Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-03-26
ODD OLD WATCHES.
Carious and Artistic Ancient Time
pieces.
Roles OF Royal and Distinguished Per-
SoHHres of u Ey-Gonc Tirlc-Somo
H:d Specimens of tho Watch
maI1cr'n Skill.

made about the beginning of the Six
tccnth century and were, of course, 1T
that time considered rn2rvcl3 Of skill.
These FIRST rocilct-clocl;S, sayG the New
York Journal, were 1nadc of almost
any shape except round and had but
ono hand and required winding twice Il
Il day. Sonc cf them in addition to re-
cordrng the hour of the day, were per-
feet alrnanacs, giving TIC day of the
month, the changes Of the moon, the
rising and setting of the sun and other
items OF useful information.
In tho time of Queen Elizabeth
watches were suspended round the ncclis
of their wcarcra or attached to brace
lets, and for this purpose they were
made in the shape of crosses and vari-
Gus other suitable forms. Many of the
early timc-picces, however, were
much too large and heavy to be worn
in this manner, and were, in fact, in
tended to be placed on private affairs,
such as were to be found in most of the
noble houses of the day.
Some of these watches are in the form
Of n skull. One Of these curious time
pieces belonged to Mary Queen of Scots,
and which she gave to the fair Mary
Scnton, one Of her flour Marys." This
strange keepsake is ornnmcnted with
various figures, each having particu-
lar meaning, and has q good deal Of
open work at the bottom in order to
allow the sounding Of the passing
hours to be heard, as they arc struck
upon silver bell in tho interior.
A large number of the earlier watches
were Of IN ov2l shape, though some re-
Of
poet Millions watch-uDon tic face of
which his name in full is caGrGvcd thus:
loanni Miltoni, 1G31-I-lay be seen in the
British Museum Us well as two Caid to
belong to Oliver Cromwell. The case of
ono of these is made Of silver, and is
Ornamcntcd at the top with tho pro-
tcctor's initials, so. c." and az TIC bot
tom is representation Of n curved
sword, which, doubtless, is intended to
denote that the owner belonged to tho
. army,
There are many old-fashioned tirno-
pieces in the same collection. Most CT
these were made during tho Gcvent2cnth
century, end ere in TIC fcr:l O. .j::ulls,
crosses, bells and v2rioGT fiait;. Ti.c~c,
also. is very curious German boo,:-
shaped watch made about TIC year 1850.
It Is made Of silver and when cloacl
resembles q tiny book with the cover
beautifully ornaInentcd, as vast &c TrG;-
ion in those days. When opened the
face Of the watch is disclosed.
AraopT other peculiar watches in this
collection is one that YVES made in
Franco between the years fG20 and 1880.
1t is in tho form of n dog rcStinT. A
little catch under the forcpaws Of the
dog secures tho Otter case. ard 60 We ere
net -. l,-:I-:H!t TO have = glimpse at the
f. "'.'r ;y"t3.l.
ElITta : AZ. wa: o.! one occasion
presented with Il remarkable watch, rs
a birthday present. 1t was less than II
inch III dfaE2Ctcr, weighed no moro t!lun
G"ixpcncc and repeated the hours, quar-
tacj,;gIa cvcn the headquarters. This
beautiful timc-piece was dc3iT1cd AID
m N,n by q matchmaker named Arnold;
and it is related that the King was so
delighted with the gift that he sent in
rc+urn u nCt2 Of thanks and sum, Of
fEc GundretE guincas. 1t is said that
tho clever workman was aftcrward Of
fc"Cd more than thousand pounds by
tic Emperor OF Russia for q duplicate
@f the little marvel; but nc refused to
n';YNc another even for that large sum
of money.
Another worry small watch was for
nocrIy thc property Of KinT George Ill.
kt isbct III u ring, and the dial which il
aSouS the size Of u Gi:pencc, - surround
Gd with very small diamonds, with u
ktrSe diamond on each side. It is of
exquisite Workmanship. and must have
cost 81 laTgc sum of moucy.
SoTac curious watches were made
nt;toy years ago for enabling person to
telt the time during the night by merely
feeling the face of the watch. These
were called touch Watches" and had
only ono hand, with raised pins ut each
:,iotn', so chat a person could feel the
tiilt. at night.
Fhen there were the curiC({s o1d-fash-
ionrti table watcbes. These were usual.
~ constructed with ltind of dorac, and
TcrN much lurgcc than the watches in