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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Marine chronometer · Box marine chronometer

Marine Chronometer by John Roger Arnold, No. 297

Partially verified

This marine chronometer, numbered 297, was made in London circa 1802 by John Roger Arnold. The instrument is mounted in a gimballed mahogany box with brass hardware and green baize lining. It features a silvered three-inch dial displaying a central minute hand alongside subsidiary dials for hours and seconds, signed 'Arnold, London 297'. According to the Science Museum Group, the one-day duration movement incorporates Arnold's spring detent escapement and a Z-balance, signed 'John R. Arnold London Invt. et Fecit No. 297'. Preserved in the Clockmakers' Museum collection, the upper box lid contains an observation glass with a slide shutter and a trade label from Brockbank & Atkins.

Front overhead view of the marine chronometer in an open gimballed mahogany box, showing the dial and inner lid labels
Front overhead view of the marine chronometer in an open gimballed mahogany box, showing the dial and inner lid labels — The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk
Category
Marine chronometer · Box marine chronometer
Maker / attribution
John Roger Arnold
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
c. 1802
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
297

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case and Mounting

The chronometer is housed within a square mahogany box fitted with brass hardware, including side drop carrying handles, and features green baize lining along the inner top edge. The instrument is suspended in a brass gimbal ring within an inner brass bowl casing.

According to the Science Museum Group record, the mahogany housing is gimballed and includes a slide shutter at the top. Affixed to the inner lid are two paper labels: a trade label printed for chronometer makers Brockbank & Atkins of No. 6, Cowper's Court, Cornhill, London, and a smaller rectangular handwritten label reading 'Arnold 297'.

Evidence for this section
  • “Housed in a square mahogany box with brass drop carrying handles and green baize lining along the inner top edge.”
  • “Suspended in a brass gimbal ring within a brass bowl casing.”
  • “Gimballed mahogany box with slide shutter at top.”
  • “Paper trade label on the inner lid reads: 'BROCKBANK & ATKINS, CHRONOMETER MAKERS... No. 6, COWPER'S COURT, CORNHILL, London.'”
  • “Small rectangular label on the inner lid handwritten with 'Arnold 297'.”

Dial Configuration

The instrument features a 3-inch silvered dial signed across the center in cursive script 'Arnold, London 297'. The layout incorporates a central minute hand operating alongside distinct subsidiary displays.

Visual observation and catalogue descriptions note an upper subsidiary dial indicating hours with Roman numerals and a lower subsidiary dial indicating running seconds with Arabic numerals.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silvered 3-inch dial with central minute hand and subsidiary dials for hours and seconds.”
  • “Signed 'Arnold, London 297'.”
  • “Silvered dial with a central minute hand, upper subsidiary hour dial with Roman numerals, and lower subsidiary seconds dial with Arabic numerals.”
  • “Signed in cursive script across the center of the dial: 'Arnold, London 297'.”

Reported Movement and Technical Specification

The internal mechanism is not visible in the provided photograph. The museum record states that the movement possesses a one-day duration and is fitted with Arnold's spring detent escapement and a Z-balance.

The movement is recorded as signed 'John R. Arnold London Invt. et Fecit No. 297'. Overall dimensions are listed as 184 mm by 190 mm by 173 mm, with an accompanying winding key measuring 69 mm by 31 mm by 7 mm.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement of one-day duration, with Arnold’s spring detent escapement and Z-balance.”
  • “Signed on the movement ‘John R. Arnold London Invt. et Fecit No. 297’.”
  • “overall: 184 mm x 190 mm x 173 mm”
  • “winding key: 69 mm x 31 mm x 7 mm”

Attribution and Institutional Provenance

While the museum record header lists the maker as John Arnold, the catalogue text and movement inscription designate the maker as John Roger Arnold, dating the instrument to circa 1802.

The chronometer was bequeathed in 1898 to the museum of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers by Samuel Elliott Atkins (recorded in the text as 'Samuel Elliott Aktins'). It holds Clockmakers' Museum No. 612 and Science Museum Group object number L2015-3492.

Evidence for this section
  • “Marine chronometer by John Roger Arnold, London, c.1802.”
  • “Bequeathed by Samuel Elliott Aktins to the museum of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1898.”
  • “Clockmakers' Museum No. 612”
  • “Object Number: L2015-3492”

Open research questions

  • What specific role did Brockbank & Atkins have in servicing, modifying, or rating chronometer No. 297 to account for their trade label on the inner lid?
  • Does examination of the movement confirm whether the Z-balance and spring detent escapement retain original components or reflect later historical maintenance?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Marine Chronometer by John Roger Arnold, No. 297
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Object NumberL2015-3492“Object Number: L2015-3492”
MakerJohn Roger Arnold“Marine chronometer by John Roger Arnold, London, c.1802.”
Dial Signature and NumberArnold, London 297“Signed 'Arnold, London 297'.”
Escapement and BalanceArnold's spring detent escapement and Z-balance“with Arnold’s spring detent escapement and Z-balance.”
Movement DurationOne-day duration“Movement of one-day duration”
Overall Dimensions184 mm x 190 mm x 173 mm“overall: 184 mm x 190 mm x 173 mm”
Winding Key Dimensions69 mm x 31 mm x 7 mm“winding key: 69 mm x 31 mm x 7 mm”
Clockmakers' Museum Number612“Clockmakers' Museum No. 612”
Movement InscriptionJohn R. Arnold London Invt. et Fecit No. 297“Signed on the movement ‘John R. Arnold London Invt. et Fecit No. 297’”
Bequest Date and DonorBequeathed by Samuel Elliott Atkins (spelled 'Aktins' in source) in 1898“Bequeathed by Samuel Elliott Aktins to the museum of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in 1898.”

Visible details

  • Housed in a square mahogany box with brass drop carrying handles and green baize lining along the inner top edge.
  • Suspended in a brass gimbal ring within a brass bowl casing.
  • Silvered dial with a central minute hand, upper subsidiary hour dial with Roman numerals, and lower subsidiary seconds dial with Arabic numerals.
  • Signed in cursive script across the center of the dial: 'Arnold, London 297'.
  • Paper trade label on the inner lid reads: 'BROCKBANK & ATKINS, CHRONOMETER MAKERS... No. 6, COWPER'S COURT, CORNHILL, London.'
  • Small rectangular label on the inner lid handwritten with 'Arnold 297'.

Research qualifications

  • The internal movement, spring detent escapement, Z-balance, and movement signature are not visible in the photograph and rely on source documentation.
  • Science Museum metadata lists the maker as John Arnold in the title and metadata, but the catalogue description and movement signature identify John Roger Arnold.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Marine chronometer by John Arnold | Science Museum Group Collection

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record 73c8fd6042

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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