Only Online Auction – A Watchmaking W...

Geneva, Oct 01, 2020

LOT 105

Litherland Davies Co.
Two-day going marine chronometer, power reserve, special balance; mahogany and brass

CHF 2,000 - 2,400

EUR 1,850 - 2,300 / USD 2,200 - 2,700 / HKD 16,900 - 20,300

TO BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE

Sold: CHF 2,500

Mahogany and brass, two-day going, marine chronometer, with Hartnup’s continuous auxiliary compensation balance, subsidiary seconds at 6 and one horological complication:
· 56-power power-reserve indication (sector at 12 o’clock).


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Grading System
Case: 5

Poor
Movement: 4-6-8**

Fair

Slightly oxidized

Slightly scratched

Repair required, at buyer's expense
Dial: 4-6-8-11-15-01

Fair

Slightly oxidized

Slightly scratched

Slightly worn

Slightly rusted

HANDS Original

Brand Litherland Davies Co, Liverpool (Lancashire)

Model “Hartnup’s balance No. 2”

Year circa 1870

Movement No. 311 / 21 616

Case No. unnumbered (later and heavily restored)

Material mahogany and brass

Diameter 102 mm. (dial)

Caliber full plate, Earnshaw-type detent escapement

Height 19.5 cm.

Width 19.5 cm.

Thickness 19.5 cm.

Signature dial

Notes

The dial side of the pillar plate is stamped “T & J H” who were the movement suppliers. The layout and design of the movement with the foot of the balance not inset form the edge of the plate is a typical feature of a movement made in Prescot or certainly Lancashire.

--

The Hartnup Balance

John Hartnup, the inventor of the continuous auxiliary compensation balance was Superintendant of the Liverpool Observatory and during the course of his work would have tested many chronometers. This made him acutely aware of the middle temperature error. In an attempt to solve the problem, he designed his balance in about 1847 assisted by William Shepherd, a Liverpool chronometer maker. Hartnup did not patent his balance and publicised it widely starting in 1849 in the June issue of “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society”. Whilst the Hartnup balance works well, it was a difficult and expensive balance to produce and suffered from instability due to the parts being held together by screws.

CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION FOR BUYERS

The purchase price payable by a buyer will be the sum of the final bid price plus the buyer’s premium, together with any applicable sales or compensating use tax. In addition to the hammer price, the buyer’s premium is payable as follows: 25% of the hammer price on each lot.
Please look carefully at all the photos as they are an integral part of the description. Any defect not mentioned in the descriptions but visible on the photos will be considered as described and cannot lead to any claim. The dimensions are given as an indication and may slightly differ from the measures mentioned by the manufacturers especially for contemporary watches. The photos are not retouched. Colors may differ from reality. For timepieces, we guarantee neither the functioning nor the precision of the movement, nor the water-resistance of the case. In addition, please note that movements, parts of mechanisms or cases may be incomplete. Important notice – Special conditions

The lots are sold “as is”, described to the best of our knowledge and cannot be returned. Once the online bid is placed by the bidder, it cannot be cancelled