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Lot Essay
Victor Kullberg, 1824-90, was perhaps the greatest chronometer maker of the second half of the 19th century. He was born in Visby on the Swedish island of Gothland, he served his apprenticeship with an unknown chronometer maker before working for the House of Jurgensen in Copenhagen. In 1851 he went to the Great Exhibition where he was so impressed by the level of workmanship and innovation he decided to stay. He very quickly made an impression on the chronometer making industry and by the late 1850's he had set up his own workshops. Kullberg quickly realised that one of the best ways to make a name for himself was to enter his chronometers into the time trials at the Royal Observatory. In 1862 he submitted two pieces and out of the eighty entered his took first and second place! In 1863 he was second and in '64 he was first again. This success at the Trials continued culminating in 1882 when in the Astronometer Royal's report to the Clockmakers' Company he wrote of Kullberg's entry this was the finest chronometer they had ever had on trial. To enhance his name in the public eye Kullberg exhibited all over the world achieving Gold medals in 1868 at Havre and the National Academy in Paris, also Gold medals at Naples in 1871 and at Trieste in '72. In 1874 he was appointed chronometer maker to Sweden and Norway and decorated with the Order of Wasa. In J. Tripplin's Account of the exhibits of the French International exhibition in 1889, op. cit. he writes; Of the four English exhibitors, Victor Kullberg deserves a special mention, because it can be said that he is the true representative of English chronometry in the most scientific and distinguished form. Kullberg is an artist; he designs, invents and executes personally, he is, as one of the French competitors said, the Prince of Chronometer Makers; his name on the Continent is a passe partout and no exhibition has yet seen him depart without having been crowned with honours. He not only made under his own name but also supplied movements to many other prominent chronometer retailers both in England and abroad. One of his best remembered inventions was his 'Flat Rim' balance, an experimental versin of which has been employed on the present chronometer. It was very expensive to produce but remarkably effective, conveniently, it also has a particularly appealing design. On his death his business was inherited by his two sons and his nephew Peter Wennerstrom. The latter, having more of a hands on approach in the workshop bought the two sons out and carried on the business maintaining Kullberg's high standards.