John Bower, of 13 King Street, Clerkenwell, London, was a high-class maker of horological wheel-cutting engines, rose engines and the like. He is known to have been working in the period 1830 - 1856, and possibly outside those dates (v. Crom, T.R.Horological Shop Tools 1700-1900, U.S.A., 1980). He seems to have been something of an innovator, as another of his lathes which sold in these rooms (May 24 1990, lot 383) had many differences. The support plate for the pillars is about 12in. diameter, cast in one piece with the bed, which, together with the boxing of the front limb of the headstock and the formation of the cased spring under the bed indicate primary design as a rose engine and not subsequent adaptation. The headstock seems to have some secondary locking as it is currently immovable. The whole machine shows surface rusting to varying degrees, which, with the absence of the rosettes, indicates recent non-use. Most of the equipment is better preserved, having been stored in boxes.