44,840 CHF
Tho(mas) Mudge - W(illiam) Dutton, London, No. 847, with London hallmarks for 1759. Fine 22K gold pair-cased quarter dumb repeating watch with à tact option. Outer: Double-body, polished. Inner: double-body “bassine” form, polished, punched with “P.M.” (Peter Mounier) Master mark. Notes Originally fitted with a cylinder escapement, this watch was later upgraded with an English lateral lever escapement with pointed tooth escape wheel and jeweled pallets. Thomas Mudge (1715-1794) was an apprentice of George Graham and may be considered his spiritual successor. He was one of the first makers to produce constant-force watches. His ordinary watches with cylinder escapements are constructed along the same general lines as those of Graham. In 1755 he went into partnership with William Dutton, another of Graham’s pupils. In the 1760s he developed the free lever escapement. Along with Larcum Kendall, he was nominated in 1765 to examine Harrison’s marine watch. In 1771 he retired to Plymouth, where he devoted himself entirely to research on marine chronometers. He was also the inventor of a free escapement with remontoir, whose principle was described in the “Philosophical Transactions” of 1794.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-05-14
