Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments | Skinner Auction 3364T

Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments online 3364T | April 6–14, 2020 | www.skinnerinc.com

Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments online Our April sale offers rare and unusual finds both in the horological and early optical apparatus fields, featuring four 18kt gold English watches from the historic steamship Pulaski which went down in 1838 that were recently brought up from the ocean floor by Swordfish Partners, a consortium consisting of several experienced salvage firms including Endurance Exploration Group, Bluewater Ventures, and Marex. There is a strong group of vintage wristwatches on offer, including a rare single-owner Rolex 6239 “Paul Newman” Daytona, and many other fine pieces from the 1920s through the early 2000s.

A collection of astronomical regulators from the Norfolk Southern Railway will be showcased, along with a fine example of an early Willard patent timepiece with its original stencil decoration, and the monumental “Clement Clock,” with a story not to be missed.

We also have a rare complete example of Carlo Ponti’s Mégaléthescope that includes the original carved wood and marble table and over forty original slides, and we will be concluding the collection of Pennsylvania surveying instruments from the Robert C. Miller Collection.

Cartier 18kt Gold Brooch or Lapel Watch Sterling Silver Wind Indicator Open-face Watch Rockford Watch Co. “655” Indicator Open-face Watch

3364T | April 6–14 front cover: Dial detail from The Clement Clock

Preview by appointment only: to schedule: 508.970.3000 | 508.970.3131

back cover: Slide used with Carlo Ponti’s Mégaléthoscope

Wednesday, April 8, 12–5PM Thursday, April 9, 12–7PM Friday, April 10, 8–9:30AM

274 Cedar Hill Street | Marlborough, MA

Jonathan Dowling clocks@skinnerinc.com | watches@skinnerinc.com | 508.970.3131

MA LIC. 2304

View the sale & bid at skinnerinc.com/auctions/3364T

Pocket Watches

Dudley Watch Co. “Masonic” Model 3 Display-back Watch and Penknife Patek Philippe & Co. Diamond and Ruby Open-face Watch C.H. Meylan Platinum Gem-set Watch Benedict & Burnham Mfg. Co. Three-spoke Longwind Watch Audemars Piguet & Co. Platinum Open-face Diamond Bezel Watch Hamilton 14kt White Gold and Diamond “921” Open-face Watch

Coin Silver Civil War Pocket Watch Identified to Lieutenant Edward Rowe, 8th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia 18kt Gold Hunter-case Civil War Watch Identified to Lieutenant John M. Carson, 27th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment Coin Silver Civil War American Watch Co. Pocket Watch Identified to a Confederate Soldier from the 3rd Regiment Junior Reserves, 72nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment

Rolex Wristwatches

Single-owner Rolex Daytona Reference 6239 “Exotic” Dial Wristwatch, c. 1968

this page: Patek Philippe 18kt Gold Signed Tiffany & Co. Reference 2457 Wristwatch Rolex Explorer Reference 14270 Wristwatch, with Paperwork

opposite: Rolex Explorer II Reference 16570 Wristwatch

Tornek-Rayville TR-900 Sterile Dial Dive Watch

Rolex 18kt Gold Reference 1803 Day-Date Wristwatch

Rolex Two-tone Submariner Reference 16613 Wristwatch

A Selection of Fine Wristwatches, including Patek Philippe, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Movado, Longines, IWC, Gallet, Croton, and Tiffany & Co.

The Wreck of the Steamship Pulaski On the evening of June 14, 1838, the starboard boiler of the steamship Pulaski exploded while approximately 40 miles off the coast of North Carolina. The steamship was in route to Baltimore, Maryland, with 37 crew and about 150 passengers. The passengers included some of the wealthiest and privileged people of the day.

There were only 59 survivors.

Contemporary news accounts of 1838 describe the Pulaski explosion as the “most painful catastrophe that has ever occurred upon the American coast.” The Steamship Pulaski was built by the Savannah and Charleston Steam Packet Company and named after the American Revolutionary War hero Casmir Pulaski. Regular steamship travel was in its infancy in the 1830s and the SS Pulaski was outfitted with the highest standards of passenger comfort. Wealthy passengers took the opportunity to escape the heat of the southern summer and enjoy northern resorts and cooler temperatures.

At 11PM, passengers were awakened by a massive explosion. The engineer in charge had allowed the water to run low in the starboard boiler and then admitted fresh water into the heated boiler, causing irreparable and catastrophic results. After the boiler explosion, the ship broke in two and sank within the hour. Survivors of the explosion were left with two working rowboats and shipwreck material to cling to until passing vessels were able to stop and rescue those left at sea. Stories of the survivors and their ordeal was detailed in many newspapers of the time.

