An exceptional early one-day marine chronometer by this famous partnership of rare small size and very early date.

The small early style mahogany veneered box has raised Georgian loop carrying handles to the side and a plain hinged lifting lid above the glazed inner section.

The 3-inch silvered brass dial has an engine turned brass bezel with a convex glass. The maker’s name, address and number are beautifully engraved below the XII and it has Roman chapters and Arabic five minute markers, original blued steel hands and a subsidiary seconds above VI.

The signed chain fusee movement has cylindrical ring-turned pillars and bi-metallic compensated balance with diamond endpiece, blued steel hairspring, Earnshaw spring detent escapement and an internal springed dust cover. The chronometer retains its charming original tipsey winding key numbered 768.

Height: 6 ¼ in (16 cm)

Width: 6 in (15.25 cm)

Depth: 6 in (15.25 cm)

* The Parkinson and Frodsham partnership was established in 1801 by William Parkinson who died in 1842 and William James Frodsham who lived until 1850. They were in Change Alley throughout the rest of the 19^th century and they made chronometers for the Admiralty and various merchant shipping companies of the period. Interestingly, there is an article in the Antiquarian Horological Journal Vol 30, N° 4 by Philip Arnott entitled “Chronometers on East India Company Ships 1800-1833” where he shows that the Parkinson and Frodsham Number 771 was used by Captain Graham on Caledonia, an almost adjacent number.

HW6708