Marconi Telegrapher's Time Code Watch, Early 20th Century

Switzerland, signed Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd., jewelled lever-movement, no. 85090, bimetallic balance, polished over-oiled spring, nickel-plated brass case with inverted winding crown for winding from below, enamel dial with Roman chapters, inner ring of red letters A-M representing the hours 1:00 a.m. to noon and an outer ring N-Z representing 1:00 p.m. to midnight, the minutes between XI and XII interval labelled R, S, W and X, blued steel hands, 2 ½ in. diameter of watch. Good working condition. - Note: This Morse code had been developed in the British railway system and consisted of a shorthand method of telling time quickly by entering no more than three letters. In the British Army, the railway method was adopted by the Signals Department of the Royal Engineers and was in place by the time the new wireless telegraphy was used in the First World War. In the worldwide system of wireless telegraphy, the Marconi companies also used the railway's time code system, but extended the system to indicate night time as well as day time.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)