Limited Edition King George V Pocket Watch Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of New Swindon

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1 Limited Edition King George V Pocket Watch Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of New Swindon Gold plated timepiece limited to 175 pieces worldwide

2 The Creation of New Swindon This classic pocket watch has been produced by Deacon & Son (Swindon) Ltd in celebration of the 175th Anniversary of New Swindon, and features the GWR s most famous express passenger locomotive King George V. 7 King Class Locomotives at Swindon Shed, 1930 KG5 Booklet - Deacons.indd 2 20/04/ :59

3 In 1835 Parliament approved the construction of a railway between London and Bristol. Its Chief Engineer was Isambard Kingdom Brunel. From 1836, Brunel had been buying locomotives from various makers for the new railway. Brunel s general specifications gave the locomotive makers a free hand in design, although subject to certain constraints such as piston speed and axle load, thus resulting in a diverse range of locomotives of mixed quality. In 1837, Brunel recruited Daniel Gooch and gave him the job of rectifying the heavy repair burden of the GWR s mixed bag of purchased locomotives. It became clear that the GWR needed a central repair works, so in 1840 Gooch identified a site at Swindon because it was at the junction of the Cheltenham branch, and also a convenient division of the Great Western line for engine working. With Brunel s support Gooch made his proposal to the GWR directors who, on 25th February 1841, authorised the establishment of the works at Swindon. Construction started immediately and a New Swindon was born!

4 Railway Time The railways were one of the contributing factors in standardising time around Great Britain in the mid-1800s. The use of local time around the country (there was a difference of 10 minutes between London and Bristol) became inconvenient so the railways came together to formalise their timetables to Greenwich Mean Time. This helped coin the phrase Railway Time. By 1880 the whole of Great Britain officially changed to GMT. The GWR and Timekeeping The Great Western Railway owned a wide variety of timekeeping devices ranging from guards pocket watches to giant clocks on stations, and from ornate mantel clocks to the steam powered hooter at Swindon Works. Keeping accurate time was important to the GWR. Not only did it keep trains running on time, but it also ensured its employees did not get to work late.

5 Deacon & Son (Swindon) Ltd The Regulator Clock Deacon & Son (Swindon) Ltd became a major supplier of timepieces to the GWR in 1853 when the company s founder George Deacon became a sub-contractor. Deacons remain a family run business to this day, now in its 6th generation and still trading from the company s original premises at Wood Street, Swindon. The Regulator Clock by which all timepieces supplied to the GWR were tested stands proudly in the company s newly refurbished clock and watch showroom, and is well worth a visit. Deacons supplied everything from platform and waiting room clocks, to timers for signal boxes. Deacons also produce a range of high quality, GWR branded, reproduction clocks, featuring mechanical or quartz movements.

6 GWR King Class No.6000 King George V The locomotive was designed by Charles B. Collet and was the GWR s most powerful engine. This was the first King Class built at Swindon Works in June 1927, and was shipped to the United States in August 1927 to feature in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad s centenary celebrations. During the celebrations she was presented with a bell and a plaque, and these are carried to this day. This led to the engine being known No.6000 King George V undergoing maintenance in A Shop, Swindon Works affectionately as The Bell.

7 supplied to the GWR were tested stands proudly in the Gold company s Plated Skeleton newly refurbished Half Hunter clock and watch showroom, and is well worth a visit. Deacons supplied Supplied and created by everything from platform and waiting room clocks, to Deacon & Son (Swindon) Ltd. timers for signal boxes. Indeed a Hubert Deacon drop dial clock supplied to the Swindon Works in the 1870 s sits Limited proudly edition of in 175 the pieces STEAM Museum No King George V The Gold locomotive plated skeleton was half designed by Charles B. Collet and was hunter the pocket GWR s watch, most 17 jewel, powerful engine. She was the hand-wound first King mechanical Class movement, built at Swindon Works in June on a gold plated single watch Albert 1927, and was shipped to the United States in August chain. White Roman numeral dial 1927 to feature in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad s with black spade hands featuring centenary the King George V name plate celebrations. and locomotive. During Beautifully the celebrations she was present- displayed with a in bell a presentation and a plaque, box. and these are carried to this day. This led to it being affectionately known as The Bell.

8 Paddington Station, photographed in December Passengers and staff wait under the famous three sided clock on platform 1 Deacon & Son (Swindon) Limited Wood Street, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 4AN Telephone: (01793) shop@deacons-jewellers.com