Rare Swedish plain silver open faced pedometer Circa 1765

Silver open faced pocket watch by Peter Ernst 1714-1789
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A rare Swedish silver pedometer, circa 1765. This watch has a signed gilt movement and a plain case with Swedish punch. The dial is signed white enamel and showcases three distance scales, with a centre hand that registers each step and original hands.
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Diameter: 65 mm
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Signed: Ernst Stockholm
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The pedometer was worn on the belt, and a cord was attached to the ring at the bottom of the case. The other end of the string was attached to the shoe. This watch is probably the earliest known pedometer and, thus, a museum rarity, especially in its excellent original condition. Peter Ernst from Stockholm is listed in the literature as a major Swedish watchmaker.  According to our research, only 2 of these pedometers with the signature of Ernst Peter are known today. This piece is unusual for its mechanism and has a pull cord. It should be hung on its ring on the wearer’s clothing, registering each step. The outer scale shows the levels up to 100; the intermediate measures up to 1,000 steps; the inner scale shows the cumulative distance travelled up to 10,000 steps. An almost identical pedometer from the Ernest Borel collection in Neuchatel was falsely referred to as “Made in England” and illustrated by Alfred Chapuis and Eugene Jaquet in “La Montre Automatique Ancienne, a Siecle et demie d’histoire”, Neuchatel, 1952. (P.93, Fig. 117-118). The most famous manufacturer of this pedometer was Ralph Gout in London. His patent, however, took place only in 1799.