Friday 23 September 2011

Resources for researching watchmakers

Here are links to websites that I visited when trying to discover more about the watchmaker Kover. I'll update this post if I find any more resources:

The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers - http://www.clockmakers.org/
British & Irish Clock and Watch Makers (c1600-c1940) - http://www.clockswatches.com/index.php
National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, Inc. - http://www.nawcc.org/
Cogs & Pieces (Dealers in fine antique pocket watches) - http://www.cogsandpieces.com/
Antique Pocket Watch - http://www.antique-pocket-watch.com/
Antiquarian Horological Society - http://www.ahsoc.demon.co.uk/home.html
Sources for clock and watchmakers at Guildhall Library - downloads as a pdf
Old Scottish clockmakers from 1453 to 1850 (1921) - a book available online in a number of formats

If you know of any other resources please add them in a comment or email them to me and I will add them to the above list.

Monday 19 September 2011

Watch No. 9430 - reference

A watch marked with the name Kover and the number 9430 was stolen in 1761 and came to court, as described here

Thanks to Madelaine who posted this link on her Blog Thomas Tye 1713-1783

Watch No. 8990 - reference

From the account book of Thomas Tye 1713-1783... 

Part Exchange in the 18th Century

"1 November 1752 Exchanged a Silver Watch with Mr John Colton in Turncalf Aley for a pinch Beack watch Double Gilt with Gold a new one he brote with him from London No.8990 makers name Kover London gave in Exchange as by his receipt for the same £3.0s 0d"

Thanks to Madelaine who posted the above on her Blog Thomas Tye 1713-1783

Watch No. 7629

I inherited a very worn non-functional pocket watch that is marked with the word KOVER on the dial and has Kover LONDON 7629 engraved on the back of the mechanism.

I have discovered very little about the watchmaker Kover. An expert from The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in London has said that he is inclined to think that Kover was either Dutch, or was an invented name.

I started this Blog to generate a list of other Kover watches that still exist and to discover documents that refer to the watchmaker Kover.

Please post a comment if you have any relevant information.