German chronometer with jumping centre seconds Circa 1845

Silver pocket watch with pivoted detent escapement by Johann Ignaz Fuchs
–
An extraordinary German pocket chronometer with two seconds jumping centre seconds and pivoted detent escapement, circa 1845.
Original presentation leather box. Silver polished case. Enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, jumping centre seconds, and gold Breguet hands. Full plate movement, keywind, frosted and gilt, with monometallic balance with three screws and free-sprung balance spring with bimetallic temperature compensation.
–
Diameter: 56 mm
–
Weight: 150 g
–
Signed: Johann Ignaz Fuchs in Zerbst
–
Johann Ignaz Fuchs (1821-1893)
Johann Ignaz Fuchs was a German engineer and clockmaker. After his apprenticeship as an engineer, Fuchs travelled as a journeyman in Germany and Europe. After returning he married the daughter of a late clockmaker in Zerbst; in 1845 he moved the business to Bernburg and called it a turret clock manufactory and precision mechanics workshop. Fuchs built a number of turret clocks at the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn; he donated one of his turret clocks, which he had exhibited at the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873, to his birthplace, the city of Welda. It was installed in the church tower of St. Kilian’s. He is also famous for his geographical and astronomical world clock in the town hall of Bernburg (Saale). Fuchs built other instruments as well such as an automatic weighing machine for turnips and an electrical security and alarm system for penal institutions. In 1875 he constructed – without knowing what the device was intended for – the mechanism for the time bomb that was supposed to sink the emigrant ship, Mosel.