DESCRIPTION:
Clemens Riefler, Nesselwang, a rare observatory tank regulator with electric remontoire, the type A3 movement with knife edge suspension resting on polished agate pads, gravity escapement with jeweled, two arm impulse levers, movement fitted with a 60 tooth wheel on the escape arbor with jewelled switch for sending signals at one second intervals, signed, silvered astronomical dial engraved "Clemens Riefler Nesselwang No. 712 1947", blued steel hands, J1 SCH seconds beating pendulum with invar rod and cylindrical bob, serial #1071, the movement mounting frame with with microscope for reading beat scale, all contained within a copper cylinder and under a heavy glass bell jar, the tank suspended by a heavy cast iron bracket, together with low voltage power supply, solenoid, switch board for controlling the various components related to the time recorder, and panel with vernier tape reading device accurate to within .005 seconds
CONDITION:
running at time of consignment, recording equipment was not in use, and so functionality is unknown, movement dirty, would benefit from service, dial good, dial mounting holes slightly enlarged, hands good, microscope with minor marks and scratches, optics good, movement mounting frame with residue from bell jar sealant, pendulum with minor marks and scratches, bell jar good, tank with two small dents and some deep scratches, mounting bracket repainted, switch board and drive for recorder very dirty, reading device cover with missing hook, solenoid mounting board with split. Sigmund Riefler (8/9/1849 - 10/21/1912) was the son of Clemens and Magdalena Riefler, and was responsible for the advancements that brought the Riefler firm to the forefront of precision timekeeping. His innovations include his spring impulse escapement, which isolated the pendulum from direct contact with the escapement, and provided a more equal impulse, a scientific and mathematical approach to the improvement of compensated pendulums, which reduced the reliance on an empirical, and inexact approach to the refinement of design, and finally, his electric remontoire, which eliminated the need for much of the wheelwork, with a resultant reduction in friction and irregularities in power transmission to the escapement. His patented gravity escapement, seen in this lot and lot 169, was employed in situations where vibration was a significant concern, and in cases where sufficiently skilled labor was unavailable to install and adjust the spring impulse timekeeper and it's pendulum. Riefler's late 19th century regulators significantly improved the accuracy of the pendulum clock, and became the standard for observatory use until surpassed by the Shortt - Synchronome free pendulum clock, c1920.
ESTIMATE:
$40000
-
$60000
PRICE SOLD:
$85000
CIRCA: 1947
DIMENSIONS: 56in x 16in x
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