MARINE CHRONOMETER D. Mc. Gregor & Co, K/2057 Circa 1860 England

M&R165

EIGHT-DAY MARINE CHRONOMETER
Signed: D. Mc. Gregor & Co,
Makers to the Admiralty, Glasgow & Greenock K/2057
Circa 1860
England

Movement
The movement is constructed between circular brass plates and is driven by a spring in a spring barrel via a chain fusee. It has Harrison’s maintaining power and an Earnshaw detent escapement, compensation balance with regulation screws and a blued steel helical balance spring.

Dial
The silvered brass dial has a Roman chapter ring with, Arabic five-minute and minute divisions. The time is indicated by a fine pair of golden spade hands. Above the middle is an up-and-down dial (0-8). There is a seconds ring below the middle with Arabic ten-second and second divisions. Within this ring are the number of the chronometer K/2057 and the indication auxiliary compensation. Both auxiliary rings have straight blued steel hands. The maker has signed the dial in the middle D. Mc. Gregor & Co, Makers to the Admiralty, Glasgow & Greenock.

Case
As usual with marine chronometers, the movement is situated in a brass bowl, which is gimballed in a three-tier mahogany case, embellished by brass line inlays. There are recessed brass carrying handles to the sides. In the right-hand top corner next to the movement is a hole for the winding key, whilst at the bottom right there is a contraption to secure the gimbals with a screw. Upon opening the top lid reveals a glazed window, which allows reading the time with further opening the case. In the front of the middle tier is a bone cartouche with the maker’s signature D. Mc Gregor & Co, Glasgow & Greenock K/2057. There is a brass cartouche inlay in the top lid.

Travel case
The mahogany original travel case can be opened with a leather strap.

Duration 8 days
Dimensions 20.5 x 20.5 x 22.5 cm.
Travel box 26 x 26 x 26 cm.

Literature
T. Mercer, Chronometer Makers of the World, p. 195 .

The maker
Duncan McGregor was active in Greenock and Glasgow (Scotland) from 1859 until 1885. In later years he had also a branch in Liverpool.