Parkinson & Frodsham, Change Alley, London. No. 2414
Fine 2-day chronometer by this famous firm. Circa 1840.
Case
3-piece brass-bound rosewood box with vacant ivory plaque, never having been fitted with the usual standard later addition of a stay for the top two sections - the box opens up fully.
Dial
Silvered dial beautifully signed Parkinson & Frodsham Change Alley London 2414 with subsidiary seconds dial and up /down at XII, original blued-steel hands.
Movement
Fullplate fusee movement signed Parkinson & Frodsham Change Alley London. Diamond cap jewels on balance, held inside a bayonet fitted cap with springs on the base that allows for effective vertical shock resistance when mounted in the bowl. Earnshaw spring-detent escapement, the detent of standard footed form with gold passing-spring. Earnshaw form of compensation balance with wedge-shaped weights, later Palladium helical balance-spring.
Box approx 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) square.
The specialist chronometer firm of William Parkinson and William James Frodsham, established 1801, were one of the most celebrated of makers throughout the first half of the 19th century, supplying the Royal Navy, the merchant marine, many American chronometer retailers, as well as providing chronometers for numerous famous expeditions of the time, many of which were recorded in the literature produced by the firm. Their reputation was second to none at this time.
£6,500