GOLAY for ARMY & NAVY Co-operative Society Ltd, London. No 9208
The finest quality all-English free-sprung minute-repeating chronograph in a beautiful Thoms case.
£12,495.00
Heavy (3.65 ounce, as marked) 18ct gold half-hunter plain polished case with 5-knuckle joints and swivel bow, hallmarked 1905, casemaker FT (Fred Thoms, Clerkenwell), the rear with a demi-lion rampant crest and ‘NSB’ monogram. Golay’s Patent half-plate going-barrel keyless movement jewelled to the centre with cap jewels on balance (diamond), lever and escape. Double-roller detached lever escapement. Best quality compensation balance with quarter-timing nuts and free-sprung balance-spring with overcoil. Snap-on enamel dial in perfect condition, with 60-minute counter at 12, original blued-steel hands with gold centre-seconds. 56 mm diameter and weighing just over 190 grams, gross.
The Army & Navy Stores, 105 Victoria Street, London, set up in 1871 to supply officers in the armed forces working for the British Empire. Their best English made complicated work was supplied by Hector Golay, rivalling the best watches made by Nicole Nielsen and retailed by their London contemporaries such as Dent, Benson and Frodsham.
Charles Hector Golay, trading as Hector Golay, 46 Myddleton Square, London, keyless and complicated watches made to his Patent No 12417, October 1885. Swiss born (the Jura) but working most of his life in London, Golay was the main manufacturer, along with Nicole, Nielsen & Co, of the best English made complicated watch work at the latter part of the 19th century. NB: By the last quarter of the 19th century most repeaters sold bearing English retailers names were finished from imported Swiss ebauches. Only the firms of Nicole Nielsen and Hector Golay continued to produce top English work, which commanded the highest prices, and of which this is a wonderful example. See also the advert placed by Golay in the Horological Journal in 1887, listing many examples of their work – they had then been awarded more Kew Certificates for complicated watches than any other manufacturer.
Fred Thoms, 25 Spencer Street, Clerkenwell, considered to be the finest watch case maker of his day. He died in 1930, after which his business was incorporated into Joseph Walton & Co. This case employs the later and more recognisable of his two stamps, with LONDON in minute letters under the cameo F.T stamp. This was done in order to differentiate himself from the similar cameo stamp of Frederick Traherne working in Coventry. Note also the small A under the stamp. This signifies the case is the work of Henry Bamford, Thoms best workman.
A minute-repeating chronograph of the very best London work that compares so well with anything produced abroad. All in lovely original condition and the best I can remember handling. The crest and monogram is possibly for a member of the Baker Family, a Baronetcy based at Dunstable House, Richmond. Please also know that English made watches of this date, quality and condition are rarely seen, most sold as ‘English’ use imported Swiss movements. As well as being rare, this watch is among the best of the best. Serviced and guaranteed
Item available
Description
Heavy (3.65 ounce, as marked) 18ct gold half-hunter plain polished case with 5-knuckle joints and swivel bow, hallmarked 1905, casemaker FT (Fred Thoms, Clerkenwell), the rear with a demi-lion rampant crest and ‘NSB’ monogram. Golay’s Patent half-plate going-barrel keyless movement jewelled to the centre with cap jewels on balance (diamond), lever and escape. Double-roller detached lever escapement. Best quality compensation balance with quarter-timing nuts and free-sprung balance-spring with overcoil. Snap-on enamel dial in perfect condition, with 60-minute counter at 12, original blued-steel hands with gold centre-seconds. 56 mm diameter and weighing just over 190 grams, gross.
The Army & Navy Stores, 105 Victoria Street, London, set up in 1871 to supply officers in the armed forces working for the British Empire. Their best English made complicated work was supplied by Hector Golay, rivalling the best watches made by Nicole Nielsen and retailed by their London contemporaries such as Dent, Benson and Frodsham.
Charles Hector Golay, trading as Hector Golay, 46 Myddleton Square, London, keyless and complicated watches made to his Patent No 12417, October 1885. Swiss born (the Jura) but working most of his life in London, Golay was the main manufacturer, along with Nicole, Nielsen & Co, of the best English made complicated watch work at the latter part of the 19th century. NB: By the last quarter of the 19th century most repeaters sold bearing English retailers names were finished from imported Swiss ebauches. Only the firms of Nicole Nielsen and Hector Golay continued to produce top English work, which commanded the highest prices, and of which this is a wonderful example. See also the advert placed by Golay in the Horological Journal in 1887, listing many examples of their work – they had then been awarded more Kew Certificates for complicated watches than any other manufacturer.
Fred Thoms, 25 Spencer Street, Clerkenwell, considered to be the finest watch case maker of his day. He died in 1930, after which his business was incorporated into Joseph Walton & Co. This case employs the later and more recognisable of his two stamps, with LONDON in minute letters under the cameo F.T stamp. This was done in order to differentiate himself from the similar cameo stamp of Frederick Traherne working in Coventry. Note also the small A under the stamp. This signifies the case is the work of Henry Bamford, Thoms best workman.
A minute-repeating chronograph of the very best London work that compares so well with anything produced abroad. All in lovely original condition and the best I can remember handling. The crest and monogram is possibly for a member of the Baker Family, a Baronetcy based at Dunstable House, Richmond. Please also know that English made watches of this date, quality and condition are rarely seen, most sold as ‘English’ use imported Swiss movements. As well as being rare, this watch is among the best of the best. Serviced and guaranteed