Lot 72

Hahn Hofmecanicus in Stuttgardt, Case No. 13, 58 mm, 111 g, circa 1800
An important south German pocket watch with regulator dial and date
Case: silver, case maker's punch mark "JBP". Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, 1 barrel, keywind, special form cylinder escapement, five-arm brass balance.
Christoph Matthaeus Hahn was born on April 15, 1767 in Onstmettingen in the region of Stuttgart. He was the son of Philipp Matthaeus Hahn and worked in his father's workshop at first and then together with his brother Christian Gottfried Hahn. Together the brothers were "Hofmechanici" (makers to the court) in Stuttgart.
Christoph is best known for his calculating machines which he made together with his father and later, after his father’s death, on his own. The Hahn’s calculating machines are considered the predecessors of the modern computers and the name Hahn is found in every book about the history of computers.
Besides making early computers, Christoph (as well as his father) produced a few calendar clocks and watches. Only a few are known to have survived; one in The British Museum and one in the museum of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Another was owned by the former Time Museum in Rockford, USA. In 1790 Christoph was awarded the title of Court Mechanician in Stuttgart. He died in Stuttgart on June 1, 1833. After his death, August Bacher took over Christoph Hahn’s workshop.

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