Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

New York, Dec 07, 2011

LOT 183

8-DAY MARINE CHRONOMETER RETAILED BY THOMAS MERCER LTD Thomas Mercer Ltd, St. Albans, England, No. 23588, supplied by Johan Gulbransen, Oslo, Norway, No. 23588. Circa 1950. Fine and rare, mahogany, 8-day marine chronometer with power reserve indication.

C. Brass bowl with screwed-down glazed bezel, gimbaled in a three-tier mahogany box, the central section with applied supplier's signature plaque, glazed top and hinged lid, brass handles. D. Silvered, with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds, power reserve dial below 12. Blued steel spade hands. M. Brass half plate, ring-turned pillars with blued steel screws, fusee and chain with Harrison's maintaining power, Earnshaw's spring-detent escapement mounted within two smaller circular plates, cut bimetallic compensation balance with cylindrical weights, temperature adjustment screws and meantime adjustment nuts, free-sprung special alloy helical balance spring with terminal curves. Dial and box signed, dial and box numbered. Bowl 13 cm. in diameter, outer box 25 x 25 cm, inner box 18.5 x 19 cm.