Antide Janvier No. 153, circa 1789. Very important month-going mahogany travelling regulator with remontoire and special dead-beat escapement. | L\'ART DE L\'HORLOGERIE EN FRANCE DE XVIe AU XXe SIÈCLE | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 14th November 1993

L\'ART DE L\'HORLOGERIE EN FRANCE DE ...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1993

LOT 161

Antide Janvier No. 153, circa 1789. Very important month-going mahogany travelling regulator with remontoire and special dead-beat escapement.

CHF 140,000 - 160,000

Sold: CHF 160,250

C. Solid mahogany, with moulded base and pediment, spring-loaded glazed front door, designed to be easily transported with a recessed folding handle on the top. The movement and the pendulum are mounted on an "L" shaped solid mahogany bracket which can be slid out of the travelling case, its base, set with a pendulum guard and a spirit level, is inlaid with a brass screwed plaque, engraved: "Régulateur No. 153 - Echappenient libre perfectionné". D. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring and gold inlaid dots as five minute divisions, signed "Coteau" below "30". Gilt brass fine and elaborate hands and counterpoised blued-steel centre-seconds hand. M. Brass, spring driven, with a double frame, the larger for the extra large going-barrel, surmounted with a shaped lower one for the train of wheels and the delicate spring remontoire, which is controlled by a fly regulator. Set on the back plate of the lower cage, the most unusual escapement, based on the pivoted detent escapement, allowing a dead-seconds beating hand with a half-seconds beating pendulum (a small pivoted and spring loaded lever with jewelled pallet, operates as a pivoted detent acting on the pendulum as it swings in one direction only, the impulse given via a small roller). The nine rod grid-iron, half-seconds beating pendulum with spring blade suspension is supported by a solid brass bracket. Two bolts on either side of the suspension can clamp the top of the pendulum for transport, while the bob is secured by two further pivoting clamps. The movement itself is fixed on the bracket, supported by four turned brass pillars extending from plates let into the mahogany backboard and is secured in position by knurled nuts. Signed on the dial, numbered on the back plate. In very good condition. Dim. 42,5 x 21,5 x 16,5

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Notes

A few unused holes on the back plate extend the possibility that another escapement, was tried by Janvier before this one, but there can be no doubt that the present escapement is the work of the eminent maker and there are no signs of transformation nor alteration. Described and illustrated in Klaus Erbrich: Prrisisionspendeluhren, Calhvey, fig. 290-291, p. 175, this regulator was previously in the Professor von Bertele collection. It is reputed to have been used to assist in establishing the heights of mountains.