Maker, H. A. Campiche, Geneva, Switzerland, c. 1910. 6.25"h x 7.25"diameter excluding dome and base. Earnshaw type detent   escapement. With original dome and base 12.5"h x 9.5"diameter (second hand later replacement). An unusual electric master clock whose design is horizontally oriented in the manner of a marine chronometer. No serial number.

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This is a two tier movement with a massive cut bi-metallic compensated balance and free sprung 28 coil helical spring on the lower tier, the wheel train and switching gear on the upper tier. The balance beating seconds but with  a coup perdu arrangement advancing the the escape wheel at two second intervals. Every thirty seconds one of two pins on the escape wheel makes an electrical contact which actuates an electro-magnet to bring an impulsing lever into contact with a pin on the balance wheel. At the same time the switch gear is activated to advance the minute hand one half minute. One pin on the escape wheel is used to close contacts controlling slave movements at one minute intervals. Movement gilded and fully jeweled (except motion works); plates damascened.

The English patent for this electro-mechanical movement was awarded to Campice on February 11, 1904, #3449. Campiche and Paul Ditisheim collaborated over the design of this unusual timepiece. Most likely it was a developmental model which was used as the design basis for a marine chronometer made by Ditisheim. It appears that a few of these were made as test beds for the final design of Ditisheim's chronometer. Only two movements of this type are known. The other nearly identical movement is numbered 5, with plain movement plates.

Provenance: Sotheby's, New York, October 14, 2004; Lot #843. Formerly from The Time Museum, Rockford, Illinois, USA. Inventory No. 3536.  Christie's, London, November 25, 1998, Lot #417. Advertisement for dealer Rafferty Huber, London in September 1983 issue of Antiquarian Horology. Literature: The Time Museum Catalog of Chronometers, Anthony G. Randall, U.S.A. 1991, catalog #49 pp. 136-7, figs. 83a & b.