A REGENCY SMALL SIZE ONE-DAY MARINE CHRONOMETER

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A REGENCY SMALL SIZE ONE-DAY MARINE CHRONOMETER
Haley, London M.C.S., circa 1810

The white enamel dial set in gilt engine-turned bezel signed HALEY. LONDON. M.C.S., Roman hour numerals, subsidiary seconds dial (at VI) with Arabic numerals 60-10-20 et seque and further dot intermarking every four seconds from 60, blued steel hands, 18,000 count train, small full-plate pinned movement (48 mm. diam.), inscribed Haley. Wigmore St. M.C.S. LONDON, Arnold escapement, spring detent with jewelled locking stone, Arnold Z-type balance, blued steel helical balance spring, brass drum bowl, gimballed in plain three-tier mahogany box, the middle section with bone ivory disc (unsigned), external brass drop handles
54 mm. dial diam., 120 mm. sq. box

Lot Essay

Charles Haley, 7 Wigmore Street was made a Freeman of the Clockmakers Company in 1781 and died in 1825. He was a pioneer chronometer maker. As this is an 18,000 count train it does not beat 'half seconds'. Co-incidence between the seconds hand and the markings on the seconds dial only occurs every four seconds starting at '60'; the very unusual 'four second intermarkers' on the dial are to check that the seconds hand is correctly positioned on its arbor.
The initials M.C.S. on the dial and movement are most likely a coded form of serial numbering, the intial 'M' indicating that it was a marine chronometer. His pocket chronometers start with the intial 'P'.

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