Description: Full plate fusee movement (44mm diameter), front plate stamped ‘B P’ Berrollas Patent) in cameo with number 285, plain cock, diamond end stone. Steel balance and spiral balance spring. The back engraved ‘Rich(ard) Wilson LONDON 9381’, which might have been the retailer or the first owner of the watch. (A)
Provenance: Ex private collection William (Bill) Phillipson (UK), Ex private collection Albert Odmark (USA)
Additional Info:
The fusée is equipped with a pulley and chain underneath the dial, the chain protruding through the stem. With this chain the watch could be wound. This is one of many trials to wind watches without the need of a separately carried watch key. The first to develop a working keyless movement was John Arnold in 1766. Berrollas credited his invention as being applicable to watches having a fusée, other keyless systems only working for watches having going barrels (true except for the experimental piece by John Arnold, which he might not have known). (A)
Joseph Anthony Berrollas
Not much is known about his personal life. He was holder of four patents. Starting from 31.10.1808 he patented a repeating mechanism actuated by a screw pendant (Patent No. 3174), mostly used by Robert Roskell, Liverpool. 1810 he patented an alarm mechanism (Patent No. 3342), calling it ‘The Warning Watch’ sold to C.E. Viner, Robert Roskell. 1827 he patented a ‘detached alarm’ system, (Patent No. 5489), where the watch is placed on a separate device. The same year he patented his keyless winding system (Patent No. 5586) by pulley mounted on the fusée underneath the dial, activated by a chain through the stem. (A)
Albert Odmark (1914 – 2005)
Born in Connecticut, Albert Odmark achieved a Masters in electrical engineering at Yale and worked for Boeing in Seattle, heading a team developing a sophisticated radar system. In the 1960s, he became one of the first Americans to join the Antiquarian Horological Society in London. He and his wife maintained life-long friendships with those involved in an era of discovery and intellectual development in the world of horology. Highly respected in horology circles and a friend of the late Rita Shenton. His wast collection was sold at Christie’s; Sale: 6992: The Albert Odmark Collection of Important Clocks and Watches, 11.3.2005
Antiquarian Horology 
