William Gabriel, London c1870

A good 2-day marine chronometer in its original 3-tier mahogany box, signed on the silvered dial Gabriel 24. Bishopsgate St. Within. London. No. 101.

William Gabriel described himself as a watchmaker and jeweller, of 24, Bishopsgate Street, on 23 November 1874 when he was a witness at the Old Bailey following the theft of a watch and some rings from his shop.

Gabriel was working at 24 Bishopsgate Street in the early 1870’s, he took out a patent for Improvements in Watches & Clocks in 1885 and he died in 1890.  

The chronometer has subsidiary dials for seconds and state of wind, gold hour and minute hands, and is complete with its original winding key.

The chronometer has an Earnshaw type spring detent escapement and the movement is stamped J P for the frame makers Joseph Preston & Sons of Prescot.

The main spring is scratch marked Smith and dated Aug 1869.

The 3-tier mahogany box has a brass key escutcheon, a brass plaque to the upper lid and drop handles.

The middle tier has a bone roundel engraved Gabriel, 24 Bishopsgate St Within London and the bottom tier has a bone roundel engraved 101.

The chronometer box measures 7” x 7” x 7¾” high.

THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD

Stock No. C1110