A Regency one-day Royal Observatory marine chronometer

JOHN ROGER ARNOLD, NO. 553, CIRCA 1820

細節

A Regency one-day Royal Observatory marine chronometer
John Roger Arnold, No. 553, circa 1820
The silvered dial signed and numbered ARNOLD. LONDON 553. ONE DAY and within the subsidiary seconds dial the Government Mark, Roman hour numerals, blued steel hands, pinned plates, the top-plate inscribed Jno. R. Arnold. LONDON. Invt. et Fecit No. 553 and with the Government Mark, 18,000 count quick train, Earnshaw escapement, cut bimetallic Pennington style balance with peripheral screws, oversprung blued steel helical balance spring, brass bowl and gimbal, three-tier brass bound mahogany box the bottom section with inset ivory disc inscribed ARNOLD 553 ONE DAY and the Government Mark, external brass drop handles, bayonet fitting bezel with convex glass
75 mm. dial diam., 150 mm. sq. box

拍品專文

From 9 May 1829 to 23 November 1833 this chronometer was in use in H.M.S. Victory having been issued to Admiral of the Blue Hon. Sir Robert Stopford KCB, Flag Officer Portsmouth. Prior to this, form 1821-1826 it was issued to Captain W.H. Smyth R.N. of H.M. Surveying Ship Adventure for his extensive surveys of the Mediterranean, supported by Lieutenant M.A. Slater R.N. in the survey cutter Nimble.

In succeeding years it was issued to H.M. Ships Undaunted, Stromboli, Leander, Research, Inconstant, Frolk, Ready and Tyne. Fittingly in 1912 it was issued for the last time to the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

The number 553 is marked behind the dial. Photostat copies of a number of Royal Observatory documents, all relating to Arnold No. 553, form part of this lot.