11,500 CHF
A Monsieur D'Eichtal "Compteur" No. 323, sold on 16 August 1838, for the sum of 455 Francs. Railway Counter Clock. Notes History: According to the repair books,this counter was overhauled on 15 May 1838,at the request of Monsieur Rouen,from the management of the Saint-Germain Railway.It was returned again for cleaning on 16 July 1840 by Monsieur Rouen,rue de Londres,Paris,and on 19 August 1853 and 16 February 1854,on both occasions from the Compagnie de Saint-Germain. Note: Adolphe Eichthal was the president of the Compagnie de Saint-Germain,the first railway line to be opened in France between Paris and Le Pecq,and dedicated to the carriage of passengers. The inauguration took place on 26 August 1837, and this clock was sold to Eichthal almost exactly a year later although it may in fact have been in use somewhat earlier,as the date of the first repair (when a shorter movement stop button was fitted at no charge) was 15 May 1838.Along with the pair (counter No.324,the following number, and sold to Eichthal on the same day),it must certainly be the first dedicated railway counter clock made in France. ADOLPHE D'EICHTHAL (1805-1895) Descended from a family of Munich bankers of which a branch had, like the Rothschilds, moved to Paris, Adolphe d'Eichthal was to be closely associated throughout his life with the building of the first railway lines in France.He was appointed in 1835 as the first President of the Compagnie du Chemin de Fer de St. Germain en Laye (inau Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1991-04-14
