William Douglas

• Movement: gilded three-quarter plate, 34-minute karrusel with lever escapement, bi-metallic compensation balance, three-pressure action chronograph mechanism visible to the backplate, engraved with an Admiralty broad arrow and numbered 19076
• Dial: white enamel, with recessed subsidiary dials for constant seconds and thirty-minute register, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring calibrated to fifths of a second, signed Douglas, English Patent and marked with an Admiralty broad arrow
• Case: silver, replaced plain polished back, with maker's mark ATO for Albert Thomas Oliver and London hallmarks for 1937, silver bow and pendant with maker's mark CH for Charles Hill and London hallmarks for 1900, gilt crown and hand-set button, the button with gilded protective shoulders, plain polished silver cuvette, with maker's mark T.C for possibly Thomas Cleaver or Thomas Cob with rubbed hallmark possibly London 1906-07

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 446, pl. 290

movement running at the time of cataloguing, karussel rotating. Dial and hands in good condition, cuvette hallmark rubbed beyond distinction, with scuffs and scratches to be expected. outer case too with scuffs and scratches throughout to be expected.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

The body and cuvette on the present lot appear to be original while the original back, which would have been engraved with the Admiralty mark, and hallmarked 1937, was presumably replaced following the Admiralty’s disposal of the watch. It is possible that the pendant and bow, which is some seven years earlier than the watch, was taken from existing stock or otherwise it is a very suitable replacement.

This watch was purchased by the Admiralty for £25 in October 1909, only one other watch of this type, which is also signed by Douglas, is known. During the First World War, there are records showing the watch being sent back and forth between the Admiralty and Usher and Cole Ltd., (Douglas having already retired by this date). It was subsequently issued to H.M.S. Cyclops in May 1918 which, together with H.M.S. Victorious, was based at Scapa Flow to assist in the fitting of the Dreyer firing system to all Dreadnought battleships. The chronograph would have been an essential piece of equipment to help calculate the speed of shells whilst in flight.

William Henry Douglas (1837-1913) was a watchmaker based in the West Midlands town of Stourbridge. He registered a total of 11 patents of which seven are relevant to this watch. The first patent was for a chronograph mechanism (number 2500 of June 1880) and the last for a Karrusel (or as he termed it, ‘a tourbillon’), this latter patent was granted in January 1907 as number 6858. Douglas stated that “…The object of this invention is to provide for the arrangement of a tourbillon with an ordinary watch…without any material modification…and for the convenient combination with the same as a chronograph.”