Victor Kullberg Stockholm Chronometer Age Determination
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Victor Kullberg was a watchmaker born in Stockholm who worked in London (46 Charing Cross Road) from 1856 .
He specialized in:
- Marine chronometers
- Deck and pocket chronometers ,
- and highly precise observatory clocks .
After his death in 1890, his son Gustave Kullberg continued to run the workshop until about 1910.
Later watches therefore often only bear "Kullberg London" instead of "Victor Kullberg".
The following table is based on archived data from:
- Royal Observatory Greenwich Catalogues
- Chronometer Makers of London (Tony Mercer, 1991)
- and preserved museum objects.
| Serial number | Estimated year of construction | Typical signature | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 – 200 | 1856 – 1865 | “Victor Kullberg London” | first electric or spring chronometers |
| Nos. 200 – 600 | 1865 – 1875 | “V. Kullberg 105 Liverpool Road London” | early outstanding marine chronometers |
| Nos. 600 – 1000 | 1875 – 1883 | unchanged | numerous chronometers for the Royal Navy |
| Nos. 1000 – 1500 | 1883 – 1890 | late Victor Kullberg phase, often awarded multiple prizes | |
| Nos. 1500 – 2000 | 1890 – 1905 | mostly made by his son Gustave (“G. Kullberg London”) | |
| Nos. 2000 – 2500 + | 1905 – 1915 | Latest copies, often Admiralty or Board of Trade deliveries |
Further dating information
| Engraving / Address | Period |
|---|---|
| “Victor Kullberg LONDON” | earlier, around 1856–1870 |
| “105 Liverpool Road, London” | ca. 1870–1887 |
| “Kullberg & Son London” or “G. Kullberg” | after 1890 |
| “Kullberg London No. 2xxx” | ca. 1900–1910 (subsequent production) |
| engraving | Serial number | Period | Manufactured by |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Victor Kullberg London” | < 600 | 1856–1875 | founders themselves |
| “Victor Kullberg 105 Liverpool Rd” | 600–1000 | 1875–1883 | Master phase |
| “V. Kullberg No. 1000–1500” | 1883–1890 | Victor Kullberg's latest works | |
| “G. Kullberg London No. 1500 +” | 1890–1910 | son Gustave Kullberg |
Jacob Victor Kullberg was born on August 13 , 1824 , in Visby on the island of Gotland. He was the son of Johan Kullberg (1800-1876) and Hedvig Christina Ahlström (1801-1840) . He was the eldest of six sons, three of whom died shortly after birth.
Characteristic of his marine chronometers is the chain and fusee drive in the reversed fusee (crossed chain) arrangement, a chain guide for the fusee proposed by the French watchmaker Julien Le Roy . This design significantly reduces the pressure on the bearing journal of the fusee shaft compared to the version with a non-crossing chain.
Kullberg also created pocket watches with a chronometer escapement , a crown winding mechanism of his own design, and a toothed mainspring barrel. His chronometers were characterized by highly sophisticated designs and meticulous craftsmanship. Around 1860, he succeeded in developing a special secondary error compensation system.
The first marine chronometers were manufactured around 1864 [ 1 ] . For his high-quality works and the performance of his new auxiliary compensation system, Kullberg repeatedly received evaluations in chronometer tests worldwide and was awarded numerous gold and silver medals. Due to his global trade and his excellent international reputation, he was selected as the chronometer manufacturer for the Swedish and Norwegian navies in 1874 , appointed Court Clockmaker to the Swedish Royal Court, and awarded the Order of Vasa.
The director of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich said of one of Kullberg's watches that participated in the Greenwich trials in 1882 that it was "the best chronometer ever tested there." Kullberg supplied his chronometer movements to many manufacturers in England and Europe. One of his customers in Germany was Theodor Knoblich.
Source: Watchwiki, AI
