Victor Kullberg, London

• gilt half-plate movement, spring detent escapement with standing detent, bi-metallic compensation balance, blued steel helical spring, diamond endstone • white enamel dial, Roman numerals, two subsidiary dials for constant seconds and up-and-down register, outer minute track, blued steel spade hands • heavy 18k gold case, plain polished back, the front with aperture surrounded by blue enamel Roman numerals and minute track, plain pendant and winder, the winding protected by a push piece to the bezel at 4 o'clock which allows winding only when the cover is open and also with provision for hand-setting, case hallmarked 1899, all case covers with maker's mark F.T. for Fred Thoms. • dial signed and numbered • movement signed Victor Kullberg, 105 Liverpool Road, London, No.6261 and with engraved 'Grand Prix' details


 

Delivered in February 1901 to Monsieur G. Aborlard in France

Paris Exhibition, 1900

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, p. 431, pl. 278

Victor Kullberg No. 6261 was exhibited at the Paris Exhibition of 1900 and sold to Monseiur G. Aborland in February 1901.  Kullberg's workbook records the exhibition information as well as the watch's sale.  A copy of the workbook record for this watch can be found in Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch, 1585-1970, p. 430.  The record further details the progress of the watch and notes that following the Paris Exhibition, the top plate was engraved with its new awards and re-gilded before it was delivered to the new owner.  Kullberg's workbooks are now owned by the Trustees of the Clockmakers' Company Museum. Camerer Cuss notes, Op. Cit., that Kullberg directed his firm to place the detents on the North South axis of the chronometer movements, which he considered the most favourable positions when the watch was worn.

Victor Kullberg, an exceptional and inventive horologist, was born in Gothland, Sweden, in 1824.  In Old Clocks & Watches and their Makers, Britten says of Kullberg, 'One of the most brilliant and successful horologists of the 19th Century'.  He worked first for Louis Urban Jurgansen in Copenhagen and then came to London in 1851.  His workmanship was of the highest quality and his output included watches, chronometers, and regulators.  He was a maker to the Admiralty and several continental governments.  His excellent craftsmanship was widely acknowledged and he was awarded a number of medals from 1860 through to 1889, when he was honoured with the Cross of the Legion of Honour.  He died in 1890.