Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 471

Thomas Cole, No. 939 12, made for Hunt & Roskell, London, circa 1852. Exceptionally fine and very rare gilt brass tripod one month going table regulator with Cole?s spring detent coup perdu escapement. Accompanied by original spanner end key.

CHF 35,000 - 40,000

EUR 22,000 - 25,000 / USD 27,000 - 31,000

Sold: CHF 36,800

C. Molded base finely engraved on the top, three curved gilt brass engraved supports terminating at the top withcircular support for the pendulum suspension, small finial at the top, three feet in the form of six-sided ratingnuts, glass dome.D. Silvered, Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds at 12 o?clock,engraved center with scrolling and floral pattern. Blued steel "spade" hands.M. Trapezoidal, 17 x 9 cm, brass,going barrel, variation of Cole?s spring detent escapement with small 6-tooth brass escape wheel, impulse palletin the form of a steel roller, also unlocking by a small brass roller, steel rod pendulum with spherical bob, slidinggilt disc for final rating, spring-loaded pendulum locking device acting on the bottom of the rod via a nut in thebase.Signed by Cole underneath front right hand pillar, dial signed by Hunt & Roskell.Dim: Height 46 cm x width 24 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Thomas Cole made a few so-called "tripod" clocks, inventing a special gravity escapement that he employed in them. It is interesting that the present clock employs a variation of this escapement, very rarely found, in which the impulse is given in one direction only and the return is done by gravity. This was excellently described in the British Horolog-ical Journal of November 1896, p. 35: "the pendulum bob is made of spherical form. First, for concentrating the weight of matter in the smallest space, secondly, for reducing atmospheric resistance; and thirdly, for preventing the tendency to rotate with the axis of the rod... The general plan of supporting the clock on three or more columns has the advan-tage of stability, and affords the convenience of removing the movement when necessary without disturbing the pen-dulum." Literature: "Thomas Cole & Victorian Clockmaking" by J.B. Hawkins, Sydney, 1975, pp. 104-05.