27,500 CHF
Early Atmos, J. L. Reutter Patent Atmos, Pendule Perpetuelle, J.L. Reutter patent, Model “Atmos I”, No. 6798, Ref. P.O.1, Swiss. Made in the late 1920's. Very fine and very rare, early, Art Deco, chrome and black marble, "perpetual" clock wound by changes in barometric pressure with early mercury in glass expansion device. Rectangular, chromed base, the ends curving downwards to form the feet, polished black marble base, glass shade. Annular brushed silvered with painted radial Roman numerals. Black Breguet hands. Chrome, vacuum chamber with rotating drum driven by a mercury in glass expansion device winding the going barrel by a blued steel spring and ratchet, lever escapement driven by annular torsion pendulum, locking lever in the base below the pendulum. Case numbered, applied plaque inscribed “Brevets J.L. Reutter S.G.D.G”. Dim. height 24 cm., width 35 cm., depth 16 cm. Notes The present "Atmos" clock is a very early example with its movement driven by a mercury in glass expansion device rotating a cylinder which winds the mainspring by ratchet. In the late 1920s the young engineer Jean-Leon Reutter experimented with a clock which would not need direct mechanical or electrical intervention to keep it wound, a clock powered only by Perpetual Motion. His idea of a Perpetual Motion timepiece led him to make a clock with a mechanism designed to consume the smallest possible amount of power to keep it running. His design included a device powering the movement indep
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2011-05-15
