8-day marine chronometer
Date: circa 1900
Inventory Number: DW0360
Classification: Chronometer
Subject:
Maker: Charles Frodsham & Company, Ltd (1896 - 1914)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
instrument: 18.1 × 18.6 × 9.2 cm (7 1/8 × 7 5/16 × 3 5/8 in.)
case: 22 × 24 × 21.5 cm (8 11/16 × 9 7/16 × 8 7/16 in.)
Accessories: "Tipsy" winding key; (box key missing)
Description:
Chronometer of 8 day duration in a mahogany box.
Chronometer contains clock face that has sixty graduations around outside of face, with Roman numerals 1-12 around inside of circle. Two brass hands are affixed to the center of face. Two dials on inside of face, one on top with numbers 0-8, with the word "WIND" printed inside and a single hand; another below with numbers 10-60, in intervals of 10, with two hands. On top dial "DOWN" is printed above "8" and "UP" is printed above "0".
Keyhole on front of box and brass handles on sides of box.
Chronometer contains clock face that has sixty graduations around outside of face, with Roman numerals 1-12 around inside of circle. Two brass hands are affixed to the center of face. Two dials on inside of face, one on top with numbers 0-8, with the word "WIND" printed inside and a single hand; another below with numbers 10-60, in intervals of 10, with two hands. On top dial "DOWN" is printed above "8" and "UP" is printed above "0".
Keyhole on front of box and brass handles on sides of box.
In Collection(s)
Signedon dial: Chas. Frodsham, / 115 New Bond St. London / No. 10033
on box lid: CHAS. FRODSHAM. / 8 DAYS / 1033 / LONDON
on box lid: CHAS. FRODSHAM. / 8 DAYS / 1033 / LONDON
FunctionA marine chronometer was used in a ship to keep the time from the port of origin while at sea. With that data, ships were able to find the longitude anywhere on the ocean by simply determining the time at their current position.
Curatorial RemarksInformation from Richard Stenning of Charles Frodsham and Co., London on 06/25/98: Trials at Greenwich: 10047 in 1902; 10049 in 1903; and 10051 in 1904. Trials at Kew: 10058 in 1912; 10067 in 1922; 10068 in 1927; and 10070 in 1923 (10068 and 10070 with Poole's auxiliary compension). CHSI's example probably dates around 1900