William B. Crisp Rosewood Two-Day Marine Chronometer with Hartnup Balance, No. 381
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
mid-19th century
This mid-19th-century two-day marine chronometer by William B. Crisp is housed in a brass-bound rosewood three-part box with campaign handles and an ivory plaque reading 'Hartnup Balance Willm.
B. Crisp London No 381'. The 3.75-inch silvered dial features Roman numerals, gold spade hands, an up-and-down state of wind indicator at 12 o'clock, and an oversized seconds register. Inside, a spotted full-plate movement with Earnshaw-type escapement and a specialized Hartnup balance rests in a gimballed brass bowl. The inner box retains trade labels from Thomas Petley and D. McGregor & Co.
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
- Two-day marine chronometer
- Height
- 20 cm (7.5 inches)
- Power Reserve
- Two-day running time with 0-56 hour dial indication
- Dial Signature
- Willm Crisp Maker to the Admiralty 81 St.John Street Rd London No 381
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Movement Balance
- Earnshaw type escapement with Hartnup balance
- Case Construction
- Three-part rosewood case with brass bindings
- Maker / attribution
- William B. Crisp
Design
- Visible features
- • Three-part rosewood box shown with the upper lid open, displaying an internal trade label for Thomas Petley in Sydney. • Ivory circular plaque mounted to the rim above the dial opening. • Brass gimbal mount with securing lock visible inside the fitted well.
- Case Construction
- The chronometer is housed in a three-part rosewood box featuring brass bindings and campaign handles. External elements include a missing cartouche on the top lid, a brass flowerhead button on the center section, and an inlaid brass escutcheon with a blank ivory plaque on the lower section. Internal features include a full-length hinge, a gimbal lock, and a quadrant-secured winding key. Trade labels for Thomas Petley of Sydney and D. McGregor & Co. of Greenock are affixed to the center section of the case.
- Dial and Indicators
- The 3.75-inch silvered dial bears the signature 'Willm Crisp Maker to the Admiralty 81 St.John Street Rd London No 381'. The display features Roman numerals, an Arabic minute ring, and gold spade hands. A power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock provides a 0-56 hour scale, and a large seconds register is located between the 5 and 7 o'clock positions.
- Movement and Balance
- The movement is a spotted full-plate type with four ringed pillars and a reverse chain fusee with maintaining power. It utilizes an Earnshaw-type escapement and a Hartnup balance assembly, which includes a free-sprung blued steel helical spring and a diamond endstone. The movement is housed within a gimballed brass bowl. The source identifies that the movement was reported as 'ticking' and notes the presence of a 'Tipsy key'.
Identification
- Serial number
- 381
- 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: The top cartouche on the exterior lid is missing as noted in the catalogue description.
- Research required: Internal movement plates and balance mechanism are not visible in the photograph.