320

England, 1800-Circa 1814

BINNACLE TIMEKEEPER BY MORRIS TOBIAS

Signed on backplate of movement "Patent No. 321 Morris Tobias London". White enamel face with three concentric dials, the inner being the hours dial with Roman numerals, XII-II-IIII et seque, the outer indicating a period of 30 minutes with Arabic numerals, 30-5-10 et seque to 25, and between these two a dial graduated in three 120-degree sectors, each marked in Arabic numerals, 0.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8. et seque, to indicate the number of "bells" to be struck at a given time. Yellow metal hour and minute hands. Movement with verge escapement (brass movement and ornately pierced jeweled balance cock), which is engraved "PATENT No.321 Morris Tobias London" and has a "slow-fast" adjustment. Dial marked 1-8 in Arabic numerals indicating each half-hour bell of a four-hour watch. The numbers are further subdivided into six units representing five minute intervals as the short hand moves through eight units. The longer hand rotates once each hour with each of the eight units representing 7½ minutes. Hinged locking bezel and spring-loaded winding dust cover. Solid brass case mounted in an ornately carved mahogany mantel-type case.
Height 10.5". Width 18".

  • Provenance:
    West Sea Company, Old Towne, San Diego, September 2000.
    The Kelton Collection of Marine Art & Artifacts.

    Notes:
    This instrument represents the bridge between the watch timer and the modern ship's clock and was designed to be mounted on the binnacle in front of the helmsman. Tobias states in his patent: "My invention is intended to supersede the use of sand glasses used on board ships, and is described as follows, viz:__ In so calculating the train of the movement and motion and so contriving, graduating and numbering the dial as to divide time in the same manner as seamen and mariners usually do at sea by means of a half-hour sand glass and bell, for the purpose of regulating their several watches on deck and in the manner in which I have contrived the case, and fitted the said timekeeper into it, to answer several purposes in regard to winding up and securing it from injury by wet, and for conveniently and securely attaching it or fixing it to the binnacle ... My said binnacle time keeper therefore answers the several purposes of a watch, a half-hour sand glass, and a bell, with less trouble and more truth."

    About 500 of these time keepers were constructed in the period between 1812 and 1824. Of these, fewer than 20 are known to still exist.

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February 24, 2022 9:30 AM EST
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