Important Collectors’ Wristwatches Po...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 21, 1995

LOT 227

Hennessy Swansea, mid-19th Century Fine and rare long-case regulator with skeletonised moveinent.

CHF 38,000 - 42,000

C. Three stage rectangular in rose-wood veneered mahogany; base with single stage foot, banded plinth, double moulding to the glazed trunk, plain latched hood with flat top and chamfered corners. D. Silvered annular with Roman hour, Arabic minute numerals, blued steel spade and poker hands. M. Brass and steel skeletonised in drumshaped brass casing, visible from front; plain turned pillars to which the annular dials are screwed. Dead-beat anchor escapement, steel anchor arm with jewelled pallets, stop-pins on back plate, single weight drive; adjustable mercury compensated pendulum with steel rod and spring suspension, brass cylinder cap and mounts with symmetrical engraved foliate decoration. Silvered regulation dise and amplitude scale. Cylindrical brass-covered weight. Dim. 194 x 46.5 x 25 cm.


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Notes

Note: The wheelwork of this regulator is very highly finished, all the wheels having delicately tapered crossings and the barrel is skeletonised with six tapering spokes. The high count train employs 24 leaf pinions throughout. The count is: Great wheel 28 8 Second wheel 19 pinion 24 Thrid wheel 18 pinion 24 Escape wheel 30 pinion 24 The minute is 68:68, the hour is 12 to 144. HENNESSY, SWANSEA HENNESSEY, Bernard Rudkin, was the son of an Irishman, Martin Hennessey, who opened a small academy in Swansea in 1840. Hennessey was apprenticed to John Jenkins, clock-maker in Swansea, and opened his own business in Wind Street, Swansea in 1848. He continued trading until 1875 when he retired with a comfortable fortune. He died in January 1887 leaving two sons by his wife Elizabeth Collier.