Accession No
0793
Brief Description
Richard’s chronosphere, consisting of a 6-inch terrestrial globe mounted on a clockwork mechanism, by C. A. Richard & Cie, French, c. 1910
Origin
France; Paris
Maker
C. A. Richard & Cie [maker] S. Smith and Son Ltd. [seller in England]
Class
cartography; horology
Earliest Date
1906
Latest Date
1930
Inscription Date
Material
metal (brass); paper
Dimensions
height 300mm; maximum diameter 150mm
Special Collection
Robert Whipple collection
Provenance
Purchased from K.M. de Beamount, Cambridge, England, on 25/11/1935.
Inscription
‘PATENT 19460
RICHARD’S
CHRONOSPHERE
CABLE’ ()
‘S. SMITH & SON LTD
MADE IN FRANCE’ (underside of base)
Description Notes
Richard’s chronosphere, consisting of a 6-inch terrestrial globe mounted on a clockwork mechanism, by C.A. Richard & Cie, French, c. 1910. Globe has a plaster sphere with paper gores. Also marked with the English seller of the globe: S. Smith & Son Ltd.
12 engraved gores with calottes. Brass horizon circle divided I - XII, I - XII in red and black with change at V - VI. Brass finial with indicator arm over globe. On fluted brass pedestal base with clockwork mechanism in base. Key hole underneath. Scratched in to the base are repairers' marks “M1163PS” and “95671DS”.
Incomplete (key for winding the clockwork mechanism appears to be missing)
References
Events
Description
This terrestrial globe also works as a clock. A hidden clockwork mechanism in its base turns the globe one full revolution a day. This allowed local time at any point on the globe to be found using the hour scale on the equatorial ring. Reading the time was made easier by the movable pointer attached to the North Pole. Some earlier examples of chronospheres were not originally intended to accurately hold time. Made in France, this English-language version was sold by the London firm of S. Smith & Son, who advertised it as an “Empire clock”, claiming that “no home is complete without one”.
14/01/2014
Created by: Allison Ksiazkiewicz on 14/01/2014
FM:43479
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