Contemporary, Limited Edition, Modern...

New York, Grand Havana Room, Apr 25, 2001

LOT 345

Montre de sac à volets, Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, No. 408702, case by Verger, Paris, No. 11574. Produced circa 1928.Very fine, 18K gold keyless purse watch.

USD 3,200 - 3,600

C. rectangular, the front engraved with a geometrical pattern reminiscent of early photographic apparatus, the back with five parallel lines on each side, gold thumb bars and sliding shutters revealing the dial. D. silver, matte, applied gold Arabic numerals, outer minute ring. Gold "Cathédrale" hands. M. 23.3 mm., rhodium-plated, 15 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, 5 adjustments.Movement signed, Verger's stamp on the case.Dim. 49x37 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3 - 6
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 5

Notes

The back is inscribed "To Roy Curtis in appreciation of your splendid cooperation in my experimental work on photomaton and multipose, New York 28-8-29, Anatol M. Josepho".Anatol M. Josepho was granted a patent on January 17, 1928, for the Photomaton, a fully automated apparatus for developing photographic film strips. It automatically took and developed eight pictures in eight minutes. Josepho, a Russian emigrant, developed the invention in a loft on 125th St. in New York City and it was put into operation at 1659 Broadway. New York celebrities such as Governor "Al" Smith took turns posing in the Broadway shop, adjusting hat and cigar to different angles for eachexposure. Not merely a gadget, the machine became a very common source of portraits for chauffeurs' licenses, passports, ID's, and such. Josepho achieved the Great American Dream and sold the rights to his invention for one million dollars, a considerable sum at the time.