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A Victorian mahogany two-day marine chronometer with rare double detent and balance with continuous auxilliary compensation

THOMAS ADAMS, LONDON NO. 4242. CIRCA 1860

Details

A Victorian mahogany two-day marine chronometer with rare double detent and balance with continuous auxilliary compensation
Thomas Adams, London No. 4242. Circa 1860
The silvered dial digned Thomas Adams, Maker to H. R. H. Prince Albert, 36, Lombard St. London, Roman chapter ring with gold Breguet hands, subsidiary rings for seconds engraved Universal compensation 4242, up-and-down dial calibrated 0-54 2 days, the movement with chain fusee and barrel, four ring-turned pillars, the unusual escapement with double-detent spring-loaded spring detent and with special cut bimetallic balance with circular heat compensation weights with continuous auxilliary compensation, blued steel helical spring, spring-loaded cover to the brass bowl, the three-tier brass-bound box with bone plaque to the front signed Adams 36 Lombard Strt. London. 4242, brass recessed handles to the sides
6¼ in. sq. box

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

Chronometer 2424 is recorded in Tony Mercer, Chronometer Makers of the World as having a double detent escapement and continuous auxilliary compensation.

The auxilliary on the balance is a version of continuous compensation for middle temperature error. The steel jumper resting on one side of the triangular jewel for cold, on the apex of the jewel for middle temperature and on the other side for heat.
The escapement is double pivoted; one detent for locking and one for un-locking (passing). Each detent has a seperately mounted return spring acting on jewelled arms mounted on the detent arbors. It is altogether a most unusual, ingenious and complex escapement.

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