LOT 186

A Charles Nicolet silver 'Gordon Bennett Cup' chronograph keyless pocket watch, retailed by Stauffer & Sons Co, circa 1905,

Sold for £1,211.25 inc. premium

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Lot 186

A Charles Nicolet silver 'Gordon Bennett Cup' chronograph keyless pocket watch, retailed by Stauffer & Sons Co, circa 1905,

The Golden Age Of Motoring|4 November 2022, 13:00 GMT|London, New Bond Street

A Charles Nicolet silver 'Gordon Bennett Cup' chronograph keyless pocket watch, retailed by Stauffer & Sons Co, circa 1905,

.925 silver case with later London import marks for 1913, case & Cuvette No.265924, gilt ¾ plate Swiss lever chronograph movement with cut and compensated bi-metallic balance, white dial with black Roman numerals, outer printed minute track with Arabic five minute markers, blued steel spade hands with centre chronograph hand, subsidiary dial at 12 for 30 minute recording, constant seconds at 6, (flaw to dial between 7 and 8); polished hinged case engraved to the rear.

Footnotes

Stauffer, Son & Co are listed as operating in London from 1857 to 1900. They became important producers of watches for sporting events under Charles Nicolet, including supplying chronographs for the Gordon Bennett Races. This was so important to them that after the first race in 1903 they began to engrave a small image of the Gordon Bennett Trophy on the inside of the case back as can be seen in this watch. This motoring event was created by the American newspaper tycoon James Gordon Bennett. The introduction of three timed laps in this event called for more accurate timekeeping, and in 1903 Stauffer, Son & Co supplied 93 chronographs which were highly praised.
The import mark was probably struck when the watch was retired from the races by Mappin and Webb as it was legally required to be marked if it was sold in 1913. The watch was presented as Admiralty Prize 1914 to Sub-Lieutenant H C L Woodhouse RN, the rear of the case is engraved with his initials. Sold together with two printed pages of text relating to Woodhouse's naval career.

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