A Regency Royal Observatory mahogany one-day marine chronometer with pivoted detent and going barrel

JOHN ROGER ARNOLD, NO. 410, CIRCA 1815

Details
A Regency Royal Observatory mahogany one-day marine chronometer with pivoted detent and going barrel
John Roger Arnold, No. 410, circa 1815
The silvered dial later engraved New Balance and Balance Spring BY E.J. DENT. LONDON numbered 410 within the eccentric hour chapter, subsidiary seconds dial (at VI), blued steel hands, pinned frame the top-plate signed Jno. R. Arnold. LONDON, INVT et Fecit No. 410 and with raised barrel bridge with single cock to accommodate high barrel, inverted cut bimetallic Pennington style balance with peripheral screws, undersprung blued steel helical balance spring, pivoted detent with jewelled locking stone, adjustable gold counter balance weight at outer end and blued steel helical detent return spring, the whole mounted in a recess in the top-plate between upper and lower potances with capped jewelling, brass bowl, bayonet fitting bezel with convex glass, square section brass gimbal ring fitted with Arnold pivoted swivel locking arm assembly, plain three-tier mahogany box with visual dovetailing, the top lid with trade label of EDWARD I. DENT, the bottom section with inset wooden disc, external drop handles; also included in this lot are two Rating Certificates: (i) Thomas Negus & Co 100 Wall Street, New York 5 March, 1861; and (ii) Alfred Mills 116 Prince William Street. St. John New Brunswick 6 January 1869
93 mm. dial diam., 165 mm. sq. box

Lot Essay

It is possibly a unique feature of this chronometer that it is fitted with a finely designed and constructed pivoted balance particularly the gold counter balancing weight.

It was issued to the following H.M. Ships:
1818: H.M. Surveying Ship Shamrock, Captain Martin White RN, surveying the English Channel, the Irish Sea and the Bristol Channel. It is of considerable interest that this chronometer and Arnold No. 368, they having both been issued originally to Captain White in 1817 and 1818, are both being offered in this sale.

1822: H.M. Surveying Ship Kangaroo, surveying brig, Master Anthony De Mayne, RN, surveying the West Indies particularly the Gulf of Florida, Cay Sal, New Providence, Nassau and Jamaica. No. 410 was used in determining the latitude and longitude of these places. During the period she was surveying, Kangaroo was struck by lightning and two of the chronometers onboard her ceased to function - this necessitated their being replaced. Arnold No. 335 and Arnold No. 410 were sent out to Port Royal and De Mayne had to break off his surveying and go to Port Royal to collect them.

1833: H.M.S. Firefly, Schooner, Lieutenant Commander John J McDonnell RN, on the North America and West Indies Station, Arnold No. 410 was issued to him 2 March 1833.

1832: H.M.S. Reindeer, Brig, Captain William Walpole RN, on the Falmouth Station, Arnold 410 was issued to him 2 September 1832.

1835: H.M.S. Curlew, 'Cherokee' Class Brig-sloop, Lieutenant Commander The Honourable Joseph Denman RN, operating off the Coast of Africa, Arnold & Dent No. 410 was issued to him in 1834. In 1836 it was transferred to the charge of Lieutenant Edmund Norcott RN and continued to be used on the Coast of Africa.

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