E.J. Dent eight day regulator clock, c1843, dial signed: "Dent, London, Clockmaker to the Queen" and numbered: "705". 12-inch 24-hr silvered dial with subsidiary seconds dial.
The movement has five pillars. It is signed and numbered on the back-plate and has a dead beat escapement with jeweled pallets, Harrison's maintaining power, high pinion count with six-spoke wheel crossings and counter balanced minute hand.
The clock retains its original bronze six point pulley and weight, Dent steel pendulum with mercury-filled polished cast iron jar with fine graduated rating and timing tray on the rod, original (matching numbered) key.
The case has a mahogany shallow break-arch with glazed inspection windows at each side and a dome skylight at the top. The hinge door is double locking and has a felt dust seal. The glazed front door has a brass winding aperture. The backboard has Dent's English Inches and beat scales.
Vaudrey Mercer's book on Dent indicates that regulators 517 to 1503 were made between 1840-53... which puts #705 at c1843. Dimensions: Height 53 inches; Width 15 inches; Depth 8 1/2 inches.
Edward John Dent was born in 1790 and died in 1853. Known for making superb chronometers, his chronometer no. 633 accompanied Charles Darwin aboard the H.M.S. Beagle in 1831 on the voyage that led to the publication of “The Origin of the Species”; number 1800 was used by David Livingston during his African travels. Dent built the original Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) clock at The Royal Observatory. He was commissioned by the Board of Longitude in 1852 to build the great clock of the Houses of Parliament, more commonly referred to as "Big Ben"; Edward died in 1853, and the clock was completed by his son.
The design of the iron pendulum jar (see photo, below) is simpler than one using glass, regulation being achieved by winding the whole jar (A) plus cap (D) up or down the rod, which passes right through the mercury to aid temperature harmonization. The small screw cap (F) may be used for varying the quantity of mercury and inserting a thermometer; (E) is a hand-hold to be used to protect the suspension when rotating the jar. The divisions around the side of the lid (D) may be calibrated to indicate the change of rate achieved.
The movement has five pillars. It is signed and numbered on the back-plate and has a dead beat escapement with jeweled pallets, Harrison's maintaining power, high pinion count with six-spoke wheel crossings and counter balanced minute hand.
The clock retains its original bronze six point pulley and weight, Dent steel pendulum with mercury-filled polished cast iron jar with fine graduated rating and timing tray on the rod, original (matching numbered) key.
The case has a mahogany shallow break-arch with glazed inspection windows at each side and a dome skylight at the top. The hinge door is double locking and has a felt dust seal. The glazed front door has a brass winding aperture. The backboard has Dent's English Inches and beat scales.
Vaudrey Mercer's book on Dent indicates that regulators 517 to 1503 were made between 1840-53... which puts #705 at c1843. Dimensions: Height 53 inches; Width 15 inches; Depth 8 1/2 inches.
Edward John Dent was born in 1790 and died in 1853. Known for making superb chronometers, his chronometer no. 633 accompanied Charles Darwin aboard the H.M.S. Beagle in 1831 on the voyage that led to the publication of “The Origin of the Species”; number 1800 was used by David Livingston during his African travels. Dent built the original Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) clock at The Royal Observatory. He was commissioned by the Board of Longitude in 1852 to build the great clock of the Houses of Parliament, more commonly referred to as "Big Ben"; Edward died in 1853, and the clock was completed by his son.
The design of the iron pendulum jar (see photo, below) is simpler than one using glass, regulation being achieved by winding the whole jar (A) plus cap (D) up or down the rod, which passes right through the mercury to aid temperature harmonization. The small screw cap (F) may be used for varying the quantity of mercury and inserting a thermometer; (E) is a hand-hold to be used to protect the suspension when rotating the jar. The divisions around the side of the lid (D) may be calibrated to indicate the change of rate achieved.
