Important Watches

Geneva, Mar 20, 2010

LOT 425

Litherland Davies Co. Two-Day Marine Chronometer Litherland Davies Co., Liverpool, No. 1311/ 21616, Hartnup's balance No. 2. Made circa 1870. Fine two-day marine chronometer with power reserve indication, Hartnup's continuous auxiliary compensation balance and ratchet key.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

USD 4,500 - 6,500 / EUR 3,500 - 4,800

C. Three-tier mahogany box with external brass handles, glazed upper section with hinged lid. Brass bowl and gimballed suspension. D. Silvered with Roman numerals, outer minute track and Arabic five minute numerals, subsidiary seconds and powerreserve scale. Blued steel pear hands. M. Brass full plate, "spotted" decoration, relieved for the barrel with separate bridge, ring-turned cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain and Harrison's maintaining power, Earnshaw type spring detent escapement, jeweled locking stone, freesprung Hartnup's auxiliary compensation balance, blued steel helical balance spring with terminal curves, diamond end-stone. Dial signed. Dial diam. 102 mm. Dim. 19.5 cm square.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-23

Good

Later
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 4-11-01

Fair

Slightly worn

HANDS Original

Notes

The dial side of the pillar plate is stamped T & JH who were the movement suppliers. The layout and design of the movement with the foot of the balance not inset from 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.