.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Accompanied by a Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present quarter repeating watch with independent seconds and engraved initials GC to the case back in 1869 and its subsequent sale on September 2nd 1871. Further accompanied by a Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin and Warranty dated 1871, a Patek Philippe Geneva original letter dated 21 January 1955, addressed to Mr. George Crompton, Jr., stating that the watch was sold on 2 September 1871 to Mr. Geo Crompton for the price of CHF 1,900, “a price very high for the time but the piece is a complicated watch”. It is moreover mentioned that it was engraved with the initials of Mr. Crompton’s grandfather, G.C., and bought in the firm’s retail store in Geneva. Furthermore, the present watch is accompanied by the original Patek Philippe presentation box with engraved plaque reading: George Crompton.
The short length of gold chain accompanying the watch with two attachments, a gilt medal related to the 1928 Olympic Games, the second gilt medal with books and an oil lamp in high relief, the back engraved Chancellor Beacher Gold Medal Sir George Crompton K J Cmrd., L.H.D. For His Scientific Inventive Mind.
George Crompton (1829 - 1886)
The present watch stands out amongst others as of its strong historical provenance. Accompanied by an original letter dated January 21st 1955, to Mr. George Compton, Jr., Patek Philippe stated that this watch belonged to Mr. Crompton Jr.’s grandfather, also named George Compton, an American inventor who is most credited with the creation of the Crompton Loom.
Hailing originally form Lancashire, England, George Crompton was born in March 1829. Son of William Crompton, the family migrated to the United States when George was nine years old. Crompton Loom Works was a successful manufacturing business based in Worcester, Massachusetts, that provided uniforms and materials such as blankets for the U. S. Army and the Civil War effort. The Crompton Loom was an invention that George’s father William first invented, and this no doubt paved the way for his son to follow in his footsteps.
In 1857, George introduced a loom that built upon his father’s already hugely successful machine. This new loom was complicated but required half as much labor to operate and could reach high speeds of up to eighty-five picks per minute. So successful, it won medals at the Paris Exposition in 1867 as well as gaining popularity from the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876. The impact of the Loom in the textile industry was so large-scale that Mr. Crompton was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007. Mr. Crompton was also to founder and president of Crompton Carpet Company and served on the board of directors of Worcester Gas Light Company, Worcester National Bank and Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company.
Due to the letter that accompanies this lot, we are able to determine that Mr. George Crompton was 42 years of age when he purchased the present watch in 1871 for 1,900 Swiss Francs. Purchased in the Patek Philippe salon in Geneva, the letter states that the price was, “very high for that time.”
Independent Dead Center Seconds
Patek Philippe's independent dead center seconds are exceedingly rare and particularly when featuring the additional complication of a repeating mechanism. The present example is one of only two known featuring this complication and to best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public. This predecessor of the chronograph is furthermore preserved in very good, original overall condition.
The independent dead seconds mechanism requires two going trains, one for the movement and one for the sweep center seconds hand, allowing it to be stopped without stopping the main train in order not to interfere with the accuracy of timekeeping. The invention of this mechanism is attributed to Moise Pouzait, Geneva 1776.
Adrien Philippe's independent dead seconds mechanism (Swiss patent No. 1017 of 23 May 1889, illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Pocket Watches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, p. 53) varies completely from Pouzait's design. Moving the seconds train over the center bridge created more space, thus allowing a larger balance resulting in better timekeeping.
Independent seconds watch no. 80'048 dating circa 1888-1889 is illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume I, p. 263, Inv. P-626. It features the same two-train movement as the present watch and is described as probably being one of the earliest examples of such an independent seconds watch with two simultaneously wound barrels, rendering the present watch even rarer. Numbered 27’447 and made in 1869, it precedes watch no. 80'048 and the patent, delivered in May 1889, by an impressive twenty years.
The short length of gold chain accompanying the watch with two attachments, a gilt medal related to the 1928 Olympic Games, the second gilt medal with books and an oil lamp in high relief, the back engraved Chancellor Beacher Gold Medal Sir George Crompton K J Cmrd., L.H.D. For His Scientific Inventive Mind.
George Crompton (1829 - 1886)
The present watch stands out amongst others as of its strong historical provenance. Accompanied by an original letter dated January 21st 1955, to Mr. George Compton, Jr., Patek Philippe stated that this watch belonged to Mr. Crompton Jr.’s grandfather, also named George Compton, an American inventor who is most credited with the creation of the Crompton Loom.
Hailing originally form Lancashire, England, George Crompton was born in March 1829. Son of William Crompton, the family migrated to the United States when George was nine years old. Crompton Loom Works was a successful manufacturing business based in Worcester, Massachusetts, that provided uniforms and materials such as blankets for the U. S. Army and the Civil War effort. The Crompton Loom was an invention that George’s father William first invented, and this no doubt paved the way for his son to follow in his footsteps.
In 1857, George introduced a loom that built upon his father’s already hugely successful machine. This new loom was complicated but required half as much labor to operate and could reach high speeds of up to eighty-five picks per minute. So successful, it won medals at the Paris Exposition in 1867 as well as gaining popularity from the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876. The impact of the Loom in the textile industry was so large-scale that Mr. Crompton was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007. Mr. Crompton was also to founder and president of Crompton Carpet Company and served on the board of directors of Worcester Gas Light Company, Worcester National Bank and Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company.
Due to the letter that accompanies this lot, we are able to determine that Mr. George Crompton was 42 years of age when he purchased the present watch in 1871 for 1,900 Swiss Francs. Purchased in the Patek Philippe salon in Geneva, the letter states that the price was, “very high for that time.”
Independent Dead Center Seconds
Patek Philippe's independent dead center seconds are exceedingly rare and particularly when featuring the additional complication of a repeating mechanism. The present example is one of only two known featuring this complication and to best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public. This predecessor of the chronograph is furthermore preserved in very good, original overall condition.
The independent dead seconds mechanism requires two going trains, one for the movement and one for the sweep center seconds hand, allowing it to be stopped without stopping the main train in order not to interfere with the accuracy of timekeeping. The invention of this mechanism is attributed to Moise Pouzait, Geneva 1776.
Adrien Philippe's independent dead seconds mechanism (Swiss patent No. 1017 of 23 May 1889, illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Pocket Watches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, p. 53) varies completely from Pouzait's design. Moving the seconds train over the center bridge created more space, thus allowing a larger balance resulting in better timekeeping.
Independent seconds watch no. 80'048 dating circa 1888-1889 is illustrated and described in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume I, p. 263, Inv. P-626. It features the same two-train movement as the present watch and is described as probably being one of the earliest examples of such an independent seconds watch with two simultaneously wound barrels, rendering the present watch even rarer. Numbered 27’447 and made in 1869, it precedes watch no. 80'048 and the patent, delivered in May 1889, by an impressive twenty years.