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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Marine chronometer · Two-day marine chronometer

William B. Crisp Rosewood Two-Day Marine Chronometer with Hartnup Balance, No. 381

Partially verified

This mid-19th-century two-day marine chronometer by William B. Crisp is housed in a brass-bound rosewood three-part box with campaign handles and an ivory plaque reading 'Hartnup Balance Willm. B. Crisp London No 381'. The 3.75-inch silvered dial features Roman numerals, gold spade hands, an up-and-down state of wind indicator at 12 o'clock, and an oversized seconds register. Inside, a spotted full-plate movement with Earnshaw-type escapement and a specialized Hartnup balance rests in a gimballed brass bowl. The inner box retains trade labels from Thomas Petley and D. McGregor & Co.

Three-quarter view of the open brass-bound rosewood marine chronometer box showing dial and gimbal mounting
Three-quarter view of the open brass-bound rosewood marine chronometer box showing dial and gimbal mounting — Bonhams. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.bonhams.com
Category
Marine chronometer · Two-day marine chronometer
Maker / attribution
William B. Crisp
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
139
Source-reported date
mid-19th century
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
381

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 Construction

The chronometer is housed in a three-part rosewood box featuring brass bindings and campaign handles. External elements include a missing cartouche on the top lid, a brass flowerhead button on the center section, and an inlaid brass escutcheon with a blank ivory plaque on the lower section.

Internal features include a full-length hinge, a gimbal lock, and a quadrant-secured winding key. Trade labels for Thomas Petley of Sydney and D. McGregor & Co. of Greenock are affixed to the center section of the case.

Evidence for this section
  • “The three-part case with missing cartouche to the top lid”
  • “the centre section with brass flowerhead button above an ivory signature plaque, Hartnup Balance Willm. B. Crisp London No 381”
  • “the lower section with inlaid brass escutcheon with a blank ivory number plaque and campaign handles.”
  • “The centre section applied with a label for Thomas Petley, Chronometer, Watchmaker and Nautical Optician, Sydney, New South Wales and D,McGregor & Co., Greenock, Scotland”

Dial and Indicators

The 3.75-inch silvered dial bears the signature 'Willm Crisp Maker to the Admiralty 81 St.John Street Rd London No 381'. The display features Roman numerals, an Arabic minute ring, and gold spade hands.

A power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock provides a 0-56 hour scale, and a large seconds register is located between the 5 and 7 o'clock positions.

Evidence for this section
  • “The 3.75-inch silvered dial signed across the centre Willm Crisp Maker to the Admiralty 81 St.John Street Rd London No 381”
  • “the subsidiary power reserve dial at XII running from 0-56hours in 8-hour increments”
  • “the large observatory-style seconds dial between V-VII with blued steel hands”

Movement and Balance

The movement is a spotted full-plate type with four ringed pillars and a reverse chain fusee with maintaining power. It utilizes an Earnshaw-type escapement and a Hartnup balance assembly, which includes a free-sprung blued steel helical spring and a diamond endstone.

The movement is housed within a gimballed brass bowl. The source identifies that the movement was reported as 'ticking' and notes the presence of a 'Tipsy key'.

Evidence for this section
  • “The spotted full plate movement with four ringed pillars and maintaining power to the reverse chain fusee”
  • “Earnshaw type escapement with Hartnup balance, sitting in a weighted, gimballed bowl.”
  • “free sprung blued steel helical balance spring with diamond endstone”
  • “Ticking, together with a Tipsy key.”

Open research questions

  • What is the documentary basis for the attribution of the movement to Joseph Preston?
  • Are there records linking William B. Crisp to the specific use of Joseph Preston movements for chronometers bearing the 'Hartnup Balance'?
  • What are the specific technical properties of the 'Hartnup balance' as applied to this chronometer?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for William B. Crisp Rosewood Two-Day Marine Chronometer with Hartnup Balance, No. 381
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Movement BalanceEarnshaw type escapement with Hartnup balance“Earnshaw type escapement with Hartnup balance, sitting in a weighted, gimballed bowl.”
Dial SignatureWillm Crisp Maker to the Admiralty 81 St.John Street Rd London No 381“The 3.75-inch silvered dial signed across the centre Willm Crisp Maker to the Admiralty 81 St.John Street Rd London No 381”
Case ConstructionThree-part rosewood case with brass bindings“brass-bound rosewood two-day marine chronometer”
Power ReserveTwo-day running time with 0-56 hour dial indication“the subsidiary power reserve dial at XII running from 0-56hours in 8-hour increments”
Height20 cm (7.5 inches)“20cms (7.5ins) high”
Dimensions20 cm (7.5 inches) high“20cms (7.5ins) high”
Exhibition HistoryExhibited at Prescot Museum (Feb-April 2008) and Williamson Museum & Art Gallery (Feb-April 2008).“Exhibited 'Your Time', an exhibition by the Northern Section of the Antiquarian Horological Society at Prescot Museum, February-April 2008; Williamson Museum & Art Gallery, Birkenhead February-April 2008.”

Visible details

  • Three-part rosewood box shown with the upper lid open, displaying an internal trade label for Thomas Petley in Sydney.
  • Ivory circular plaque mounted to the rim above the dial opening.
  • Brass gimbal mount with securing lock visible inside the fitted well.

Research qualifications

  • The top cartouche on the exterior lid is missing as noted in the catalogue description.
  • Internal movement plates and balance mechanism are not visible in the photograph.

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

Consulted source

Bonhams : An extremely rare and fine mid-19th century brass-bound rosewood two-day marine chronometer with Hartnup balance. Previously with the Time Museum, and more recently exhibited at Prescot Museum William B Crisp, London, Number 381

Reviewed 2026-10-22 · Record 0beba5d7d7

Terms in this record

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

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