Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 13

Fine Two-Day Marine Chronometer Signed Charles Frodsham

Name: Fine Two-Day Marine Chronometer Signed Charles Frodsham
Brand: Charles Frodsham
Rating: 5 (7 reviews)

Price:$8,650.67

$8,925.29List Price

About the Item

A Sturdy English Two-Day Marine Chronometer Made by the Renowned Maker Charles Frodsham, c. 1860 A classic expertly produced 19th century English chronometer in a three-tier rosewood case, made c. 1860. The typically brass bound case consists of a lower and a glazed upper part, as well as a top lid. The lower part has two drop handles to the sides, while the front has a lock and key with an inlaid brass escutcheon. In the front of the upper part is a brass button to lock the top lid, as well as a circular bone plaque inscribed as follows: CHAs FRODSHAM 84 Strand LONDON No 2819. The movement is situated in a gimballed brass bowl, which can be secured for transport purposes by a turnable handle in the bottom right corner of the case. The 4" silvered dial is protected by a flat bevelled glass set in a brass bezel, screwed to the bowl. The top rim of the silvered inside of the bezel bears the following text ‘EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE DE 1855 GRANDE MEDAILLE D’HONNEUR’. In addition, there is an original protective case, in which the chronometer can be placed to protect it from external hazards. The maker has signed and numbered the chronometer on the silvered dial in the following manner: CARLES FRODSHAM 84 STRAND LONDON No 2819 The time is indicated by a fine pair of gilt brass hands on the silvered dial with a Roman chaptering, five-minute and minute divisions. The seconds are indicated by a blued-steel hand on a separate chapter ring below the middle with Arabic ten-second, five-second and second divisions. Below the XII is up-and-down dial 0-56 (hours), indicating the state of winding. The two-day movement is constructed between two circular plates and is driven by a spring in a spring barrel via a chain fusee. It has an Earnshaw spring detent escapement with a compensated balance and helical spring. The chronometer is wound by a special key with a ratchet to prevent winding the clock in the wrong direction. The original key can be stored in a hole in the top right corner of the case. The winding hole is covered by a large circular sprung shutter. Dimensions: 18x17.5x18.5cm The maker: Charles Frodsham was born into a dynasty of clock, watch and chronometer makers on the 15 April 1810. His father William James Frodsham (1779-1850) and Hannah Lambert had ten children, five of whom were apprenticed to their father and later became horologists in their own right. Charles was educated at Christ’s Hospital, the Bluecoat School in Newgate, London, and as a condition of the Foundation, was apprenticed at the age of fourteen to his father William. He showed early promise submitting two chronometers (numbers 1 & 2) to the 1830 Premium Trials at Greenwich, No.2 gaining the second Premium prize of £170. A further nine chronometers were then entered for trial in subsequent years, until the termination of the Premium Trials, in 1836. By the mid-1850s Charles had established himself as one of the period’s most eminent horologists. In 1854 upon the death of Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, he purchased the goodwill of the business and succeeded Vulliamy as Superintendent and Keeper of Her Majesty’s Clocks at Buckingham Palace. This prestigious title aided the sale of clocks, watches and chronometers worldwide, Charles having overseas representation and agents in America, France and Spain. He was a liberal supporter and judicial advisor to the societies connected with horology, being one of the founding members, and later Vice President, of the British Horological Institute in 1858, and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, in which he served as Master in 1855 and 1862. In the same year the Great International Exhibition was held at South Kensington, where Charles not only exhibited but was also one of the jurors. Amongst his exhibits were a month duration marine chronometer. Charles died on the 11 January 1871 at his home at 26 Upper Bedford Place, and was buried at Highgate cemetery, London, in the family vault next to that of his father. His obituary succinctly stated that ‘during a long and honourable career, he distinguished himself by his devotion to the science of horology, which he greatly advanced, and his clever works upon the subject are regarded as authoritative by members of the trade'. The firm continued under the leadership of Charles’s son Harrison Mill Frodsham (1849–1922) and exists to the present day. References: Tony Mercer, Chronometer Makers of the World, p. 195 Jonathan Betts, Marine Chronometers at Greenwich, Oxford, 2017 Frodsham site

Creator:
Charles Frodsham (Clockmaker)
Dimensions:
Height: 7.29 in (18.5 cm)Width: 6.97 in (17.7 cm)Depth: 7.09 in (18 cm)
Style:
Victorian (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Brass,Mahogany,Rosewood,Metalwork,Woodwork
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
Mid-19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1860
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Fantastic condition throughout, in perfect order.
Seller Location:
Oxfordshire, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU4936237964832

Fine Quality antique Oak 8 Day Chiming Grandmother Clock, having a superb quality oak case with beautiful carved detail, fine barley twist columns to the sides of the silvered dial w...

