German chronometer with 56h power reserve Circa 1925

Deck chronometer made for the German navy
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An extremely fine chronometer made for the German Navy by Franz Lidecke in Geestemünde, Germany, circa 1925. The original numbered mahogany box consists of three sections, one of which is glazed and holds the watch mounted in a gimbal suspension. The silvered dial features Roman hour numerals, an outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, a power reserve indicator at 12 and gold spade hands. The Glashütte movement is fitted with a detent chronometer escapement, helical hairspring, a large Richard Griesbach chronometer balance, four helical weights and two weight screws.
The box and dial are signed and have matching numbers.
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Dimensions: 190 x 190 x 190 mm
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Dimensions transportbox: 240 x 240 x 240 mm
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Signed: Franz Lidecke Geestemünde
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Lidecke
Franz Lidecke (1871–1961) was a prominent German chronometer maker whose family business operated from Geestemünde and later Wesermünde for over a century. The company was especially noted for its high quality marine chronometers.
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Lidecke learned the watchmaking trade from his father. In 1893 and 1894, he attended the master’s class at the German watchmaking school in Glashütte and received a certificate of recognition from the Großmann Foundation. This training was a mark of the highest standards in German watchmaking. Following his studies, Lidecke travelled to England, where he worked with the esteemed clockmaker H. J. Drake in Tunbridge Wells.
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Franz’s business was a key supplier to the German Navy and specialized in producing precision chronometers. An example is a contact chronometer with 56 hour power reserve, delivered  to the Imperial German Navy around 1917.
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His business was completely destroyed during the war. After the war, Lidecke initially set up a repair shop in his undamaged villa. Since Germany was not allowed to build ships for many years, he stopped producing deck chronometers and instead focused on repairs, running a workshop on Hafenstraße.
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The family business celebrated its 100^th anniversary in 1955, and Franz Lidecke’s son, Werner, opened his own watch shop in 1957, after returning from war. In turn,Werner’s son, Rolf, took over the business and permanently closed the family business, Uhrenhaus Liedecke, on August 1, 2016, marking the end of a four generation enterprise.