English important ship’s watch of museum quality Circa 1802

Important chronometer with 50 hour power reserve
–
An important English ship’s chronometer of museum quality with 50 hour power reserve, built according to the designs of Thomas Mudge by Paul Philip Barraud in London, England, circa 1802.
Brass fire gilt case with applied green shagreen and convex crystal. Applied enamel dials with gilt frames for Roman hours and Arabic minutes and seconds, retrograde 50 hour power reserve indicator, very fine applied foliate scrolls and blued “Poker & Beetle” hands. Brass movement with moulded pillars, chain/fusée, Arnold’s spring detent escapement and a Z-balance with two weights and two screws.
–
Dimensions: 124 x 75 mm
–
Signed: Paul Philip Barraud, Cornhill, London
–
Paul Philip Barraud (1750-1820)
Paul Philip Barraud was based in London (Cornhill). His parents were Francis Gabriel Barraud and Magadalen Benine Crespin, a daughter of a well-known Huguenot silversmith Paul Crespin. In 1796 he became a member of the Clockmakers Company and from 1810 to 1811 Master of the Clockmakers Company. He partnered with George Jamieson and William Howells. Paul Philip married Marriet Chapman (1753-1798). He had seven children and his sons Frederick, James and James also learned the watchmaking trade.
–
Thomas Mudge (1715-94)
The first timekeeper Thomas Mudge designed with a constant force escapement was built in 1774 and intended as a competitor for the longitude prize of 20,000 pounds the British Parliament was offering. Mudge later produced another two models of the same type but none of his chronometers were recognized and rewarded; Mudge died an embittered man. About year before his death his son had formed a partnership with William Howells and Robert Pennington; his plan was to build timekeepers according to his father’s specifications in a factory. Mudge the Elder was supervising the production of the chronometers until his death later in the year. The first pieces were accordingly signed “Howells and Pennington for Thomas Mudge”.
However, only eight chronometers were produced in the first 18 months and in 1796 Mudge the Younger took on additional staff to increase production; Howells and Mudge did not see eye to eye on this though and ended their partnership. Unfortunately for Mudge the premises belonged to Howells, so that he had to look to move his business to another location. After his agreement with Mudge had finished, Howells went into production with Paul Philip Barraud and George Jamison and they began building simplified versions of Thomas Mudge’s original drafts. Once he had established his new workshop, Mudge Jr. took on the escapement maker Richard Pendleton and intended him to work with Robert Pennington on the creation of chronometers according to his father’s designs.
Howells’ team as well as Mudge Jr.’s both saw themselves as the legitimate successors of Mudge Sr.’s work, so there are two separate series from series no. 9 on. However, neither company was really fortunate in their endeavours and Mudge was forced to close his factory in 1798 – only 19 more chronometers had been produced by then, so that the total came to 27. Howells’ business was even less productive and closed in 1799 after making only seven timekeepers.
–
The famous horologist Thomas Mudge and Paul Philip Barraud were not in a direct business partnership. However, Paul Philip Barraud did enter into a highly significant commercial partnership with Thomas Mudge Junior (Thomas Mudge’s son).