Deck-watch used by Capt. William Parry during his attempt to reach the North Pole, 1827
- maker:
- Parkinson & Frodsham
This image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence
Deck-watch used by Capt
The Clockmakers' Museum/Clarissa Bruce
© The Clockmakers’ Charity
Silver spring detent escapement deck-watch in a mahogany case by Parkinson and Frodsham. White enamel dial with a subsiduary seconds dial and blued steel hands, signed 'Parkinson & Frodsham London 948' and the broad arrow mark. Flat spiral balance-spring with its stud on a flexible arm to aid the even coiling and uncoiling of the spring. Hallmarked for 1823 – 4.
This deck watch accompanied Capt. William Parry aboard ‘Hecla’ in his attempt to reach the North Pole in June 1827. Parry used ‘sledge boats’ on the ice, but they proved too heavy to push, achieving a maximum 7 miles a day. As the ice was moving south at a greater rate, he was forced to abandon his attempt at 82° 45' latitude, the furthest reached until 1876.
Clockmakers' Museum No. 447
Details
- Category:
- Clockmakers
- Collection:
- The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers
- Object Number:
- L2015-3359
- Materials:
- silver (alloy), brass (copper, zinc alloy), steel (metal), enamel, glass, mahogany (wood), ivory, velvet and diamond
- Measurements:
-
box: 57 mm x 89 mm x 120 mm,
watch: 69 mm x 57 mm x 22 mm,
- credit:
- Lent by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers
