Most people interested in antiques or vintage items, have some that they love and will not sell. Show us your favourite vintage or antique items that are not for sale, expain why you keep them and give us some insight into their history and uniqueness. I will start with one of my favourite watches:
This is a Quarter Repeater in a silver case made in Paris, France around 1770 (probably an unsigned Aguimac). The bow at the top of the watch, when depressed, is connected to a chain which winds a separate spring. When released, the watch strikes the hours with one ding each, then it strikes the quarter hours, each with two dings.
These watches were essential for travel at the time, as there were no lights in horse drawn coaches and no fluorescent paint for the hands, this mechanism allowed the owner to tell the time to an accuracy of 14 minutes, in pitch black darkness.
The watch is wound by a key from the back and the hands are set with a key at the centre arbour from the front, after lifting the hinged bezel and typical high domed glass (crystal). The mechanism is a very thin, exquisite verge fusee movement. Verge is the name of the escapement, the parts that make it tick, and fusee means it is driven by a chain wrapped around a sprung barrel which is connected to a cone, allowing constant torque to be applied to the motion work.
I love all mechanical watches and clocks, as they are alive, need precision engineering and perform a function, unlike a Clarice Cliff pot :-)