventry, Patent No 21,241, November 1892, inventor of a revolving carriage ‘karrusel’ in which the escapement and balance is made to turn 360 degrees in just under an hour (just over half an hour in centre-seconds movements). This was done in order to cancel out the deleterious effects of gravity in fixed escapement watches. Doing essentially the same as devised by John Arnold, and first made by A-L Breguet who called it a ‘tourbillon,’ the karrusel differs in as much as the power of the mainspring drives both the carriage and the escapement. In the tourbillon the mainspring drives only the the carriage, the escape wheel pinion being driven by a fixed wheel mounted under the carriage – the karrusel does not have a fixed wheel. Thus, despite this watch bearing the term Tourbillon proudly on its dial, it is in fact a karrusel. See also the extensive 4-part article by Clare Woodward on Bahne Bonniksen published in the March, June, September and December 2020 issues of Antiquarian Horology.
The case with no previous dedication or engraving and one of the finest condition karrusels I have handled. The box showing some signs of age and wear, and the ivory plaque now lacking. Serviced for its previous owner and working well, but I can have it freshly serviced for its new owner if wanted – at no extra charge of course.