Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 17, 2013

LOT 415

THIRTY-NINE MINUTE KARRUSEL WITH CHRONOGRAPH. Robert Curtis, Hull, No. 133132. The case with London hallmarks for 1898-1899. Fine and exceptionally rare, large, 18K gold keyless pocket watch with anti-magnetic thirty-nine minute karrusel regulator made by I.J.T. Newsome (London & Coventry) under licence to the patent and design of Bahne Bonniksen, with co-axial button chronograph, instantaneous 30-minute register and fifths of a second calibrated scale.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

USD 7,300 - 7,600 / EUR 5,700 - 9,800

C. Four-body, ?bassine?, by Isaac Jabez Theo Newsome maker?s mark I.J.T.N, polished, co-axial crown for start/stop and return-to-zero functions of the chronograph. Hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel, by maker JK, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, seconds divided into fifths, outermost scale calibrated to 300 units, subsidiary 30-minute register with radial Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds. Gold poire hands. M. 48 mm, frosted gilt 3/4-plate, going barrel, thirty-nine minute karrusel platform also driving an additional seconds pinion, brass lateral counterpoised lever escapement and brass escape wheel, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with gold and platinum temperature and meantime adjustment screws, white metal alloy balance spring with Phillips? terminal curve, diamond endstone, chronograph mechanism on the dial plate. Movement signed and numbered, case with the same serial number, punched on the dial plate `Newsome` and numbered, Bonniksen?s patent number punched on the plate beneath the barrel. DIAM. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-70-01

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairline

HANDS Original

Notes

The Bonniksen karrusel with chronograph is extremely rare, even more so with a karrusel rotation of 39/40 minutes which is almost never found, the usual rotation being 52 ½ minutes. The variants of 12, 34 and 39 minutes exist only in very small numbers. In Bonniksen?s original booklet on the karrusel watch this model is described on page 31 as a ?Fly-Back Chronograph Karrusel Watch. This watch has been specially designed and made to meet the requirements of timers for ascertaining the speed of moving objects?. for timing the speed of horses, trains, vessels, motor cars etc, such a watch is admirably suited?. Bonniksen?s patent was used by a variety of makers, the present watch was made by Isaac Newsome of London and Coventry and then retailed by Curtis in Hull.
Literature: For an in-depth article on the karrusel watches of Bahne Bonniksen see: Antiquorum Vox Magazine, Spring 2008.