As will happen, the events of June 14, 1838, slowly faded from memory, and the Pulaski was forgotten by many. In 2017, Swordfish Partners—a consortium consisting of several experienced salvage firms including Endurance Exploration Group, Bluewater Ventures, and Marex—filed an Admiralty Claim on the “Unknown Abandoned and Sunken Steamship off the coast of North Carolina” (8:17-cv-01043SPF). It was believed to be the resting site of the steamship Pulaski, but evidence was required to prove the site was indeed so. Swordfish Partners’ parent company, Endurance Exploration, engaged and partnered with Blue Water Ventures International to manage and conduct excavation and recovery operations on the unknown shipwreck, located in 120 feet of water. Onsite operations began in November 2017 and in early 2018, a small brass tag with the name “SS Pulaski” was recovered by Blue Water divers, confirming that the site was indeed the steamship Pulaski.

To date many unique items have been recovered—both luxury and utilitarian items passengers would have used while on board the ship. Recovery operations are ongoing, and each dive to the site reveals a bit more of the Pulaski’s secrets.

Salvaged Watches from the Wreckage of the Steamship Pulaski

Local News Coverage of the Wreck & Salvage: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article213337689.html

American Clocks Browse all lots online at skinnerinc.com/ auctions/3364T

Aaron Lane Carved and Inlaid Walnut Tall Clock

From the Collection of the Norfolk Southern Railway

Standard Electric Time Master Clock E. Howard Walnut Jeweler’s Wall Regulator

C. R. Railroad Mahogany Astronomical Floor Regulator E. Howard & Co. No. 22 Mahogany Astronomical Regulator E. Howard & Co. No. 25 Astronomical Floor Regulator

John Stokell Mahogany Astronomical Floor Regulator, with dial detail Nathaniel Mulliken Butternut Tall Clock

opposite: James Perrigo Cherry Tall Clock Levi & Abel Hutchins Maple Tall Clock, with detail

Full sale listing online at skinnerinc.com/auctions/3364T

this page:

Simon Willard & Co. Stenciledfront Patent Timepiece or “Banjo�

Clock, with dial detail Aaron Willard Mahogany Dishdial Shelf Clock Massachusetts Mahogany Shelf Clock Case

Seth Thomas Walnut Wall Regulator E. Howard & Co. No. 59 Rosewood and Ebonized Wall Regulator Jerome Ripple-front Drop Octagon Wall Clock Ansonia Clock Co. “Cream of Mustard� Advertising Clock Miniature Octagonal Cast Iron and Mahogany Connecticut Wall Clock

Chelsea Clocks

Tiffany & Co. Brushed Silvered Shelf Clock by Chelsea Clock Co. Exceptional 12-inch Chelsea Marine Clock for the USS Canberra Cruiser

Chelsea Plaster of Paris Tambour Shelf Clock Chelsea “Mariner” Yacht Wheel Clock Impressive 10-inch Chelsea Tambour No. 1 Brass Clock

European Clocks Marble and Ormolu-mounted Figural Clock

Ormolu-mounted Fire-gilt Mantel Clock

Fire Gilt Figural Clock

Rosewood Grand Sonnerie Vienna Regulator

“The Clement Clock,” Monumental Carved English Oak Quarter-chiming, Musical, and Triple Calendar Hall Clock, London, late 19th century.

It has been proposed by earlier researchers that this clock is a commemorative piece for Queen Anne, who is prominently displayed on the case’s waist door, along with figures of the Duke of Marlboro, Archbishop of Canterbury, court jesters bearing coats-of-arms, and King George I, who succeeded the throne upon Queen Anne’s death.

Note: The Clement Clock records comprise documentation removed from the museum collection files of the Vermont Historical Society relating to the large, ornate, English “great-grandfather” clock that was purchased, circa 1914, by Percival Clement of Rutland, placed in the State House in 1920, and was made an outright gift to the Vermont Historical Society in 1944.

Read the full story online at skinnerinc.com/auctions/3364T

Horological Instruments

Two-day Parkinson & Frodsham Marine Chronometer

Zenith Boxed Marine Chronometer

Charles Frodsham Exposition Two-day Ship’s Chronometer

Carlo Ponti was the optician to King Victor Emanuel II of Italy, and designed this large scale optical viewer in 1862.

The Robert C. Miller Collection of Pennsylvania Surveying Instruments, Part IV

Carlo Ponti Highly Carved and Ebonized Walnut MĂŠgalĂŠthoscope and Table, c. 1865-70, four panels carved in high relief with Venetian noblemen, with interior mounted mirrors (or looking glasses) for light reflection, at the rear of the viewer there is a serpentine iron cradle that controls the rotation of the viewer, curved track to accept the 12x16 views, the hinged rear door houses an illustrated instructional manual in English under a glass plate; including forty-five original photographs of European cities, wd. 41 1/2, dp. 27, ht. with viewer 56 in.

Selections from the Conclusion of The Miller Collection

above left:

above right & right:

Small Collection of Miniature Scientific Instruments, including signed monoculars

Selections from the Conclusion of The Miller Collection

Ives Clockwork Fire House “Little Duke” One-cent Slot Machine Puritan “Baby Bell” One-cent Trade Stimulater Victor Type MS Phonograph

274 Cedar Hill Street | Marlborough, MA 01752

FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT #357

For buyers, consignors, and the passionately curious