English innovative 18k gold lever pocket watch Circa 1870

Gold lever watch with detachable knurled winder
–
An innovative English 18-carat gold open-faced lever watch with detachable knurled winder, circa 1870. Gilt three quarter plate movement, lever escapement, free-sprung bimetallic compensation balance, spring with a terminal curve, diamond endstone, decoratively engraved balance cock and barrel cap, fusee and chain. 18 Carat yellow gold cuvette with winding apertures. White enamel dial, Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, gold fleur-de-lys hands. The case back and bezel with engine turned decoration, plain pendant and bow, maker’s mark AS for Alfred Stram, dial and movement signed.
–
Diameter: 51 mm
–
Signed: Barraud & Lunds London
–
John Alexander Lund joined Barraud & Lunds in 1864. He patented a form of keyless winding in March 1870, patent number 914. The keyless watch was by now very much in demand. However, like other English makers, Lund loathed to give up the superior timekeeping qualities of the fusee even though its use in a keyless watch was inclined to give problems. As a result, Lund’s solution was to patent a winding and handset key with the appearance of a keyless button. He located it in the pendant in the normal position but made it detachable. This solution enabled the wearer to appear in fashion while at the same time retaining a watch with the timekeeping qualities of the fusee.
–
Given the lack of surviving examples, it would seem that the patent was not a commercial success.