Roskopf Watches

Georges Frederic Roskopf created his watch designs in the 1860s.  His aim was to create a good quality watch at a reasonable cost; something a working man could afford.

Most Roskopf watches, usually 18 size, include a couple interesting features.  One is that there is no forth wheel, and thus no seconds hand.  This simplifies the train a bit.  The other is a "platform escapement" whereby the entire escapement is mounted on its own lower plate and is thus removable as a single unit, balance wheel, pallet and escape.

Although these watches are a bit obscure, the designs (and the name) where used by many imitators in the late 19th century.

Show here is a 16 size Roskopf watch in mint condition.  It was never sold.  It has a string with a lead tag around the neck, and a paper label still on the case back.

This watch, interestingly, does inded have a 4th wheel.

Also note the pin-set mechanism.  There is a button to one side that is depressed to engage setting mode.

JS075

The Roskopf Watch Movement

I recently had the opportunity to work on a Roskopf watch movement. These are interesting pieces in that they have three wheel trains instead of the usual four. What would normally be an idle wheel between the hour and minute wheels on the dial side is instead directly driven by being attached to the bottom an over-sized mainspring barrel. This attached pair of wheels slips somewhat to allow a pin/stem setting mechanism, on this watch. The cannon pinion slips completely freely on a fixed center shaft. The three-wheel train governs the motion with a pin-pallet escapement. There is no fourth wheel, and no second hand.

Although this style of movement was widely copied in the mid to late 1800s I believe this one to be an actual Roskopf. In addition to other indicative details, it is completely handmade.

After the application of every trick in the book, and the fabrication of a single new screw, it's actually running quite nicely.