Geneva, Nov 05, 2023

LOT 259

JAMES MCCABE, ENGLAND, ROYAL EXCHANGE, PRECISION TIMEKEEPER, GIANT CARRIAGE CLOCK STRIKING AND REPEATING THE HOURS, GILT BRASS

CHF 10,000 - 20,000

EUR 10,600 - 21,100 / USD 11,100 - 22,200 / HKD 87,000 - 174,000

TO BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE

Sold: CHF 5,250

A very fine and rare, manual wind "giant" gilt brass 8 day-going double-train carriage clock striking and repeating the hours, glazed on four sides and on top, molded on top and bottom, resembling later "corniche" style, massive fluted handle. Silver dial, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary sunk seconds below XII o'clock, florally engraved center and outside of the chapter ring. Blued steel fleur-de-lis hands.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand James McCabe, England

Year Circa 1850

Movement No. 2756

Length 150

Caliber Rectangular brass, fusees and chains on both trains, maintaining power on the going side, platform with lateral lever escapement with lift on the pallets, cut bimetallic compensationbalance, blued steel flat balance spring, entire escapement jeweled, strike/silent lever on the back plate, striking on a gong.

Height 210

Width 130

Signature Dial and movement

Accessories with an associated 19th century mahogany travel case with patinated brass handle

Notes

Mc Cabe, this long-lived firm had a very high reputation for watches and clocks, concentrating particularly on the Indian market, where an agency was maintained. The founder of the firm was James Mc Cabe, one of three horologist sons of the watch- and clockmaker William Mc Cabe of Lisburn in Ireland, who moved to London in the third quarter of the 18th century. In 1778 he was located at 11 Bell's buildings, Fleet Street; in 1783 at 34 King Street, Cheapside; in 1788 at 8 King Street; and in 1804 at 97 Conhill, Royal Exchange. In April 1781 he was admitted an honorary freeman of the Clockmaker's Company, being summoned to take up the livery in 1787. Although Mc Cabe used a wide variety of escapements, he is particularly associated with the imporvement of the duplex escapement. On his death in 1811 he was Senior Warden of the Company.He was succeeded in business by his son, also named James, who for reasons unknown had been apprenticed to the Edinburgh makers Reid & Auld and was not free of the Clockmaker's Company of London until 1822. The business coninued at 97 and 99 Cornhill until 1838, when the Royal Exchange was destroyed by fire, thereafter continuing at 32 Cornhill. Subsequently the business was continued by Mc Cabe's nephew, Robert Jeremy Mc Cabe, who closed the business when he retired in 1883. "Carriage Clocks, their History & Development", by Charles Allix and Peter Bonnert, Woodbridge, 1974, pp. 278-81."Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers", by F.J. Britten, London, 1932, pp. 792-3.

In total, it is estimated that the House of McCabe produced 50,000 watches, 7,000 clocks, and 500 marine chronometers.