Watches with Complications
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The firm produced the usual assortment of repeaters. The earliest known is
a dumb quarter repeater with a duplex escapement in a gold case hallmarked
1805. The latest is a movement only, number 08720, circa 1877. The duplex
escapement appears to be the first choice for repeating watches but two with
spring detent are known. One is a very small minute repeater in a gold half
hunter case (converted from hunter) hallmarked 1864, the other a three quarter
plate standard size quarter repeater with helical freesprung hairspring in a
gold open face case.
Quarter repeating work of
duplex No. 7131
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| Three gold cased clockwatches are known, all quite different
from each other. The earliest one, No. 16245 is hallmarked 1840 and has an
enamelled dial, full plate lever movement and a gold hairspring of round cross
section. A fusee is used for the going train, and a going barrel for the strike
train. The striking mechanism is under the dial without repeat on demand. The
case was originally an open face and was converted in 1870 by McCabe's normal
casemaker, Alfred Stram, to the more modern half hunter style. The movement is
additionally inscribed: "Adj. by Barraud & Lunds 5/S
6625". The next one, No. 18947 in a hunter case hallmarked 1849, has
a three colour gold dial and a very thin 3/4 plate duplex movement. The
striking mechanism in this watch is mounted on the back plate and partially
obscures the signature. The last one No. 08400, is an open faced watch
hallmarked 1875, with an enamel dial. The movement is 3/4 plate lever with
going barrels for both going and the minute repeating grande sonnerie striking
trains. There is a musical watch with a cylinder escapement in a silver case
hallmarked 1835 (the case has been reported not to be original) in the
Clockmakers Company Museum signed "McCabe London No.
460". |
| Perhaps the most important watch known by McCabe is a large
gilt, gold and enamel quarter striking musical chaise watch with alarm and
cylinder escapement. It has an unsigned enamel dial with central jumping fifth
seconds surrounded by five chapters each with a single hand. It plays music on
six bells with twelve hammers. This watch was given to Admiral Nelson in 1805
shortly before sailing on his last voyage ending at the battle of Trafalgar.
The back enamelled with the inscription "Pres. to Adml. Lord Nelson By
the Officers of HMS Victory Aug 20 1805". It appears not to bear a
number and is signed "McCabe - London" on a V shaped,
screwed on bridge. The "second line" signature might be explained by
the movement not being manufactured entirely by McCabe (possible Droz in
Switzerland) or just that the limited space on the skeletonised plate left no
room. This may be the musical watch that Paul Hackamack had heard rumours
of. |
| A list
of about 100 watches is available in our Mail Order Catalogue |
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| Much of this article is based on one written by Paul Hackamack
that appeared in Antiquarian Horology in 1977 with many refinements and a few
corrections made possible with the aid of more current knowledge. An excellent
article by David Bell on the McCabes of Ulster, published in the December 2000
and January 2001 issues of the AHS proved invaluable. |
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