Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Apr 28, 2019

LOT 124

THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM TABLE CLOCK WITH CONICAL PENDULUM AND MOON PHASES; LIMITED EDITION; GILDED BRASS AND WOOD

HKD 10,000 - 20,000

CHF 1,250 - 2,500 / USD 1,300 - 2,600

Sold: HKD 35,000

"The Old Royal Observatory Conical Pendulum Clock" Gilded brass and wood, 8-day going, key-winding, rectangularshaped, table clock with conical pendulum and moon phases indication.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Brand The National Maritime Museum

Model designed by Richard Elliott, FBHT; made by Thwaites & Reed Ltd., London; limited edition of 1 000 examples

Year Circa 1983

Calibre  square plates with pillars, gilded brass, with fusee and chain, conical pendulum

Material gilded brass and wood

Caliber square plates with pillars, gilded brass, with fusee and chain, conical pendulum

Dimensions 62 x 23.8 x 23.8 cm.

Accessories winding-key, spirit level (dome lacking)

Notes

Conical pendulum (Lot 124) The conical pendulum was first described in the 1660’s by Robert Hooke (1635-1703), English natural philosopher, architect and polymath. It made its appearance in clocks in the 19th century. Because it is a continuous motion system rather than the stop start motion of a traditional escapement it was used for the control of the sweeping of lighthouse beams and astronomical telescopes. From 1860, Eugene Farcot (1830-1896), French clockmaker, inventor, mechanicalengineer, aeronaut, occasional writer, produced a number of elegant timekeepers employing conical pendulums. Perhaps surprisingly the frequency of rotation of a conical pendulum follows the same equation as a traditional pendulum and depends only on the its length and gravitational force. For small angles of cone the pendulum is independent of the driving force and is thus isochronous.