A Regency mahogany eight-day marine chronometer

JOHN ROGER ARNOLD, NO. 441; CIRCA 1820

Details

A Regency mahogany eight-day marine chronometer
John Roger Arnold, No. 441; circa 1820
The silvered dial signed and numbered Arnold, London 441, Roman hour numerals, gold hour and minute hands, subsidiary seconds and up-and-down dial with blued steel hands, main frame assembly carrying fusee and barrel and the top inscribed Jno. R. Arnold Invt et Fecit London 441, sub-frame assembly carrying centre wheel and remainder of train, Earnshaw escapement, cut bimetallic balance with cylindrical heat compensation weights, oversprung blued steel helical balance spring, spring foot detent with jewelled locking stone, brass bowl and gimbal, brass-bound mahogany box, the middle section with inset mahogany disc (unsigned), external brass drop handles
102 mm. dial diam., Box 186 mm. sq.

Lot Essay

The top-plate of the sub-frame assembly has been cut away obviously with the original intention of accomodating an Arnold spring detent but it is obvious that this chronometer has never had an Arnold escapement. It would appear that the Earnshaw spring detent assembly was fitted at a later date, possibly many years after the frame was made and the banking block has been altered to accomodate the Earnshaw detent.
For many years of the present century this chronometer was the standard timekeepers in the premises of Mr Harry Haley, Clockmaker in Teddington. Before setting up this business in the late Victorian era, he was for many years the repairs manager of the Waterbury Watch Co. In January 1950 aged 80 he was found dead close to a year duration clock he had just finished making.
Sold with a small number of documents relating to Mr Haley.

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