SOME HISTORIC WATCHES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11952, 2 April 1894, Page 2

SOME HISTORIC WATCHES

+~ — At the World's Fair, Chicago, some historic watches were exhibited. Oliver Cromwell's watch is an alarm time-piece, in a big silver case, one and a half inches thick, engraved in fine checks. The back opens with a hinge nearly an inch long, and the face has Roman figures, and Cromwell's name is engraved in the centre. The date is 1648, and the maker Bochel, of London. John Milton's watch has a small oval, silver case, and raised points on the dial by wkich the blind bard told tho time. An astronomical watch in shellenamelled case, with big round open face with bright picture landscape, dated 1771, and made in Kilmarnock, Scotland. This was Robert Burns's watch. The smallest watch in the collection was carried by the ill-fated Lady Jane Urey. It is has open face silver case, with enamelled dial, and about' the circumference of a coin dollar. Near it is Queen Elizabeth's watch— a lar^o, round case of metal and ' blue enamell. Both are of the 16th century, the first of Swiss inak6, the other made by Jenbi, of Paris; These are the only watches, carried by women, in the collection. Another royal watch belongs to James I. It is of English make, and is, as thick as three modern watches. The case is of gold, finely enpraved, and the figures on the dial are set on a line of silver. The plainest watch in the collection was John Bunyan's timepiece. It is a big silver, open-faced watch, with second hands set on a plate. This also is of English make, by Fitter, of London, and of the 16th century. A beautiful shell-case, silver-mounted watch, datad 1756, was carried by William of Orange. Lord Nelson's watch, which he himself presjnted to Captain Boss, of the Victory, has a large silver caso, with the figures at the centre of the dial. It is of French manufacture, by Delornie, of Paris, But one watch in the whole number is authenticated as made by a woman — Annie' Dunlop, of London. It is a curious timepiece, of 17th century date, in a loather case, with enamelled dial One of the most beautiful watches is an English chronometer, af the 18th century date, said to have belonged to the Kins of Spain, The gold case is in the form of a pear, exquisitely enamelled, with a bouquet of bright flowers on dark red colour. A grim conceit is an early 17th century watch, in a silver case, in the form of a skull, and on the dial an engraving of the " Day of Judgment." Tho maker is unknown, but is supposed to be of French manufacture,