Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Watch, Pocket |
Catalog Number |
90.49.4 |
Collection |
Watch |
Other Name |
Chronodrometer |
Date |
1859 |
Description |
1859 Appleton Tracy and Co. (American Waltham Watch Co. pocket watch 18 Size, 16 Jewels, Full Plate, Key Wind, Key Set. Gold balance. Slow train. White enamel dial reads, "Chronodrometer / Patent Feb 8 / 1859." Hours and minutes shown in small dial above, marked in Roman numerals. Small seconds in dial below. Small seconds hand completes revolution in 4 seconds in 1/4 jumps. Large sweep seconds hand, which makes one revolution in four minutes. Circumference of dial is divided into four equal segments of sixty seconds each. Coin silver hunting case has "F.M. 32" and "5396". This was probably the first use of a stop feature on a commercially available US watch. The mechanism actually pushed against the balance and stoppped the watch. Although it would start running as soon as the stop was released, the watch would have to be reset each time. This specimen is the last one made in a series of Chronodrometers. The hand rotates in 1/4 seconds. The sweep center hand rotates at a rate of 4 minutes per revolution. The stop mechanism was patented by John Bigelow on February 8, 1859. Serial #13900 |
Maker |
Appleton Tracy and Company / American Waltham Watch Company |
Material |
brass, glass, enamel, coin silver |
Place of Origin |
Waltham, Massachusetts, USA |
Notes |
Empty box was in 101.WATCH90-37; removed 02/04/2002 SS |