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Lot Essay
Accompanied by fitted brown leather presentation box with fold-out stand.
Bahne Bonniksen (1859-1935) was a Danish immigrant to Coventry and revolutionized Coventry's declining watchmaking industry with his 'karussel' watch. Besides being a course instructor in horology at the Coventry Technical School he also ran his own watchmaking workshops in Norfolk Street, where he employed about 25 watchmakers.
His invention, the Karussel device, was patented in 1882. These highly precise movements were often awarded "Kew Class A" rating certificates and in general supplied to the most renowned watchmakers of the time, such as Joseph White, Smith & Sons, Robert Milne and others. Watches entirely signed by Bahne Bonniksen are exceedingly rare.
Both Karussel and Tourbillon are revolving escapements with the escapement placed on a small rotating platform, a device to eliminate errors of rate in the vertical positions. The Karussel escapement however is driven by a fourth wheel, which is not fixed but rotates within the platform. Consequently it is turning at a much slower rate than tourbillon carriages, varying from 34 to 52.5 minutes per full rotation depending upon the design. It is also more robust and easier to produce than a tourbillon, hence less expensive.
Bahne Bonniksen (1859-1935) was a Danish immigrant to Coventry and revolutionized Coventry's declining watchmaking industry with his 'karussel' watch. Besides being a course instructor in horology at the Coventry Technical School he also ran his own watchmaking workshops in Norfolk Street, where he employed about 25 watchmakers.
His invention, the Karussel device, was patented in 1882. These highly precise movements were often awarded "Kew Class A" rating certificates and in general supplied to the most renowned watchmakers of the time, such as Joseph White, Smith & Sons, Robert Milne and others. Watches entirely signed by Bahne Bonniksen are exceedingly rare.
Both Karussel and Tourbillon are revolving escapements with the escapement placed on a small rotating platform, a device to eliminate errors of rate in the vertical positions. The Karussel escapement however is driven by a fourth wheel, which is not fixed but rotates within the platform. Consequently it is turning at a much slower rate than tourbillon carriages, varying from 34 to 52.5 minutes per full rotation depending upon the design. It is also more robust and easier to produce than a tourbillon, hence less expensive.