Brockbank

Brockbank, London, No. 1812, circa 1780. Fine 18K gold center seconds watch with a stop feature. Two-body, polished, back with gold shutter for the winding aperture. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minutes/seconds divisions with five-minutes/seconds Arabic markers. Gold "beetle and poker" hands. Notes Probably John and Myles Brockbank. Brockbank. The brothers John and Myles who traded at 6 Cowper's Court were among the pioneers of chronometer making. Myles was admitted to the Clockmaker's Company in 1776 and John in 1779. Earnshaw claimed that he revealed his version of the spring detent escapement to them and that they passed on the information to Arnold. One of their principal workmen, Peto, invented the cross-detent escapement which combined the theoretical advantage of Arnold's and Earnshaw's escapements, and several examples by the Brockbanks survive, coupled with an overbanking device which limits the expansion of the helical spring. Myles died in 1821 and the brothers were succeeded by two nephews, also named John and Myles, who traded as John Brockbanks & Company. From 1815 to 1835 the firm was called "Brockbank & Atkins' and still at 6 Cowper's Court.