Reeman Dansie
Lot 931
Poole for John Clark, Greenock, a mahogany cased two day chronometer, the full plate, chain fusee movement having maintaining power, an Earnshaw escapement with the cut bimetallic compensated balance having wedge-shaped weights, ten-turn blued steel helical balance spring, engraved to the back plate 'Poole, London, 856', the four inch silvered dial engraved with black Roman numerals and signed 'Jno. Clark, Greenock, 856', with gold spade hands, the subsidiary seconds dial and fifty-four hour up-and-down dial with blued steel hands, the frame stamped 'U.R.T.', with brass bowl and gimbal contained in a brass bound three tier mahogany case with brass drop handles, diameter 16.5cm x 16.5cm x 17.5cm. The serial number on this movement would suggest a date of manufacture of circa 1839. N.B. John Poole (born 1818), was a fine chronometer maker who, in circa 1850, devised his own auxiliary compensation for the balance which was used as standard by many other makers. It is also known he used wedge weights as on this example. He worked from various addresses around the Clerkenwell area and off Commercial Road, including 9 York Terrace from 1833 until 1842, with his home being at 14 River Street, Myddleton Square in 1865. John Poole committed suicide in 1867, the year he won a Gold Medal in Paris and his business was continued by his brother James Poole (born 1816) who had been part of the firm specialising in watches. After the latter's death in 1900, the business was carried on by his son, also James. John Clark is recorded as working as a chronometer maker at White Hart Buildings in the port of Greenock, near Glasgow from circa 1822 until 1872. It is known that he used movements with Poole's compensation CONDITION REPORT General overall condition very good. Movement is clean and appears to be in working order. Case is in good condition. Top glass cracked. Key bracket is cracked. Key probably not original
