English pocket chronometer by Thomas Earnshaw Circa 1810

Silver pocket chronometer by Thomas Earnshaw
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A fine English silver key wind open faced chronometer pocket watch, circa 1810. Gilt full plate movement, cut and compensated bimetallic over sized Z balance with large compensation weights, helical balance spring, diamond end stone.
White enamel dial with black Roman numerals and black outer minute track, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, blued steel spade hands.
Polished consular case. Signed dial & movement, case stamped RJO.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Signed: Tho’s Earnshaw  London
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In 1763 Thomas Earnshaw (1749-1829) was trained as a watchmaker. From 1780 he completed works for Brockbanks. In his own factory in London around 1781, Earnshaw developed a spring-loaded chronometer escapement that became common practice and binding for more than 150 years. Thomas Earnshaw took over the business from William Hughes at High Holborn 119 in 1794/1795. Thomas Earnshaw is considered one of the pioneers in chronometer construction, especially in the further development of the chronometer escapement. Around 3,000 pocket watches and around 1,500 marine and pocket chronometers of the best quality come from his factory.
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Using Earnshaw’s numbering system, the first number is the number of watches made at that point using Earnshaw’s spring detent escapement. The second number, is the total number of watches produced at that point. Thomas Earnshaw (1749-1829) Born in Ashton-Under-Lyne in Lancashire, by 1780 he had the reputation of being a very fine watch finisher. He invented the modern Chronometer spring detent escapement towards the end of 1780, a design that he insisted was stolen by Arnold. However, Earnshaw and Arnold likely arrived at their conclusions separately. Earnshaw perfected the fusing together of brass and steel to make laminae for compensation balances which previously had to be riveted.