Asmus Johannsen & Co., London c1905

A good 2-day marine chronometer in its original 3-tier mahogany box, signed on the silvered dial A. Johannsen & Co. Makers to the Admiralty, The Indian Govt. & Royal Navies of Italy, Spain & Portugal. 149 Minories, London 6100 auxiliary compensation.

The chronometer has subsidiary dials for seconds and state of wind, and gold hour and minute hands. Below you can see the chronometer with its bezel in the mahogany box.

Asmus Johannsen was born in Denmark and was working in London by 1859. The firm was at 149 Minories from 1865 to about 1937. Johannsen & Co. won the Greenwich trials in 1901, 1902 and 1907 with chronometer numbers 5219, 5217 and 6150 respectively. The serial number 6100 dates this chronometer to circa 1905.

The chronometer has an Earnshaw type spring detent escapement, a palladium balance spring and the later form of Kullberg split rim balance.

The chronometer is complete with its original winding key and the bowl is numbered 6100 internally.

The photograph below is a close up of the balance showing the Kullberg split rim balance alongside a sketch of the balance as illustrated in "The Marine Chronometer" by Rupert Gould, published in 1923.

The 3-tier mahogany box has brass corners, brass key escutcheon, a brass plaque to the upper lid and recessed handles. The middle tier has a bone plaque engraved A. Johannsen & Co. London. 6100.

The chronometer box measures 7¼” x 7¼” x 7½” high.

Stock No. C1105