Lot 417

George Sanderson & Co.

A crank watch key in museum quality, with calendar mechanism and figure of father time, manufactured according to George Sanderson's patent of June 23rd, 1762

Sold

The gilt watch key has a disc with the winged Chronos with a scythe on the front pointing to an opening that shows the date. On the back is the signature and a crescent moon with a window below showing the age of the moon.
An almost identical key by George Sanderson is in the British Museum in London.

According to the records of Brian Loomes, George Sanderson was a watchmaker and jeweller in London from 1751-1764. He was originally from Devon. In 1761 he applied for a patent for some watchmaking tools, and in 1762 for his crank watch key with calendar mechanism.