Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Du Rhone, Apr 02, 2006

LOT 368

?Torsion Pendulum, One-Year Going? Patent L. Jehlin, Sackingen, a/R. Made circa 1890. Fine and very rare, ebonyzed, one-year going wall clock with torsion pendulum.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

108 4,500 - 5,800

Sold: CHF 25,960

C. Moulded cresting with two turned finials, rectangular body with glazed sides and hinged door, stepped moulded base terminating in a finial, micrometer wall levelling screws. D. White enamel, two-piece, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Pierced steel hands. M. Rectangular, gilt brass, inverted, four cylindrical pillars, year-going, spring barrel, four wheel train, small anchor escapement, the crutch giving impulse to a steel rod fastened at right angles to the torsion wire and beating every 15 seconds as the pendulum swings in a circular arc, brass and steel ?A? frame pendulum with central regulation wheel and two weighted silvered glass balls. Signed on a white enamel plaque on the backboard. Dim. 110 x 32 29 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The principle employed in this clock can be traced to the development in Germany, and later in France of the torsional escapement that could run for 400 days. In France, it was a M. Grivolas, working with M. Guillaume, who apparently succeeded in developing a suspension of suitable proportions and material that could be made to keep accurate time. The present clock is of particular interest because it bears the name of the clockmaker who registered the patent. Sackingen is a town in Switzerland a few miles from Basel. Another clock with torsion pendulum, attributed to J.J. Meister of Paris was sold by Antiquorum, November 14, 1993, Lot 250.