23,000 CHF
Dent, London, No. 2456, French Marine chronometer retailed in England circa 1853. Very unusual and rare marine chronometer. Double body mahogany box with external brass handles and slide on the lid over the glazed observation aperture. Brass gimbals with a leadweighted bowl. Frosted silver with painted small eccentric Roman chapter for hours and minutes, subsidiary seconds below. Blued-steel Breguet hands. Highly unusual brass half plate with conical pillars secured by screws with washers, two barrels wound from the bezel by means of an external gearing drawn on the system used by Henri Motel but adapted for two going barrels, mainsprings by Bourquin, dated 1838. Spring detent escapement with delicate brass escape wheel similar to those employed by Breguet, three-arm compensation balance of Berthoud type, with three trapezoidal weights and timing screws, highly unusual blued-steel helical " duo-in-Hlo" type balance spring with six coils in one direction and six in the opposite, adjustable collar and stud. Signed on the dial. In very good condition. Dial diam. 83 mm. Notes Previously in the L. Leroy collection. Although highly unusual and different from most other French chronometers, it is evident that it was entirely made in France. The maker of this chronometer, who unfortunatey has eluded identification, was certainly heavily influenced by the chronometer work of Motel or of Louis Berthoud, as well as by that of Breguet. The mahogany box, like the gimbal-suspension Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1993-11-14
