Important Watches, Pocket Watches and...

Noga Hilton Hotel, Nov 13, 2005

LOT 37

?English Duplex? James Mc Cabe, Royal Exchange, London, No. 5685. Case by Russell Ponifex with London hallmark for 1805-6. Very fine and rare, 18K yellow gold hunting-cased pocket watch with duplex escapement.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

EUR 3,200 - 4,500 / USD 4,000 - 5,500

C. Three-body, polished, fixed gold cuvette, gilt dust-cap. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, large subsidiary seconds. Gold "spade" hands. M. 41 mm., gilt, full-plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, maintaining power, duplex escapement with ruby roller, escape wheel jeweled with endstones in screwed chatons, polished steel three-arm balance with flat rim, diamond endstone, chased and engraved single footed cock, flat balance spring. Dial and movement signed. Dial, case and movement numbered. Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-12

Good

Worn
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-13-01

Good

Slightly damaged

HANDS Original

Notes

James Mc Cabe One of three horologist sons of Irish watch and clockmaker William Mc Cabe, who moved to London in the third quarter of the 18th century. In April 1781 he was made honorary freeman of the Clockmaker's Company, and took up the livery in 1787. Although Mc Cabe used a wide variety of escapements, he is particularly associated with the improvement of the duplex escapement. On his death in 1811 he was Senior Warden of the Mc Cabe Company. He was succeeded by his son, also named James, who became free of the London Clockmaker's Company in 1822. Subsequently the business was continued by Mc Cabe's nephew, Robert Jeremy Mc Cabe, who closed the firm on his retirement in 1883. Literature: "Carriage Clocks, their History & Development", Charles Allix and Peter Bonnert, Woodbridge, 1974, pp. 278-81."Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers", F.J. Britten, London, 1932, pp. 792-3.