Watches in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

In my previous post regarding Watch No. 8346 I reported that I had contacted the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague who said "unfortunately, there are no any watches with a signature of Kover in the collections of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague."

Since then I have had further correspondence with the Museum and they have sent me pictures of three watches that are displayed in the Museum and are similar to a Kover watch. Unfortunately the pictures "can be used for study purposes only, they can´t be published".

Descriptions provided by the Museum of the three watches follow:

Pair-case watch, 2nd quarter of the 18th century

Thomas Moore, London

sign. T. MOORE LONDON 1922

gilded base metal, enamel; mechanism: brass, steel

verge escapement, monometallic balance, Tompion´s regulation

inv. no. 45607

Pair-case watch with striking mechanism, 18th century

Cabrier, London

sign. CABRIER LONDON

embossed gold, pierced and engraved, enamel; mechanism: brass, steel

verge escapement, monometallic balance, Tompion´s regulation

inv. no. 68392

Pair-case watch, around 1750

Chr. Siruam, London

sign. CHR. SIRUAM LONDON

embossed gold, chased and engraved, pierced steel; mechanism: brass, steel

verge escapement, monometallic balance, Tompion´s regulation

inv. no. 83131

My correspondent at the Museum says "Unfortunately, I don´t have pictures of the mechanisms for you. All the watches are on display, forming part of our museum´s permanent exhibition. They are locked in a special showcase which is very uneasy to open. If we open the showcase once I will send you the pictures (in 2012 or 2013?)"

I intend to study the pictures in order to identify the similarities and differences between these watches and the Kover watches of which I have pictures. I will report my findings in a future post. I also intend to try to discover further information about the watchmakers Thomas Moore, Cabrier and Chr. Siruam, all of London.  

The picture below was kindly sent to me by Luis Sanchez Biosca, the author of the book "The Art of Religeria" together with the following information:

"Watch with gold chain of 4cm in diameter. Chr Siruam, London 1750, chain of the same era, gilded brass. Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague

As I promised you sent the photograph on page 193 of the book "The Art of Watchmaking" LIBSA Publishers, which represents a clock very similar to the chain even Kover, called "Chateleine" which also is very similar to that wearing the watch on pages 89-90 Kover's book "The Machine Prodigious."
With regard to this book, I have to tell you that it is sold as is called "The Art of Religeria"". 

Watch No. 7629 - a slight diversion - third instalment

Its over a year since I started this blog and I'm afraid that I've been silent for a long while. However I have been doing a little more research into William Henderson, Watchmaker, Dundee whose watch paper is in the outer case of my own Kover pocketwatch.

My previous posts relating to William Henderson are:

Watch No. 7629 - a slight diversion - first instalment
Watch No. 7629 - a slight diversion - second instalment

I have now discovered the following:

William Henderson was only 28 when he died at 32 Nethergate, Dundee on 27th (or 28th) April 1852; here is the announcement from the Dundee Courier of 5th May 1852:

I have, so far been unable to find any burial record for Mr Henderson. However I have found his testament which was lodged at Dundee Sheriff Court on 14th May 1852. Unfortunately the image that I have of the testament is Crown Copyright so I can't reproduce it here. I find the will quite difficult to read because of my unfamiliarity with 1850s handwriting but here is a summary of what I have discovered so far:

• The date of death is given as 28th April 1852 - this differs by one day from the date given in the Dundee Courier.
• The testament was lodged in the presence of John Irving Henderson Esquire, Advocate Commissary Depute of Forfarshire Dundee District and Mr James Shield Writer in Dundee.
• Valuation, by John McLean Beatts, Licensed Appraiser Dundee, of Stock In Trade, Household Furniture, Shop Fittings and Other Effects belonging to the deceased amounted to £343 8s 5d.
• Book debts due to the deceased totalled £63 19s 7d. - made up of 76 individual debts. There is the following note: "From the circumstances of many of the debtors - contra accounts had by them against the deceased (??) otherwise the total account recoverable can not be estimated at more than £30".
• William's Mother is named as Christian Marshall or Henderson residing in Stirling; she inherited everything remaining after payment of all just and lawful debts.

I intend to look through the names of debtors and try to find a burial record for William in Stirling as I have discovered nothing relevant in the Dundee Burial records.

Watch No. 7121 - bought by a reader

Sam Walker of Colorado emailed me to say... 

"I’ve been enjoying your blog, particularly the Old Bailey reference. 

I picked up a Kover watch (#7121) on ebay.  Very small, not running (but might yet run), London hallmarked for 1742-3."

"As to getting it running again, the entire drive train, from mainspring-fusee to escape wheel, seems to be fairly functional but it’s missing the balance wheel and staff.

As mentioned it is a very small movement (about 34mm across the dial) and finding a replacement will be difficult.  I may have to get one made, if that’s even possible or affordable, which brings me to another problem, there are very few people in the States who work on (or even know about) verge-fusee watches.  So, we’ll see." 

He subsequently sent me some lovely photos of his watch which I've included above and below. Thanks Sam; please let us know whether you manage to get it repaired.

