RUSSELL’S ‘Railway Keyless Watch’ in original box. No 65
Longines supplied ‘machine made’ watch in its Registered Design of heavy brass case, circa 1885.
£495.00
Two piece lockable brass box with velvet lined interior, intended for secure wall or surface mounting, the top engraved “RUSSELLS’ Watch Makers to the Queen, 33 Piccadilly, London. Regd. 30 May 1881,” all parts of the case and lock numbered 65. Large and heavy nickel double back openface case numbered 183465, the rear with nicely engraved OCM monogram. Longines silver plated three-quarter plate going-barrel movement jewelled to the third, with ‘pin’ hand setting in the English manner, the cock bearing Longines winged sand-glass trademark. Straight-line detached lever escapement. Un-cut bimetallic balance, spiral balance-spring. Enamel dial signed for RUSSELLS, blued-steel hands. Watch 58 mm diameter. Box 10 x 7 x 3.5 cm and weighing just under 500 grams without the watch.
Russell’s Ltd, Church St, Liverpool one of the largest and most important English watch manufacturers of the second half of the 19th century, and also retailers of other English, Swiss and American made watches in the UK market; an interesting and convoluted history which is still to be properly recorded.
NB: It is not clear to me just how these watches were used but this design of Railway (Guard’s?) watch and its secure metal case was later taken over by the London agent for the American Waltham Watch Company, Henry W Bedford, who sold them via retail premises at No 67 Regent St.
No key for the box, the dial damaged and general signs of use to the watch and its velvet lining, and priced accordingly, but typical of the few (just three) I have seen of these unusual working watches. Not cleaned by me but will tick it wound.
Item available
Description
Two piece lockable brass box with velvet lined interior, intended for secure wall or surface mounting, the top engraved “RUSSELLS’ Watch Makers to the Queen, 33 Piccadilly, London. Regd. 30 May 1881,” all parts of the case and lock numbered 65. Large and heavy nickel double back openface case numbered 183465, the rear with nicely engraved OCM monogram. Longines silver plated three-quarter plate going-barrel movement jewelled to the third, with ‘pin’ hand setting in the English manner, the cock bearing Longines winged sand-glass trademark. Straight-line detached lever escapement. Un-cut bimetallic balance, spiral balance-spring. Enamel dial signed for RUSSELLS, blued-steel hands. Watch 58 mm diameter. Box 10 x 7 x 3.5 cm and weighing just under 500 grams without the watch.
Russell’s Ltd, Church St, Liverpool one of the largest and most important English watch manufacturers of the second half of the 19th century, and also retailers of other English, Swiss and American made watches in the UK market; an interesting and convoluted history which is still to be properly recorded.
NB: It is not clear to me just how these watches were used but this design of Railway (Guard’s?) watch and its secure metal case was later taken over by the London agent for the American Waltham Watch Company, Henry W Bedford, who sold them via retail premises at No 67 Regent St.
No key for the box, the dial damaged and general signs of use to the watch and its velvet lining, and priced accordingly, but typical of the few (just three) I have seen of these unusual working watches. Not cleaned by me but will tick it wound.
