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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Karrusel deck watch

Victor Kullberg open-face karrusel deck watch, No. 7428

Partially verified

This Royal Navy deck watch bearing serial number 7428 is housed in an open-face silver case hallmarked for Birmingham 1897–98. The source reports it was supplied as a semi-completed, cased movement by Bahne Bonniksen in Coventry before being finished by Victor Kullberg. The movement features an Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement mounted on a 52-minute karrusel carriage. Its two-piece white enamel dial displays Roman hour numerals, outer Arabic five-minute divisions, and blued steel hands with centre seconds, signed below XII with a broad arrow mark. Ordered by the Admiralty in February 1913, the watch remained in naval service until 1945.

Front view of Victor Kullberg karrusel deck watch No. 7428 showing dial and case
Front view of Victor Kullberg karrusel deck watch No. 7428 showing dial and case — National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.rmg.co.uk
Category
Pocket watch · Karrusel deck watch
Maker / attribution
Victor Kullberg
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
ZAA0160
Source-reported date
circa 1913
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
7428

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Construction and Assembly

The movement is a gilt-brass going barrel half-plate construction with three turned pillars secured by polished and blued steel screws. The watch was supplied to the Kullberg firm by Bahne Bonniksen in Coventry as a semi-completed, cased unit lacking an escapement.

Records indicate the case was manufactured circa 1897, with the movement sent to Kullberg in May 1903. Finishing efforts were intermittent, beginning in 1904, ceasing a year later, and resuming briefly in 1909, prior to the Admiralty order in February 1913.

Evidence for this section
  • “The watch was first supplied to Kullberg’s as a semi-completed (no escapement), ready-cased watch from Bahn Bonniksen in Coventry.”
  • “Finishing work began in 1904 but stopped a year later and was only started again briefly in 1909.”

Dial and Escapement Configuration

The watch features an Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement with a compensation balance and a blued steel spiral balance spring with overcoil. This mechanism is mounted on a Bonniksen-type 52-minute karrusel carriage.

The two-piece white enamel dial displays Roman hour numerals and Arabic five-minute figures. It is signed 'KULLBERG / LONDON / 7428' above an Admiralty broad arrow. The hands include blued steel spade and poker hour and minute hands, and a central seconds pointer with a counterpoised tail.

Evidence for this section
  • “It also has an Earnshaw type spring detent escapement with compensation balance and blued steel spiral balance spring, with overcoil, mounted on a Bonniksen-type fifty-two minute karrusel carriage.”
  • “The two-piece, centre seconds dial has a white enamel face, black roman numerals, Arabic five minute figures, and is signed below XII: ‘KULLBERG / LONDON / 7428 / ↑ ‘’. ”

Case and External Observations

The movement is housed in a silver open-face case hallmarked for Birmingham 1897–98, stamped with the sponsor's mark 'C.H'. External components include a gilt winding crown and a brass push-piece for hand setting positioned at 1 o'clock.

The watch is associated with a three-tier mahogany deck box, which contains a brass insert and is fitted with a screwed brass bezel.

Evidence for this section
  • “The silver open-face case is hallmarked for Birmingham 1897-98 and is stamped with the sponsor’s mark ‘C.H’.”
  • “Three-tier mahogany deck box with a brass insert holding the watch under a screwed brass bezel.”

Open research questions

  • What specific finishing procedures were required in the 1909 session to finalize the watch for Admiralty standards?
  • Does the 'C.H' sponsor mark on the silver case link to a specific silversmith or casemaker active in Birmingham in 1897?
  • Were there specific modifications made to the Bonniksen karrusel carriage during the assembly process at the Kullberg workshop?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Victor Kullberg open-face karrusel deck watch, No. 7428
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement InscriptionVictor Kullberg London / ↑ / No.7428“The top of the half plate is engraved: ‘Victor Kullberg London / ↑ / No.7428’.”
Escapement and CarriageEarnshaw spring detent escapement on a Bonniksen-type 52-minute karrusel“It also has an Earnshaw type spring detent escapement with compensation balance and blued steel spiral balance spring, with overcoil, mounted on a Bonniksen-type fifty-two minute karrusel carriage.”
Case HallmarksBirmingham 1897-98 with sponsor's mark C.H“The silver open-face case is hallmarked for Birmingham 1897-98 and is stamped with the sponsor’s mark ‘C.H’.”
Admiralty Order DateFebruary 1913“The Admiralty ordered the watch in February 1913 and it was delivered in March.”
Operational HistoryRoyal Navy service until 1945“The watch was in Navy service through until 1945 and remained in the MoD workshops until loan to the NMM in 1972.”
JewellingJewelled to the centre wheel“Jewelled to the centre wheel.”

Visible details

  • Open-face silver case with fluted gilt onion-form winding crown and hallmarks visible on the pendant.
  • A brass push-piece for hand setting projects at approximately the 1 o'clock position.
  • Two-piece white enamel dial marked with black Roman numerals, an outer minute track, and Arabic five-minute figures.
  • Dial signed below XII: 'KULLBERG / LONDON / 7428' above an Admiralty broad arrow mark.
  • Blued steel spade hour and poker minute hands, accompanied by a central seconds pointer with a counterpoised tail.

Research qualifications

  • The three-tier mahogany deck box described in the collection record is not shown in the primary watch image.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

7428 | Royal Museums Greenwich

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Record 5d0034440a

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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