Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 11, 2012

LOT 430

PRECISION TABLE REGULATOR French. Made circa 1850. Very fine and impressive, hardwood and boxwood, 8-day going, hour and half-hour striking, precision table regulator with visible deadbeat escapement, dead center-seconds and gridiron pendulum.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

USD 16,000 - 21,000 / EUR 12,000 - 16,000

Sold: CHF 30,000

C. Rectangular, Empire-style, oak veneered with tropical hardwood with boxwood stringing, stepped entablature with dentilled cornice, four pillars, stepped plinth with boxwood mouldings and block feet, glazed on all four sides, the front and back panels sliding to open by removing the entablature top for access. D. Regulator-type with small silver hour and minutes dial with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, outermost silvered seconds chapter with seconds track and Arabic fi vesecond numerals, the center exposing the escapement and winding arbours, hand-setting arbour to the side of the dial. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Massive, gilded-brass, arch-top plates, four pillars, secured to two massive gilt-brass brackets by screws, going barrels for both trains, deadbeat escapement, the pivot of the escape wheel extended to carry the seconds hand, brass anchor with steel pallets, steel depth adjustment screws, crutch with micrometer beat adjustment, fine brass and steel three-rod gridiron pendulum with lenticular bob, rating nut and two spherical threaded brass weights for fi ne adjustment, striking the hours and half-hours on a bell. Dim. 61 x 32 x 24 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

It is uncommon to fi nd a striking precision clock because striking work could affect the timekeeping properties of the clock, However, the case is highly decorative and therefore made for domestic rather than scientifi c use. The dial and mechanism are very well fi nished, the escapement being visible at the front of the clock. The case is of unusual construction and to access the interior of the clock for winding the top of the case is lifted off and then the front and back glass panels can be lifted out with small brass knobs. This arrangement is no doubt to protect the clock pendulum and dial from interference during normal operation.