A TWO-DAY MARINE CHRONOMETER

Details

A TWO-DAY MARINE CHRONOMETER
Elgin National Watch Company, Model 600

the frosted silver dial signed and numbered ELGIN U.S.A. (N) 154, Roman hour numerals, subsidiary seconds and up-and-down dials, black hands, nickel plated movement inscribed ELGIN 600 U.S.A. 14 JEWELS U.S. NAVY BU. SHIPS. (N) 154 1943 Earnshaw escapement, cut bimetallic Guillaume integral balance, four circular heat compensation weights, palladium helical balance spring, strip steel detent with two steady pins and securing screw to side of banking block, adjustable depthing screw at outer end, jewelled locking pallet set in brass mounting to side of detent, escape wheel with divided teeth, brass bowl, gimballed in three-tier brass-bound mahogany box, metal plaque to centre section inscribed ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH COMPANY, ELGIN. ILLINOIS. U.S.A. external brass drop handles; key lacking
98mm. dial diam., 192mm. sq. box

Lot Essay

In 1943 a contract was given by the U.S. Navy to Elgin's for the supply of marine chornometers which by this date in World War II were in very short supply; the date 1943 on the dial and movement refer to the date of this contract.

Ther performance of the Elgin 600 was not as good as the Hamilton Model 21 and subsequently the contract was cancelled.

Very few Elgin Model 600 marine chronometers were manufactured; apparently less than thirty were delivered to the U.S. Navy Bureau and they failed to meet the required accuracy.

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