Lot Essay
A. Johannsen is recorded at 149 Minories between 1865 and 1925.
Inside the middle section of the box is a United States Bureau of Ships's plaque giving instruction on how to wedge the balance. This indicates that this chronometer was part of the stock held by the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. Following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941 the U.S. Navy realised they were woefully short of marine chronometers. With supplies from Switzerland effectively cut off and both the Elgin and Hamilton factories new to chronometer making, the U.S. Navy seconded as many 'foreign' marine chronometers that they could lay their hands on.
Inside the middle section of the box is a United States Bureau of Ships's plaque giving instruction on how to wedge the balance. This indicates that this chronometer was part of the stock held by the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. Following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour in 1941 the U.S. Navy realised they were woefully short of marine chronometers. With supplies from Switzerland effectively cut off and both the Elgin and Hamilton factories new to chronometer making, the U.S. Navy seconded as many 'foreign' marine chronometers that they could lay their hands on.