Lot 855
An extremely rare 'Campaign' mantel chronometerCharles Frodsham, 27 South Molton St., London,...
Monday 23 May 2016 | 10:00 | Lots: 713
Lot 855
An extremely rare 'Campaign' mantel chronometerCharles Frodsham, 27 South Molton St., London,...
Lot 855
Lot Description
An extremely rare 'Campaign' mantel chronometer
Charles Frodsham, 27 South Molton St., London, No. 2521, circa 1930
The 3.75-inch silvered Roman dial with outer minute track framing subsidiary seconds dial and Up/Down State of Wind dial for 8 days duration, inscribed as above between IX and III, the chain-driven three-pillar single-fusee movement with lever platform escapement, signed and numbered as before to the backplate, with blued steel screws, the 'bulkhead' style case with screwed bezel, flared milled back with shuttered winding arbour, twin folding curved Campaign-style feet, and a folding carry handle, 5.25" (13.5cm) high.
Sold with original circular wine morocco travelling box (s/d), with gilt printed address as above to silk lining, the box front with removable window, plus key, and cruciform winder.
Provenance: Bequeathed to the current owner, originally from Sussex, in 2007, from an Aunt.
Of the handful of Frodsham 'Campaign' mantel chronometers with lever platform escapements known, this is number six.
The others are:
No 1487, Illustrated in Allix and Bonnert 'Carriage Clocks, their History and Development', ACC, Woodbridge 1974, p. 272 (Plates IX/48 and IX/49). With up and down subsidiary dial but no seconds indication.
No 1651 Sold Bonhams, Bond St., December 2012. Centre seconds
No 1652 Sold Christies South Kensington, 22 March 2006. With up & down subsidiary dial, centre seconds.
No 2129 Sold Christies 10 June 1998. With up & down subsidiary dial, but no seconds indication.
No 2171 Currently being offered by a retailer in the USA (in excess of $30,000). With up & down subsidiary and seconds dials.
Three month-going versions with detent escapements are also known.
We are grateful to Mr Richard Stenning of Charles Frodsham Ltd. for his assistance in researching this lot.
Postage: Auction Default
Weight: No
Total lot weight: No
Condition Report
Dial - very minor surface marks (would benefit from a light clean).
With regards to the under dial work and the back of the dial, this all looks very nice indeed, other than there appears to be a plugged hole to the left centre. This would suggest that the dial was originally intended for a front wound timepiece, as in the mantel chronometers of the period, although these are of a larger diameter. It has clearly been plugged before the front was engraved, so a re-purposing matter rather than a ‘faking’ issue.
Movement - appears clean and sound; not extensively tested and is sold as seen.
Case - some light tarnishing; may benefit from cleaning and re-lacquering.
The leather box is missing its strap handle and the lugs to the top of the lock (these appear to have been torn off when the box has been prised open, so the box does not currently lock.. It has general light scuffs commensurate with age and use - some minor fraying also to lining not affecting stamp.
The winder with the clock, although very nice, is not the original.
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