EDWARD THOMAS LOSEBY NO.104. AN IMPORTANT MAHOGANY TWO-DAY MARINE CHRONOMETER WITH MERCURIAL AUXILIARY COMPENSATION, LONDON, CIRCA 1845 |

3½-inch silvered dial with subsidiary up/down and seconds dials, signed Loseby, London, 104 and engraved with a broad arrow, blued steel hands, the movement with chain fusee and Harrison's maintaining power, Earnshaw's spring detent escapement with blued helical spring and Loseby's bi-metallic balance with two mercury tubes for continuous compensation, the brass bowl gimballed in a brass-bound three-tier case with brass side handles and a bone plaque signed Loseby, 104  

In good condition throughout. Movement would benefit from a clean and fresh oil. Case in good condition. With a case key but no 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."

Edward Thomas Loseby was born in Shifnal, Shropshire in 1817. Following an apprenticeship with Rotherhams, watch and clockmakers in Coventry, he established himself in London as a chronometer maker and horological inovator. He is most noted for his use of fine mercury thermometer tubes as auxiliary compensation fitted to a bi-metallic chronometer balance as present in this example. Loseby blew his own glass tubes with such accuracy that he was able to fine-tune his chronometers for temperature compensation.  In 1845 Loseby submitted his chronometers 101 and 104 to The Royal Observatory, Greenwich for rating trails. Both chronometers performed well, as listed in the Greenwich records, although 104 was slightly less successful than 101. The trial was completed on 12th July 1845 and 104 was purchased by The Board of Admiralty on 7th August. Loseby continued to submit his chronometers to Greenwich for trials until 1852 and had hoped that he would be awarded a monetary prize for his work but, despite support from the Astronomer Royal, Sir George Airey, opposition from his commercial competitors, and in particular Edward John Dent, thwarted his ambitions.  

Following purchase by the Admiralty, 104 returned to Loseby until sent to Devonport in January 1846. From then on it served aboard a number of naval vessels including HMS Horatio in 1855, HMS Waterloo in 1856 and again in 1857, HMS Formidable in 1861 and HMS Ocean in 1870. It was then used at Colaba Observatory, Mumbai from 1879 until 1883 when it was returned to Sheerness. It was aboard HMS Tamar between 1902 and 1905 and HMS Africa in 1906. In 1914 it was taken in exchange by E Dent & Co.

Loseby patented his compensation in 1852 but it proved too difficult and expensive to make commercially and few were made. In total, the Admiralty purchased thirteen of his chronometers at a total cost of £630. Disheartened by the lack of acknowledgment, he moved to Leicester where his father and a younger brother were established watchmakers and jewellers and where he remained until his death in 1891.

Loseby No.128, completed during the 1850s by Robert Gardner, was sold Sotheby's New York 'Time Museum' sale on 13th October 2004, lot 666. 

Sotheby's would like to thank Jonathan Betts, MBE for his help in cataloguing this chronometer.