Silver Watch no. 82

Case: Later Dial: Movement: Provenance: 18?? - Potter, Geneve 1923 - Movement illustrated in the Jewellers' Circular 14 Mar 1923, "“Albert H. Potter & Co., Geneva, No. 82.” Bascule chronometer with locking jewel on opposite side from the balance and passing spring attached to an arm project- ing penpendicular to detent, steel escape wheel and main wheel running on its own bearings, the prototype of the modern motor barrel. Potter was born in New York State, worked in Ohio, Cuba, New York city, Min- neapolis, and established himself in business in Chicago. About 1876 he made the model of his chronometer and went to Geneva to manufacture it, his principal market being Chicago. He was a designer of ability and a workman of such extraordinary skill that his reputation even in Geneva, the home of the finest watchmaking, was pre-eminent. The chronometer movement in gold case sold from five to six hundred dollars." 19?? - The Time Museum, Rockford, Illinois Inventory No. 226 2004 - Sotheby's, 15 Oct 2004, est $7-9,000, sold $30,000, "ALBERT H. POTTER & CO., A silver half-hunting cased pocket chronometer, no. 82, Geneva, circa 1885 heavy nickel-silver movement, Potter's patented pivoted detent escapement, some jewels carried in screwed gold chatons, bi-metallic compensation balance, palladium helical balance spring, free sprung, white enamel dial signed Albert Potter, roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, later polished case, the lid repeated with roman numerals enameled in blue, dial signed, movement signed Felipe Hecht, later case stamped with maker's mark ATO (A.T. Oliver), case hallmarked, London, 1931. diameter 56mm Albert H. Potter was born in Saratoga County, New York in 1830 and served his apprenticeship in Albany. In 1855, he established himself in New York City. He spent five years working in Cuba and later returned to the United States and organized a watch company with his brother William Cleveland Potter. In 1876, he moved to Geneva where he produced approximately 600 watches. His complicated watches sold for prices beginning at $250. Potter remains the most celebrated American maker of pocket chronometers. The present example incorporates many features unique to Potter's production including his patented safety barrel, his own form of pivoted detent, the arrangement of the passing spring and his method of securing the movement in the case. The signature on the movement is a mystery; it has been suggested that it is that of the first owner. " 2009 - Sotheby's, Apr 2009, "Albert H. Potter & Co., Geneva A DEMI-HUNTING CASED SILVER CHRONOMETER WATCH CIRCA 1885 NO 82 • heavy nickel-silver movement, Potter's patented pivoted detent escapement, some jewels carried in screwed gold chatons, free-sprung bi-metallic compensation balance, palladium helical balance spring, glazed cuvette • white enamel dial, Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds • polished case, the lid repeated with Roman numerals enameled in blue • dial signed, movement signed Felipe Hecht, later case stamped with maker's mark ATO (A.T. Oliver), case hallmarked, London, 1931 diameter 56 mm. Provenance Time Museum Inventory No. 226 Sotheby's New York, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, Part Four, October 13th and 14th, 2004, lot 709 Literature Randall, A., The Time Museum Catalogue of Chronometers, catalogue number 136, pp. 285-6 Albert H. Potter was born in Saratoga County, New York in 1830 and served his apprenticeship in Albany. In 1855, he established himself in New York City. He spent five years working in Cuba and later returned to the United States and organized a watch company with his brother William Cleveland Potter. In 1876, he moved to Geneva where he produced approximately 600 watches. His complicated watches sold for prices beginning at $250. Potter remains the most celebrated American maker of pocket chronometers. The present example incorporates many features unique to Potter's production, including his patented safety barrel, his own form of pivoted detent, the arrangement of the passing spring and his method of securing the movement in the case. The signature on the movement is a mystery; it has been suggested that it is that of the first owner. "