Skip to main content

LOT 9

An 18K gold open face pocket watch, presented to S.F.Edge by The Surrey Bicycle Club for the 1890 'London-Brighton' coach/cycle challenge record time,

Sold for £2,560 inc. premium
Lot 9

An 18K gold open face pocket watch, presented to S.F.Edge by The Surrey Bicycle Club for the 1890 'London-Brighton' coach/cycle challenge record time,

An 18K gold open face pocket watch, presented to S.F.Edge by The Surrey Bicycle Club for the 1890 'London-Brighton' coach/cycle challenge record time,

keyless pocket watch by C.Willmann of 42 Westow St, Upper Norwood, the case hallmarked 18K gold with London town mark, sponsors's mark H.G.(Henry Griffith), with white enamel dial with Roman numerals and two subsidiary dials, Swiss movement, the rear outer case engraved with ornate 'SFE' entwined initials, the rear inner case engraved with presentation details 'S.F.Edge - from the - Surrey Bicycle Club - for beating - Selby's Coach Record - 7 hours 50 minutes - from Picadilly, London, to - The Old Ship, Brighton and Back - July 23rd 1890 - Time - 7 hours 2 minutes 50 seconds', the watch gross weight approximately 115.8gms, in later case.

Footnotes

This watch was presented in 1890 by The Surrey Bicycle Club to S.F.Edge for achieving a new record time for the White Horse Cellars, Piccadilly, London to The Old Ship, Brighton 'Coaching Record' 108 mile round trip, which was originally conceived in 1888 as a horse-drawn coach run against the clock, with a time of 7 hours 50 minutes set by professional coachman James Selby on 13th July 1888 driving the "Old Times" coach.

Simultaneously entertained, intrigued, and inspired by this achievement, competitive cyclists took up Selby's challenge to beat his time, with various riders breaking the record in 1889 and 1890, with Edge eventually eclipsing them all, achieving a new record time of 7 hours 2 minutes on his cushion tyred Safety bicycle on 23rd July 1890.

Edge went on to beat the record again in 1892, further cementing superiority and earning bragging rights for the 'pedal-powered, two-wheel' riders over the 'horse-powered, four-legged' traditionalists.

Additional information

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Specialist section

Auction Viewings

  • 18 April 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 BST
  • 19 April 2026, 09:00 - 17:00 BST

Bid now on these items

Triumph T90 Racer
United Kingdom
Coming soon

Triumph T90 Racer

£1,500 - £3,000
1954 Moto Guzzi 250 Airone Sport
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1954 Moto Guzzi 250 Airone Sport

£2,000 - £3,000
1978 Moto Guzzi Le Mans MkI
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1978 Moto Guzzi Le Mans MkI

£1,500 - £2,500
c.1970 Moto Guzzi 850GT
United Kingdom
Coming soon

c.1970 Moto Guzzi 850GT

£1,500 - £2,000
1993 Triumph Speed Triple 995i,
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1993 Triumph Speed Triple 995i,

£1,600 - £2,400
1969, Norton Commando 750 Fastback Project
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1969, Norton Commando 750 Fastback Project

£1,500 - £2,000
c.1970 Honda CB450 DOHC
United Kingdom
Coming soon

c.1970 Honda CB450 DOHC

£1,500 - £2,500
1982 Yamaha XS650
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1982 Yamaha XS650

£1,800 - £2,400
1952 Moto Guzzi 250 Airone Sport
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1952 Moto Guzzi 250 Airone Sport

£2,000 - £3,000
1969 Moto Guzzi V7 Special
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1969 Moto Guzzi V7 Special

£1,500 - £2,000
c.1980 Honda 49cc 'CR110 Replica' Racing Motorcycle
United Kingdom
Coming soon

c.1980 Honda 49cc 'CR110 Replica' Racing Motorcycle

£2,000 - £3,000
1978 Yamaha XS650 Special
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1978 Yamaha XS650 Special

£1,800 - £2,400
1980 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans MkII,
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1980 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans MkII,

£2,000 - £3,000
c.1965 Yamaha 305 YM1
United Kingdom
Coming soon

c.1965 Yamaha 305 YM1

£1,800 - £2,400
1972 Ducati 350 Mk3
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1972 Ducati 350 Mk3

£2,000 - £5,000
1976 Moto Guzzi Le Mans MkI
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1976 Moto Guzzi Le Mans MkI

£2,000 - £3,000
1966 Honda CB450 'Black Bomber'
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1966 Honda CB450 'Black Bomber'

£2,000 - £4,000
1976 Honda CB750
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1976 Honda CB750

£2,400 - £4,400
1971 Honda CB750
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1971 Honda CB750

£2,400 - £4,400
1978 Ducati SD 900 Darmah
United Kingdom
Coming soon

1978 Ducati SD 900 Darmah

£2,400 - £3,400
A rare Elliott Brothers double speedometer/odometer,
United Kingdom

A rare Elliott Brothers double speedometer/odometer,

£2,000 - £3,000
A wicker-cased picnic set for four persons by G.W.Scott & Sons, circa 1905,
United Kingdom

A wicker-cased picnic set for four persons by G.W.Scott & Sons, circa 1905,

£1,800 - £2,400
A Victorian pedal car, circa 1900,
United Kingdom

A Victorian pedal car, circa 1900,

£1,800 - £2,400
A Tricycle Velocipede, 1870s, originally housed in the Estate of Osbourne House, 1870s-1901,
United Kingdom

A Tricycle Velocipede, 1870s, originally housed in the Estate of Osbourne House, 1870s-1901,

£2,000 - £3,000