Lot Essay
This chronometer was entered in 1899-1900 Annual Chronometer Trial at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Lindqvist gave his address 13, Alderney Street, Pimlico, S.W. He described the Construction of Escapement and Balance thus "reversed detent, Kullberg's auxiliary balance; steel spring". It was placed twenty-fourth in order of merit out of the twenty-seven chronometers entered. Two years later Lindqvist re-entered it in the 1901-1902 Trial, where in the published results of which, on one page it is erroneously described as having a palladium spring. It was placed twentieth in order of merit out of the thirty-five chronometers entered. It was purchased in March 1902 for £42 and in late 1902 was sent to the Admiralty Chart and Chronometer Depot at Bermuda to be held in stock there. Thereafter it was held in varous Chart and Chronometer Depots including Portsmouth, Hong Kong and Cape of Good Hope. On 9 January 1929 it was issued to H.M. Survey Ship Iroquois (Captain J.D. Naves D.S.O. R.N. and later Commander E.F.B. Law R.N.) and for the next three years was used in surveys of the Malacca Straits, Singapore and, in 1931, of the Cocas Islands. Here she met the German cruiser Emden and conducted a memorial service for the ship's company of Emden's predecessor sunk by H.M.A.S. Sydney in 1914. A memorial was landed by Emden for erection in the island.
No. 0104 was returned to the chronometer maker Thomas Mercer Ltd. in 1932. In 1938 it was issued to H.M. Survey Ship Challenger and was used in surveys of the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. It was later issued to H.M.S. Hind and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Constantine. It was withdrawn from naval service in 1964.
No. 0104 was returned to the chronometer maker Thomas Mercer Ltd. in 1932. In 1938 it was issued to H.M. Survey Ship Challenger and was used in surveys of the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. It was later issued to H.M.S. Hind and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Constantine. It was withdrawn from naval service in 1964.