Christopher Ward C8 Birkin's Blower TMB, Owner'S Handbook Manual

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C8 Birkin’s Blower TMB Limited Edition
C8 Birkin’s Blower TMB Limited Edition
With the story of Birkin and his Blower No.1
already well documented in these pages, let’s
focus on the attention to detail throughout
the C8 that makes it a faithful representation
of the history and character of its subjects.
Dispensing with CW’s trademark location of numerals
at 12 and 6, the C8’s design echoes the Smiths
speedometer found inside the Blower No.1 – its
minute and pointed second hand are the same, while
the dial’s greyed area represents the car’s point of
optimum power. An outer minute track based upon
its rev counter is also included, along with an inner
track for how fast the car
should be going (this was
before technology took half of the fun away).
True to the horology available when Birkin was
breaking world records, a hand-wound mechanical
movement keeps time inside the C8. The similarities
end from there, however, with the technical capability
of our Calibre SH21 in-house movement rooted firmly
in the modern era: SH21’s two barrels can store up to
120 hours of chronometer-certified timekeeping
when fully wound, while their series connection ensures
all-important precision even when their power reserve
is running low.
But the real gravitas of the C8 is drawn from its
backplate. One of Blower No.1’s pistons has been
melted down and cut into discs, and then laser
engraved and lacquer filled with an image of Birkin’s
world record-breaking run at Brooklands. With just 90
of these watches built to mark the 90th anniversary
of this milestone in British motorsport, the C8 Birkin’s
Blower TMB Limited Edition also serves as a fitting
tribute to one of the greatest English cars ever built.