Correspondence with the author of "Las Maquinas Prodigiosas"

Following my post about Watch No. 8346 referred to in "Las Maquinas Prodigiosas" (The Prodigious Machines), I decided to try and get in touch with the author, Luis Sanchez Biosca and ask about his book and the Kover watch to which it refers. Here is his reply in original Spanish:

"He recibido su interesnte correo a traves del correo de Andreas Prokop en el que da cuenta de su interes por los relojes fabricados por el relojero Kover afincado en la ciudad de Londres a principios del siglo 18.
Asi mismo he leido con sumo interes su blog en el que hace una detallada esposicion del reloj asi como de las circustancias de su fabricacion y el ambiente existente para los relojeros de esa epoca en el Reino Unido.
De la existencia del fabricante Kover solamente dan fe sus relojes, pues de lo que yo he podido investigar no hay constancia del domicilio ni del numero de relojes fabricados por el mismo, pero de lo que si estoy seguro es de que el reloj, cuya fotografia esta en mi libro, es de 1727, pues esta totalmente reconocido que los gremios de fabricantes de relojes en  UK debian de pasar ciertos controles para certificar la calidad de sus productos, y en esos controles se les ponia en la caja, por su parte interior un punzon correspondiente al año de su fabricacion.
Por tanto y a la vista de los relojes Kever por usted ha localizado hasta este momento y atendiendo a su numeracion que va desde el numero 7284 al 9430, es de suponer que mucho antes de 1727 este fabricante ya se dedicaba a fabricar relojes, por lo que el comunicante de su Blog que da unas fechas de 1720 a 1760 puede estar en lo correcto, pues es de suponer que al iniciar la fabricacion de relojes no comenzaran por el numero 1. De todos modos si el numero de los relojes por Vd localizados fueran correlativos, estariamos hablando de no menos de 1.146 relojes fabricados en un periode de 40 años, cantidad excesiva para los procesos de fabricacion de relojes de esos años en donde no existia la produccion en cadena, ni la maquinaria adecuada.
La Galluza, traducida por el traductor de Google como Galluzo, es un termino correcto en Español, aunque en desuso, pues entre los aficionados a la relojeria antigua realmente se le conoce como galluza, y es una pieza situada en la parte superior de la pletina del reloj por la que se protege la espiral del reloj, y es un elemento determinante para para cataslogar a los relojes por el origen de su fabricacion, pues los relojes fabricados en UK llevan solamente un punto de anclaje, mientras que los fabricados en el Continente disponen de dos anclajes.
En cuanto al reloj por mi referenciado en el Museo de Artes Decorativas de Praga, tengo que indicarle que no es un reloj Kover, pues la referencia estaba colocada para indicar la diferencia entre la decoracion de la esfera entre los relojes fabricados en la UK y los fabricados en el Continente. No obstante cuando llegue a España pues ahora me encuentro en Manchester y no tengo la informacion a mano, le enviare, via correo electronico, una fotocopia digitalizada de dicha pagina.
Referente a la consulta que le hacen sobre una impresion de papel encontrada en el fondo de un reloj localizado en Dundee tengo que indicarle que se trata de una reparacion."

and a Google Translate conversion to English:

"I received your mail interesnte through the mail in which Andreas Prokop realizes his interest in clocks manufactured by Kover watchmaker based in the city of London in the early 18th century.
Likewise I read with great interest your blog that gives a detailed exposition of the clock as well as on the circumstances of their manufacture and the existing environment to the watchmakers of that time in the United Kingdom.
Manufacturer of the existence of Kover only attest their watches, because what I have investigated there is no record of the home or the number of watches made by it, but what if I am sure of is that the clock, the picture this in my book, 1727, it is fully recognized that unions in UK watchmakers certain controls must have passed to certify the quality of their products, and these controls were put in the box on the inside a punch for the year of manufacture.
Therefore and in view of Kever watches for you have located so far and according to their numbering ranging from 7284 to 9430 the number, it is likely that long before 1727, this manufacturer and was dedicated to making watches, so the caller of your blog that gives some dates from 1720 to 1760 may be correct, it is assumed that when you start the manufacture of clocks do not begin with the number 1. Anyway, if the number of clocks by you located were correlated, we would be talking about no less than 1146 watches made in a period of 40 years, too much for the watch manufacturing processes of those years where there was no production in chain, and the right equipment.
The Galluzo, translated by Google translator as Galluzo is a correct term in Spanish, although obsolete, since among the fans of really old watches called Galluzo, and is a part located at the top of the deck clock that is protected by the spiral of the clock and is a determining factor for the clocks cataslogar the origin of their manufacture, as the watches made in UK carry only one anchor point, while those made on the Continent have two anchors.
As the clock on my referenced in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, I have to tell you that Kover is not a clock as the reference was placed to indicate the difference between the decoration of the area between the clocks manufactured in the UK and manufactured on the Continent. But when you get to Spain because now I am in Manchester and I have no information at hand, I will send, via email, a scanned copy of the page.
Concerning the consultation that make an impression on paper found at the bottom of a clock located in Dundee I have to tell you that this is a repair."

I am very grateful to Luis Sanchez Biosca for his response and I eagerly anticipate receipt of a scanned copy of the page from the book "El Arte de la Relojería"

You may be able to buy a copy of the book "Las Maquinas Prodigiosas" by Luis Sanchez Biosca here