A Swiss gilt-metal and ebonised electric chronometer timepiece

H. A. CAMPICHE GENÈVE, NO. 5; CIRCA 1910

細節

A Swiss gilt-metal and ebonised electric chronometer timepiece
H. A. Campiche Genève, No. 5; circa 1910
The circular white enamel Roman and Arabic chapter disc signed H. A. Campiche Genève 5, with foliate cast gilt-metal hands, recessed subsidiary seconds ring at VI, the movement with circular gilt-metal plates, the lower section raised on four columns with massive cut bimetallic compensated balance and long blued steel helical spring with 25 coils, the arbor reaching to the sub-assembly above and fixed with a spring-loaded steel pallet giving impulse to the 'scape wheel with gilt-metal spring-loaded roller on the opposing side, the latter with two steel detents diametrically opposed ensuring make/break contact every 30 seconds, the whole assembly raised on a heavy ebonised wood moulded base and covered by a glass dome
14½ ins. 37 cm. high

出版

Anthony G. Randall, The Time Museum Catalogue of Chronometers, U.S.A., 1991, catalogue No. 49, pp. 136-7, figs. 83a & b.

拍品專文

The English patent covering this electro-mechanical mechanism was awarded to H. A. Campiche on 11 Febeuary, 1904, No. 3449. Campiche probably only made a handful of these chronometers and their total absence on the open market over the past 15-20 years seems to confirm this.
The example illustrated in the Time Museum Collection Catalogue of Chronometers is numbered '2' and is of almost prototype form. The dial is signed Paul Ditisheim indicating that early on he and Campiche were in colusion, (the system is apparently described in detail in L'Electricien, 2 March, 1912). The Time Museum also possess the only other recorded identical chronometer to the present clock; inv. No. 3536, the dial on that clock is signed H.A. Campiche Geneve but with no serial number.