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Circa 1917
Sold
184mm. square box
A very fine & historically interesting Royal Observatory two-day marine chronometer. DIAL The 101mm. silvered engraved brass dial has Roman chapters with outer minute track, blued steel hands, the centre is signed A. Johannsen & Co. MAKERS TO THE ADMIRALTY, THE INDIAN GOVt. & ROYAL NAVIES OF Italy, Spain & Portugal. 149 Minories, London. With up-and-down sector beneath XII calibrated 0-48 and seconds ring at VI engraved with the Government Broad Arrow and serial number 7865, both with blued steel hands. MOVEMENT The full-plate movement has well spotted plates with four ring-turned pillars secured with blued steel screws at the top plate which is further engraved with the Government Broad Arrow and serial number 7865, chain fusee and spring barrel, the escapement with cut bimetallic balance with circular heat compensation weights, steel helical balance spring and Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement with jewelled locking stone. BOX With brass bowl punch-numbered 7865 in the base, the underside has a spring-loaded winding cover and is stamped H.S. 1 with the Government Broad Arrow. The brass-bound mahogany box has a vacant brass cartouche plaque to the top lid and star escutcheons to the lock and lid button. The centre section is applied with a bone plaque engraved A. JOHANNSEN & Co. TWO DAYS 7865 with the Government Broad Arrow, recessed brass drop handles to the sides. Original numbered tipsy winding key. ASMUS JOHANNSEN Danish born Asmus Johannsen is recorded in Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World, Volume 2, (Brian Loomes) as working in London from 1863-9. He is also listed in Chronometer Makers of the World (Tony Mercer) as a great maker supplying other makers. He worked from various addresses in London from 1859 before finally moving to 149 Minories in 1865. The firm continued in business until 1937. ROYAL OBSERVATORY RECORD Johannsen 7865 is listed in the Royal Observatory ledger of receipts as being purchased in August 1917. Between 1917 and 1971 she served on as many as 10 ships; perhaps the best known being H.M.S. Indefatigable, an Implacable-class aircraft carrier, built by John Brown & Co. at Clydebank, Scotland and launched in 1942. She made several attacks against the Battleship Tirpitz in 1944. Later modified for transport duties she was recommissioned in 1950 as a training ship for service with the Home Fleet Training Squadron and it was during this particular time that Johannsen 7865 was used aboard. She was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1954.