ATMOS CLOCK Atmos Pendule Perpetuelle, Brevets J.L. Reutter S.G.D.G. 3887 Circa 1930 France

M&R23a

ATMOS CLOCK
Signed: Atmos Pendule Perpetuelle, Brevets J.L. Reutter S.G.D.G. 3887
Circa 1930
France

Movement
The spring-driven movement of this beautiful Atmos clock has a going train only. It has a large chrome-plated brass balance with torsion wire suspension, visible below the movement. The movement is wound by a temperature-sensitive mechanism. Should the temperature remain stable, the clock will continue to run for 90 days. The drum is secured by a bar with the punched number 3887 and a plaquette with Brevets J.L. Reutter S.G.D.G. Made in France.

Dial
The circular silvered dial has a Arabic chapter ring for the hours with five-minute and minute divisions. The maker has signed the dial ATMOS PENDULE PERPÉTUELLE. The time is indicated by a fine pair of black steel ‘Breguet’ hands.

Case
This Atmos clock by J.L. Reutter is made of chrome-plated brass with facetted glass panels on all sides so that the movement is entirely visible. There are doors to the front and back. The balance can be secured by a slide under the front door for transport purposes.

Duration: Infinite, in case of no temperature differences 90 days.
Height 23,5 cm
Width 17,5 cm
Depth 14 cm

Literature
– J. Zeeman, Het Klokkenlexicon, Zwolle, 2003, p. 17
– Jean Lebet, Von der Luft leben: die Geschichte der Pendeluhr Atmos, Jaeger-LeCoultre, 1997.
– TIJDschrift 0403 p. 2-7.

The maker
Jean-Léon Reutter (Neuchâtel, Switzerland, 1899-1971) is the inventor of Atmos clocks. In 1913 this engineer, based in Paris, started his experiments which would eventually result in the production of the Atmos clock. He actually developed ideas of James Cox who thought of a self-winding system as early as 1765. In 1926 the first commercially produced clock was introduced on the market. He applied for the first patent in 1929. Reutter made used of a U-shaped glass vessel, which is positioned in such a way that small deflections were possible which wound the main spring continually.