[EARNSHAW] and E J DENT, London
Very rare Earnshaw 8-day chronometer, circa 1830, probably sold from the auction of Earnshaw’s stock.
£4,995.00
Small but typical Earnshaw brass tub with extended bottom skirt. Double-frame fusee movement, the train having an extra wheel between the fusee great wheel and the centre wheel, the lack of the usual turns for an ordinary 8-day machine resulting in a shorter than normal fusee, finished with cap jewels on balance (diamond) and escape, the plates showing hand spotting (squiggling). Typical late footed form of Earnshaw spring detent escapement, the detent with gold passing spring. Earnshaw compensation balance with wedge weights and short bimetallic arms, 8-turn blued-steel helical balance spring. Original silvered dial mounted in the typical deep brass-edge, the dial later engraved: New Balance Spring & Balance by E J DENT and the initials A.C., the identity of whom has not been discovered by me. Blued-steel hands. The tub 7.5 cm ( 2 3/4 inches) tall and only 9 cm (3 1/2 inches) wide.
Thomas Earnshaw and son Thomas, one of the most influential of chronometer making firms about which much has been written, but whose chronometers are rarely seen.
The main rival to John Arnold for many years, box chronometers by Earnshaw are surprising uncommon and 8-day examples even more so, this being one of only two examples known to have survived. The other, No 5402, was described in a letter published in Antiquarian Horology in September 1965. Both are of the same unusually small size and construction, though the bowl of this example has retained its supports for gimbaling – no other chronometer makers used this pattern of bowl.
NB: The origin of these two similar 8-day machines appears to be the sale of “The late Mr Earnshaw’s Stock,” a photocopy of which was distributed by Malcolm Gardner. Sadly the origin and exact date of the sale is unknown, but it is likely to be around 1850. It was also reproduced in a Letter from Charles Allix in Antiquarian Horology, Autumn 1988.
Of note is that the dial still shows the light scratching (for the engraver) on the dial of ‘Holborn London,’ the address of Thomas Earnshaw, between the lines of the later engraving. The identity of the initials A.C. is unknown but look to be by the same hand and done at the same time as the rest, so is possibly someone associated with the Dent firm. That said, the balance appears to be Earnshaw’s original, and I suspect the balance-spring is as well, meaning the work by Dent as stated on the dial was probably never undertaken.
Minute hand repaired, otherwise an exquisite small 8-day machine as well as a very rare item of Earnshaw’s output, serviced and working well. The tub sits comfortably on its side on a desk using the front gimbal mount as feet, which is how I have used it, and it is of course the ideal recipient for a reproduction box. Please know that the price of an all-original 8-day Earnshaw chronometer, if one were to exist, would be over £20,000
Item available
Description
Small but typical Earnshaw brass tub with extended bottom skirt. Double-frame fusee movement, the train having an extra wheel between the fusee great wheel and the centre wheel, the lack of the usual turns for an ordinary 8-day machine resulting in a shorter than normal fusee, finished with cap jewels on balance (diamond) and escape, the plates showing hand spotting (squiggling). Typical late footed form of Earnshaw spring detent escapement, the detent with gold passing spring. Earnshaw compensation balance with wedge weights and short bimetallic arms, 8-turn blued-steel helical balance spring. Original silvered dial mounted in the typical deep brass-edge, the dial later engraved: New Balance Spring & Balance by E J DENT and the initials A.C., the identity of whom has not been discovered by me. Blued-steel hands. The tub 7.5 cm ( 2 3/4 inches) tall and only 9 cm (3 1/2 inches) wide.
Thomas Earnshaw and son Thomas, one of the most influential of chronometer making firms about which much has been written, but whose chronometers are rarely seen.
The main rival to John Arnold for many years, box chronometers by Earnshaw are surprising uncommon and 8-day examples even more so, this being one of only two examples known to have survived. The other, No 5402, was described in a letter published in Antiquarian Horology in September 1965. Both are of the same unusually small size and construction, though the bowl of this example has retained its supports for gimbaling – no other chronometer makers used this pattern of bowl.
NB: The origin of these two similar 8-day machines appears to be the sale of “The late Mr Earnshaw’s Stock,” a photocopy of which was distributed by Malcolm Gardner. Sadly the origin and exact date of the sale is unknown, but it is likely to be around 1850. It was also reproduced in a Letter from Charles Allix in Antiquarian Horology, Autumn 1988.
Of note is that the dial still shows the light scratching (for the engraver) on the dial of ‘Holborn London,’ the address of Thomas Earnshaw, between the lines of the later engraving. The identity of the initials A.C. is unknown but look to be by the same hand and done at the same time as the rest, so is possibly someone associated with the Dent firm. That said, the balance appears to be Earnshaw’s original, and I suspect the balance-spring is as well, meaning the work by Dent as stated on the dial was probably never undertaken.
Minute hand repaired, otherwise an exquisite small 8-day machine as well as a very rare item of Earnshaw’s output, serviced and working well. The tub sits comfortably on its side on a desk using the front gimbal mount as feet, which is how I have used it, and it is of course the ideal recipient for a reproduction box. Please know that the price of an all-original 8-day Earnshaw chronometer, if one were to exist, would be over £20,000