J. Auricoste French Navy onboard chronometer
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1960s
This mechanical onboard chronometer by J. Auricoste was reportedly produced for French Navy naval torpedo operations and exercises during the 1960s. Housed in a circular metal case designed for bulkhead mounting, it features an off-white dial with a 0-to-60-second perimeter scale marked by Arabic numerals and an auxiliary 60-minute register positioned at 6 o'clock.
The seller records an affixed rear plate bearing numbers 64-1387 and 67-1438, which the listing attributes to a 1964 case and a 1967 movement. The dial is inscribed 'J. AURICOSTE HGER DE LA MARINE DE L'ETAT'.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Bulkhead timer chronometer
- Thickness
- approximately 7.1 cm
- Dial diameter
- approximately 15 cm
- Dial signature
- J. AURICOSTE STATE NAVY CLOCKMAKER
- Outer diameter
- approximately 20 cm
- Place recorded
- France
- Movement engraving
- J. AURICOSTE 10, rue La Boétie – Paris B
- Maker / attribution
- J. Auricoste
- Serial plate markings
- 64-1387 and 67-1438
Design
- Visible features
- • Circular metal mounting flange with drilled perimeter holes for bulkhead fixing • Central seconds hand terminating at a perimeter 0-to-60 scale with five-unit Arabic markings • Subsidiary dial situated at 6 o'clock calibrated up to 60 minutes • External top plunger, small upper-left tab, and bottom lever control with curved arrow directional indicator • Dial marked 'J. AURICOSTE' and 'HGER DE LA MARINE DE L'ETAT' below the central arbor
- Construction and Mounting
- The J. Auricoste onboard chronometer features a metal case described as stainless steel. It is designed for bulkhead integration or mounting, incorporating a circular flange with holes along the perimeter. External features include a top plunger, a small upper-left tab, and a bottom lever control accompanied by a curved arrow directional indicator. The unit measures approximately 20 cm in outer diameter and 7.1 cm in thickness.
- Dial and Timing Interface
- The dial, approximately 15 cm in diameter, features an off-white color and is inscribed 'J. AURICOSTE' along with 'HGER DE LA MARINE DE L'ETAT'. The main display includes a perimeter scale graduated from 0 to 60 seconds with five-unit Arabic numerals and a central seconds hand. A subsidiary 60-minute register is located at the 6 o'clock position. The source notes that while the mechanism functions, the main hand requires a zeroing readjustment of approximately one-tenth of a second.
- Identification and Records
- A plate on the back of the instrument is marked with the numbers '64-1387' and '67-1438'. The listing attributes these to a 1964 case and a 1967 movement, respectively. Internal movement engravings are reported to read 'J. AURICOSTE 10, rue La Boétie – Paris B'. Specific service history, including usage for torpedo operations or particular vessels, is provided as seller attribution.
Identification
- Reference
- MER26AUR001
- Serial number
- 64-1387 / 67-1438
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Source notes the main hand requires minor zero readjustment of approximately one-tenth of a second
- Research required: Specific submarine and torpedo-boat operational use represents seller attribution rather than proven individual service history
- Research required: Movement and rear numbered plate are described in source text but not visible in this dial photograph