A9256
Silver Swiss Debaufre
£1,950.00
Signed My Patry
Circa 1820
Circa 1820
An early 19th Century Swiss debaufre in a silver open face case.
Diameter 49 mm
Out of stock
Description
An early 19th Century Swiss debaufre in a silver open face case. Full plate gilt keywind movement with going barrel, polished steel ratchet and click. Plain cock with garnet endstone, marked on the table “Patent Jewelled Vertical”. Plain three arm steel balance with blue steel spiral hairspring, polished steel Bosley regulator. Debaufre escapement employing two polished steel escape wheels acting alternately on a single steel roller. Signed white enamel dial with subsidiary seconds, Roman numerals, blue steel seconds hand, gilt hands. Plain silver open face case with ribbed middle, number corresponding to that on the movement.
A rare escapement, also known as a chaffcutter, Ormskirk or club footed verge. It was the first frictional rest escapement invented by Debaufre in 1704. Rarely used until it was taken up by Lancashire makers early in the 19th Century. The escapement is not affected by variations in power as was the case with the verge and some watches dispense with the fusee. See Chamberlain's “Its About Time” page 123 for a description of a similar escapement.
