$1,840
E. Howard, Boston, Series IV, No. 34514, circa 1862.Fine and rare, 18K gold, hunting-cased watch with Abbot patented keyless system. four-body, "bassine", by "N.M. & Co.", engine-turned and engraved covers, reeded edges and band, gold hinged cuvette. Notes Howard watches that employ Abbot's keyless winding and setting system are very rare. In the beginning, Abbot's systems did not even fit Howard watches.From a historical perspective, this is a very interesting watch. Although beginning its life as a key-wound/key-set watch, it was later converted to a stem wound, lever-set watch, utilizing a special Henry Abbott attachment. The patent date on the attachment is January 18, 1881, which corresponds to the regular Abbott attachment with rocking bar. The attachment on this watch, however, appears more clever, and does not seem to have been patented. Because the original Abbot attachments were not sutable for thin Howard watches, Abbot had to design a special one just for Howard watches. On July 27, 1886, Abbot invented a permanent winding and setting system, suitable for Howard watches (US patent No. 346254). It seems that the attachment found in the present watch gave Abbott the inspiration for his design of the 1886 system.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-11-28
