German 56h power reserve ship’s chronometer Circa 1948

Ship’s chronometer by Helmut Karken, D.U.S. Glashütte
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A very fine German ship’s chronometer with 56h power reserve indicator and transport box made at the Deutsche Uhrmacherschule Glashütte – with Lange extract from the archives, circa 1948.
The case is made of mahogany and has handles on top, brass gimbals and bowl, and two-body with glass. The dial is silvered, signed and dated, with inlaid radial Roman numerals, auxiliary seconds, 56h power reserve indicator and gilt spade hands. And the brass movement is decorated and gilt, with solid movement pillars, chain/fusee, spring detent escapement, heavy Gerstenberger chronometer balance with four weights and two screws, freesprung blued balance spring and set sapphire endstone on balance.
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Dimensions: 185 x 180 x 185 mm
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Signed: Helmut Karken Glashütte
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After the World War and the new start of the watchmaking school in October 1945, only two marine chronometers were produced until 1951. The chronometer we have here is the one before last that was ever made at the school; altogether only 69 of these very fine instruments were built at the school between 1882 and 1951. It is very likely that Alfred Helwig was heavily involved in the making of this chronometer.