Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 118; The Wolfson Gallery

Saddle Watch and Pedometer

ca. 1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
A pedometer - which can be worn or carried by a person or an animal - counts the number of steps taken (Latin 'pes' means a foot), and uses this to provide an estimate of the distance travelled.

People
Ralph Gout was active as a wholesale watchmaker in the parish of St Luke's, Old Street, on the edge of the City of London, from about 1770 to 1829.

Technology
The word 'PATENT', which is engraved on the top plate of the movement, refers to the patent (no. 2351) obtained by Ralph Gout for improvements to the design of pedometers in 1799. In this saddle watch and pedometer, the movement of the horse causes the watch and outer case to jerk up and down, making the chain pull on the pedometer mechanism each time, and record the number of paces. The small dial on the right counts up to ten paces, the dial on the left 0-100 paces. The perimeter of the main dial is calibrated with 0-10,000 paces The top dial shows the time.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gilt base metal case, with enamelled and gilt base metal mount
Brief description
Saddle watch and pedometer, base metal, mechanism made by Ralph Gout in London, ca. 1800
Dimensions
  • Length: 22.54cm
  • Diameter: 5.71cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'IN' (case)
  • 'By the King's Letter's PATENT' (top plate; engraved)
Gallery label
British Galleries: This instrument, in addition to being a watch, fitted onto a saddle and counted the paces of the horse. The small, repeating motifs of Adam ornament appear in both the chasing of the metal and the painting of the enamel in bright, clear colours.(27/03/2003)
Production
Mechanism made in London by Ralph Gout, movement no. 307
Summary
Object Type
A pedometer - which can be worn or carried by a person or an animal - counts the number of steps taken (Latin 'pes' means a foot), and uses this to provide an estimate of the distance travelled.

People
Ralph Gout was active as a wholesale watchmaker in the parish of St Luke's, Old Street, on the edge of the City of London, from about 1770 to 1829.

Technology
The word 'PATENT', which is engraved on the top plate of the movement, refers to the patent (no. 2351) obtained by Ralph Gout for improvements to the design of pedometers in 1799. In this saddle watch and pedometer, the movement of the horse causes the watch and outer case to jerk up and down, making the chain pull on the pedometer mechanism each time, and record the number of paces. The small dial on the right counts up to ten paces, the dial on the left 0-100 paces. The perimeter of the main dial is calibrated with 0-10,000 paces The top dial shows the time.
Collection
Accession number
6954-1860

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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