Binnacle Timepiece by Morris Tobias

Binnacle Timepiece by Morris Tobias, London, No. 123, with fusee movement signed Morris. Tobias, No. 123, London , foliate-pierced balance bridge engraved Patent , slow / fast regulation, and 4 1/2-inch enamel dial, No. 122, with brass hands, inner Roman chapter ring and two outer sets of Arabic numerals for time (to thirty minutes) and bells of the watch (in three sets of eight divisions), in lacquered-brass bowl on gimbal, in dovetailed mahogany case with aperture in lid, wd. 7 1/2 in. Provenance: Sotheby's New York, Masterpieces from the Time Museum , 13 October 2004, lot 639. Christie's London, 8 March 1984, lot 89. Morris Tobias is listed, in various forms, at 68 Bell Dock Yard, Wapping, from 1794-1840. He was the patentee of this unusual form of timepiece designed for the use by the Quartermaster on board ship. The hour hand moves in the regular fashion but the outer ring is calibrated every half hour with the number of bells to be rung, and their timing is signified by the minute hand which rotates once every half hour.