American eight day going watch with carrousel Circa 1875

Chromed rare duplex pocket watch
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A rare American chromed open faced manual wind pocket watch with carrousel and eight day going movement made by the Waterbury Watch Company, circa 1875. The bridge movement with a Waterbury duplex escapement, large barrel, escape wheel with resting and impulse teeth, and three arm brass balance. On the face, a cardboard on brass Roman hour chapter ring with an outer minute track and a central round opening for a view to the movement. The case with plain bezels, band, pendant and bow, and an engine turned back with a central, decoratively engraved vacant cartouche, further engraved with Patented May 21 · 1878. A pierced cuvette inscribed Waterbury Watch Patented in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Austria, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium – Benedict & Burnham MFG Co Manufacturers Waterbury Conn. U.S.A. Cuvette signed and numbered. Comes with its original presentation box.
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Diameter: 48 mm
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Weight: 91 g
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Signed: Benedict & Burnham MFG Co Manufacturers Waterbury Conn. U.S.A.
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Two American watchmakers, D.A. Buck and Charles Benedict of the Benedict and Burnham Manufacturing Co, founded the Waterbury Watch Company in 1878. Buck’s designs were made in Benedict’s factory. The company produced a large number of very inexpensive watches.
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The Waterbury Tourbillon with a cardboard dial and simplified duplex escapement from around 1880 became well known. It was a modification of the Breguet tourbillon principle and the first patent for a rotating clockwork. The work consists of only 58 individual parts. The Waterbury Tourbillon was the cheapest carrousel watch in the world and was occasionally offered as a bonus when purchasing valuable items. The movement itself is typical of American mass production.
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Today it is a sought after collector’s item not only in the USA but also in Europe.