Category

Early 20th Century Grandfather Clocks and Longcase Clocks

Materials

Oak

Fine Quality antique Oak 8 Day Chiming Grandmother Clock

$1,894

H 66.15 in W 15.56 in D 11.62 in

Thomas Mercer Chronometer Carriage Timepiece

By Thomas Mercer

Located in Amersham, GB

An English gilt brass chronometer carriage timepiece with original travelling case, key and bill of sale. The grained gilt tapering case has a folding handle with bevelled glass panel to the top, bevelled glass panels to the sides and a solid rear plate with hand setting function and start/stop lever, signed Thomas Mercer and numbered 1184, dating from 1974 The silvered dial signed Thomas Mercer, with Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds dial and a state of wind indicator. Blued steel hands. The substantial eight day chain fusee movement with maintaining power, Earnshaw type detent escapement with a free-sprung palladium helical balance spring and heavy bimetallic balance. The original black leather tooled travelling case with lift out front cover is lined in blue velvet and the original safety winding key is stored in the top. Thomas Mercer was founded in 1858, and became one of the greatest chronometer makers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Ernest Shakleton used a Mercer chronometer on the 1914 Imperial Trans-Antartic Expedition, after the Endurance became trapped and destroyed in the pack ice, he heroically journeyed in a whaleboat, the James Caird, to South Georgia to get help for his stranded compatriots. He navigated with a Thomas Mercer chronometer...

Category

Vintage 1970s British Mid-Century Modern Carriage Clocks and Travel Clocks

Materials

Brass

Thomas Mercer Chronometer Carriage Timepiece

$17,781

H 7.49 in W 5.52 in D 3.35 in

William IV Rosewood and Bronze Bracket Clock by Frodsham 185 & Baker

Located in Lymington, Hampshire

William IV rosewood and bronze bracket clock by Frodsham 185 & Baker, the brass eight-day movement striking on a bell, the backplate numbered ‘292’, the circular brass dial with roman numerals and an engine turned centre, signed ‘Frodsham & Baker Gracechurch St. London‘, in an architectural case with applied panels, the front decorated with a lion and foliage, the corners with quoins, the sides with scrolling leaves and palmettes, with a fan pagoda top with a retractable oriental gateway handle, on leaf scroll feet, with pendulum, winding key and case key. English, circa 1830. William Frodsham was an established London clockmaker. One of his sons, John Frodsham (1785-1849), went into partnership with Baker to form ‘Frodsham and Baker’ in 1809’. They were chronometer makers to the Admiralty and also made wall...

Category

Antique 1830s English Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

William IV Rosewood and Bronze Bracket Clock by Frodsham 185 & Baker

$11,328

H 11 in W 0.1 in D 0.1 in

Mid-20th Century Luxor Swiss 8-Day Movement Bronze Table Clock with Marine Motif

By Luxor

Located in North Miami, FL

Mid-20th Century Modern Luxor Swiss 8-day movement bronze table clock with marine motif By: Luxor Material: bronze, copper, metal, glass, crystal Technique: cast, molded, metalwork,...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Crystal, Metal, Bronze, Copper, Tin

Mid-20th Century Luxor Swiss 8-Day Movement Bronze Table Clock with Marine Motif

$2,100

H 9.5 in W 5.5 in D 2.5 in

Fine Antique George III Inlaid Mahogany Eight Day Longcase Clock

Located in Suffolk, GB

Fine antique George III inlaid mahogany eight day longcase clock having a shaped swan neck pediment above an arched glass and mahogany door flanked by reeded columns, satinwood inlai...

Category

Antique 19th Century English George III Grandfather Clocks and Longcase ...

Materials

Mahogany

Fine Antique George III Inlaid Mahogany Eight Day Longcase Clock

Fruitwood

George III Ebonized Eight-Day Twin Fusee Table Clock by O. Hamley

$5,355

Striking George IV Eight-Day Rosewood Pagoda Library Clock by French, London

By Santiago James Moore French

Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

This lovely small library clock has a spring-driven eight-day twin chain-fusee movement with going and striking trains. The going train has anchor escapement with a short pendulum and stirrup regulation to facilitate adjusting the timing, which is accessible from the back. The rack striking indicates the hours of a gently sounding bell, which can be repeated at all times by pulling a cord to the side of the case. The elegant chased and engraved arched gilt brass dial has a Roman chapter ring with five-minute and minute divisions. The maker has signed the dial above the middle: FRENCH ROYAL EXCHANGE...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century George IV Mantel Clocks

Materials

Brass

Striking George IV Eight-Day Rosewood Pagoda Library Clock by French, London

$14,410

Fine English Drop Dial Wall Clock, Circa 1840

Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

A lovely and attractive English trunk dial clock made c. 1840. The mahogany veneered case is of an original design with slightly shaped sides to the trunk and a Sheraton-like she...

Category