The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-04
WOst Costly Watch Lies in
a Palpnsh0p.

K pedimenta which in a con-
ri slant stream finds it's way
from the pockets Of the gild-
ed youth to the glass case Of
the small but popular shops
that dsport the arms of Lombardy, was
discovered this week the most valuable
watch in America
Unclaimed for mere than two years, the
delicate piece Of mechanism, inclosed in
a case ablaze with brilliants is now do
ing time" in a Sixth-ave. pawnshop, but
not in the way its makers intended. Cost
ing originally more than $11 900, 1t prob
ably could not now be duplicated for half
as much again, yet it's owner, whose
name were it mentioned less than de-
cade ago. would have been recognized as
that Of one Of the successful inventors Of
the day, has never been able or has not
seen fit to redeem the wonderful time
piece with which about two years ago he
was obliged to part for a song.
The timepiece was constructed at the
Kew observatory, London, and the move
ment alone Is valued at $4,000 jewelers.
who have seen it pronounce it perfectly
adjusted 1t has a double hairspring,
split second hands, chronograph, min
ute repeater and is jeweled throughout.
1t is the case however which makes
the watch the most ornate that has ever
been manufactured. This Is OF 1S-karat
fineness, and the gold alone weighs 100
pennyweight. Circling each side are
twenty-eight 1-carat Samonds, making
fifty-six in all. The stones are perfectly
matched, fact which adds considerable
to their value. On the back is mono
gram, in which ninety-eight small bril-
liantS are used.
IF intimate association with the comedy
and tragedy Of everyday life was the
sole gauge of history the pawnshops OF
New York could probably contribute more
objects of interest than the British mu-
scum
For everything that comes to mime
uncle's" has a history. That's why
they're there.
In some cases the story is only a block
long. dating from the nearest dramshop
or gaming table That Of the 81 900
watch. however, that was built at Kew,
to wind up or rather to run down, in a
New York pawnbroker's, covers consid-
erably more ground, and was told by one
who RECOGNIZED 1t amid strange surround
inss.
In the latter 'SOs there came to New
York from the West man with Ideas.
Just at that time they concerned an air
under his supervision, by failing to go up
showed clearly where his ideas were. So
he wisely decided to bring them down to
the ground and, taking hint from the
then prevailing craze, set himself to WORK
on plans for a motor cycle.
When he was satisfied that his inven-
ton was perfected he sought larger
field. went to London and put his ma
chine on the market. It's success was
phenomenal, and within three years the
inventor had made more than quarter
OF a million dollars.
For no apparent reason, except the very
English one that one would least expect
to find them there, cycles and motor cy.
cles in Great Britain are largely handled
nv the Jewellers Of the United Kingdom
The jewelers. therefore, shared the in
yentors good fortune, and as a toke1
of their gratitude gave to him TINS
watch.
1t is expected that when the ideas are
In good working order again the water
will be restored to its former glory.