DESCRIPTION:
Sumner Smith, Hartford, Ct., a mid 19th century, American made chronometer movement with spring detent escapement, brass, undersprung balance with three steel screws, the balance spring with three turns, the staff with steel impulse and unlocking pallets, blued and polished steel regulator, Earnshaw's escapement, the detent mounted to a brass block and with slotted foot to permit adjustment, D shaped locking stone projecting downward, and passing spring riveted in place, five wheel train with going barrel, gilt plates with turned baluster pillars, and barrel bridge engraved "Sumner Smith Hartford", and mainspring signed "Quelet", roman numeral white enamel dial, with gold spade and poker hands, contained in a protective, cylindrical brass bowl with hinged, gilt bezel and hinged, glazed bottom, and purpose made, contemporary round cardboard box with marbleized paper covering, a paper which was found inside the box from one of Smith's neighbors with partial name and address, and two broken detents, one with D spade steel locking piece, a brass detent mounting block, and three small screws, and a small archive of recent research into the maker and timepiece.
CONDITION:
movement complete, gilding in good condition, good staff, steel impulse pallet with minor bend, bowl good, bezel glass missing, bezel with a few casting flaws, two screws which attach the bezel and movement to the cylinder broken, dial with two small edge chips and missing one foot, hands good, cardboard box with wear, paper found inside box with losses. Sumner Smith (Nov. 1, 1811- Dec. 29, 1847) was born in Brighton, Mass. to Benjamin Smith and Mary Graves. He had arrived in Hartford by 1830, and is listed in directories as a jeweler, watchmaker, and finally horologist. In 1841 he married Mary Goodwin, and his working address, 166 Main St., Hartford, is that of his father in law Horace Goodwin, who kept, " constantly on hand for sale at reasonable prices, Watches, Jewelry, Fancy Goods, Musical Instruments, Music and Music Books, Looking Glasses, Housekeeping Hardware, and any quantity of Military Goods". An article published in the NAWCC Bulletin, Vol. 57, No. 417, p.404- 407, details recent research into Smith and this timepiece, and includes a newspaper ad, placed by Smith in the July 20, 1842 edition of the Connecticut Courant, which states that "As a specimen of his work, a Ship Chronometer, made by the subscriber, can be seen at the store of H. Goodwin, 2d., No. 166 Main St, Hartford". It also details a spat between Sumner Smith and Lorenzo Church, who had worked for Bliss and Creighton in New York, which played out in the pages of the same newspaper during the month of October, 1842, regarding the timepiece in Smith's July 20th ad. The mainspring, signed "Quelet", and dated 1840, is probably the work of George L. Quelet, a mainspring manufacturer located at 33 Roosevelt Street, NY. Springs signed by Quelet have been found in at least one clock by Aaron Dodd Crane, and also a chronometer by Eggert & Son of New York. The chronometer is very unlike imported products of the period, and it seems a reasonable conclusion that the timepiece (with the exception of the dial) is of Smith's manufacture, and the one that he advertised in the Courant. As such, it is an important document of early American clock and watch making. For more information on George Quelet, see "Marine Chronometers At Greenwich" by Jonathan Betts, page 378, paragraph 3.
ESTIMATE:
$1800
-
$2500
PRICE SOLD:
$3000
CIRCA: 1842
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