Pennington Pendleton & others

2¼-inch enamel dial with beetle & poker hands, mounted with an enamel seconds dial on a gilt ground with finely cast and chased foliate and floral silver mounts, the movement with four turned pillars, reverse chain fusee with standing barrel and rotating arbor for the chain drum,  maintaining power, constant force escapement, three arm balance with counterpoise bulge, blued steel balance spring, geometric lancet pierced balance cock, all to Mudge's specification and signed on the backplate No.24, Pennington Pendleton and others for the son of the inventor, 1796, the moulded drum case with eight turned pillars and eight glazed panels, the glazed base with a winding shutter; on a later gilt-brass angled display stand

Jonathan Betts `The Roadshow' Chronometer, Horological Journal, August 2002 p.276

In remarkably good original condition. Dials with some very minor surface scratches but otherwise very good. Movement is complete and running at time of cataloguing although it may benefit from a clean and some fresh oil. The case numbered, with old minor marks and scratches. Later stand in good condition though rather dirty. With winder.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Thomas Mudge (1715-94) completed his first timekeeper with constant force escapement as a contender for the longitude prize in 1774 and later made two others. They were not successful in earning a reward and he died a disappointed man. In the previous year his son, in an attempt to demonstrate the virtues of his father's work, set up a manufactuary with Messrs. William Howells and Robert Pennington  to produce copies of the timekeepers, the work was carried out under the guidance of Mudge Snr until his death later in the year. The first timekeepers were signed Howells and Pennington for Thomas Mudge. After 18 months only eight chronometers had been made and in 1796 Mudge Jnr introduced more craftsmen to speed up production. This led to an argument with Howells and Mudge dissolved their agreement. As the manufactory was on Howell's premises Mudge had to look for premises elsewhere.
Howells then went into production with Paul Philip Barraud and George Jamison; they made simpler versions of Mudge's original design.
Mudge Jnr, having found alternative premises employed the escapement maker Richard Pendleton towork with Robert Pennington to produce chronometers to Mudge Snr's specification. This group was signed Pennington, Pendelton and others for the son of the inventor. This chronometer, No.25 is one of eight of that series retaining the original escapement.
Both factories considerd themselves as a continuation of the original so from No.9 onwards there are two separate series. Neither factory was particularly successful and Mudge Jnr's factory closed in 1798 after 19 further chronometers were made resulting in a total of twenty seven.
The Howells' partnership fared less well closing in 1799 after making only seven timekeepers.