Beschreibung:

AN EDWARDIAN MAHOGANY CASED TWO-DAY MARINE CHRONOMETER VICTOR KULLBERG, LONDON, DATED 1910 The circular four pillar single chain reversed fusee movement with Harrison's maintaining power, Earnshaw type spring detent escapement and split bimetallic balance incorporating Kullberg's early form of middle-error temperature compensation with cylindrical weights and helical invar or palladium balance spring, the spotted backplate with spring set-up ratchet, faceted diamond endstone, blued steel movement pillar and backcock securing screws and engraved with M.O.D. broad arrow mark over date 1910 to the edge next to the balance, the frontplate stamped 8074 to inside edge, the 4 inch circular silvered Roman numeral dial with subsidiary seconds dial incorporating concentric engraved text TEN GOLD MEDALS AWARDED * DIPLOMA OF HONOUR SOLE & HIGHEST AWARD around the centre inscribed with serial number 8074 over M.O.D. broad arrow and date 1910, beneath signature VICTOR KULLBERG, Maker to the Admiralty, THE INDIAN & ITALIAN GOVERNMENTS, 105 Liverpool Rd., London N. and WIND DOWN/UP dial flanked by To H.M. KING, SWEDEN and GRAND PRIX, PARIS, 1900 medallions beneath the X and II numerals respectively, with blued steel spade hands and secured by a screw-down bezel into a lacquered brass bowl with shuttered winding hole to underside, mounted via gimbals into a mahogany three-tier box, with ivory plate engraved VICTOR KULLBERG, 8074, (M.O.D. broad arrow mark), TWO DAYS, I, 1910 to front and with recessed lacquered brass carrying handles to sides. The box 19.5cm (7.75ins) high, 18.5cm (7.25ins) square. Provenance: Purchased by the India Office for Colaba Observatory, Bombay in 1910. Victor Kullberg is recorded in Mercer, Tony Chronometer Makers of the World as born in Sweden 1824, he was apparently drawn to London by the Great Exhibition of 1851 and subsequently set up business at 105 Liverpool N1 (by 1870). Kullberg developed several balances with middle error temperature compensation and became one of the finest makers of marine chronometers of the period; he died in 1890 leaving the business to be continued by George and Peter Wannerstrom. Included with the present lot is a photocopy of a letter addressed to the Director General of Stores at the India Office, dated 6th March 1910 and signed by the Astronomer Royal, Sir William H. Christie, recommending the purchase of the present timepiece (along with another by E. Dent and Company number 55514), for the Coloba Observatory. Also included is a copy of RATES OF BOX AND POCKET CHRONOMETERS ON TRIAL FOR PURCHASE BY THE BOARD OF ADMIRALTY AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH from 19th June 1909 to 8th January 1910 (for box chronometers) listing the performance of the timekeepers on trial during that period including Kullberg number 8074. The importance of the Indian market to English chronometer makers is discussed by Simon C. Davidson in his article Box chronometers for India 1800-1936 published in the December 2014 (Vol. 35, No. 4) issue of ANTIQUARIAN HOROLOGY (pages 1107-1124). The present timepiece is recorded in the appendix of 'Box chronometers supplied to the East India Company and the Indian Government or notified as from India' included with the article. Please note that the vendor has provided an ivory exemption licence ref. 6P431VMX