Exceptional Discoveries: The Olmsted Complications Collection
T. S & J. D. Negus
A pink gold hunting-cased keyless watch with duo-in-uno hairspring, rachet tooth lever escapement and up-and-down indication, No. 3680, Circa 1870 and later
No reserve
Lot Closed
December 10, 06:16 PM GMT
Estimate
700 - 1,000 USD
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Read more.Lot Details
Description
Movement: gilt rachet tooth lever escapement, blued steel duo-in-uno hairspring, free-sprung regulator, gilt half-plate movement, jeweled to the center carried in gold chatons, bi-metallic compensation balance, backplate signed T. S & J. D. Negus, New York, No. 3680
Dial: white enamel dial, Roman numerals, subsidiary dials for constant seconds and up-and-down indication, signed T. S & J. D. Negus, New York
Case: 18k pink gold case, olivette for hand setting with protective shoulders, case stamped with London hallmarks for 1970, and casemaker's initials MRM for Martin Matthews, purposed built later case
Signed: dial and movement, case stamped MRM for Martin Mattews
Diameter: 53 mm
Weight: approximately 150.16 g
Accessories: accompanied by photocopy of the E. Greenberg invoice dated July 29, 1971, detailing the purchase of four timepieces, including item No. 3680
In 1848, Thomas S. Negus and his brother John D. Negus founded the firm T.S. & J.D. Negus, manufacturers and retailers of maritime chronometers and nautical instruments, at 140 Water Street, New York City. The company supplied precision chronometers to the United States Navy as well as to shipmasters and yachtsmen, earning a reputation for producing some of the finest instruments in the country.
The firm traded as T.S. Negus & Co. from 1864 and reverted to T.S. & J.D. Negus in 1869. It was described as “probably the most prolific American chronometer manufacturer” through the first quarter of the 20th century. From 1886 to 1887, a number of Negus chronometers were submitted for trials at the United States Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C., where they achieved consistently high rankings among 45 instruments tested.
John D. Negus died in 1890, and Thomas S. Negus in 1894. The business was then carried on by John S. Negus II, who led the firm until his death in 1963.