Index No. A4901

Very Early Iron Fusee Drum Timepiece

A rare mid 16th Century German verge fusee timepiece in a gilt metal drum case. Deep circular movement constructed of iron with three pillars. Iron fusee and barrel with gut driving a three wheel iron train. The potence for the crown wheel and top pivot of the contrate wheel in a single block on an iron arm pinned to one of the pillars. Simple pinned iron cock, large, light two arm iron balance with pins for the hogs bristle banking. The dial engraved on the gilt drum case, a chapter of Roman numerals from I to XII outside a chapter marked in Arabic numerals 13 to 24. In the centre a representation of the sun. Well made later blue steel hand. Engraved brass drum case with three oval cartouches containing portraits, later cast pendant. Push on brass back with decorative engraved border and a central portrait. Later winding aperture and inscription inside the back.
Anonymous	German
Condition	Circa	1540

	Due to its great age it is difficult to convey that despite the alterations this piece should be regarded as being in very good or excellent condition. Few mechanical pieces were made before 1620 and almost all that even survive were subject to "improvements" and repair in the early years of their existence. The alterations carried out to this piece have been sympathetically reversed and restored. No attempt has been made to hide the alterations and they should be seen as an honest historical record of its life. At some time, probably in the late 17th Century the original foliot has been replaced by a pendulum. To accommodate this a slot has been cut in the edge of the case. At some later time, apparently not recently, this alteration has been reversed by fitting an iron balance in keeping with the style of the movement. The three holes in the dial have been left. These are almost certainly due to the fitting of a dial over the original. This may well have been carried out at the same time as the conversion to pendulum. The hand is well made and in keeping with the style of piece. Iron timepieces are often badly affected by rust. This one appears to have escaped this fate, some fine original marking out lines can still be seen on the top plate.
		Diameter	54 mm
		Depth	39 mm

Probably manufactured in Augsburg or Nuremberg. Portable timepieces from this period are very rare indeed, normally only to be seen in museums. This is a particularly small example which still functions when wound! See "Watches" by Clutton and Daniels Illustration 56 for a very similar timepiece, possibly by the same maker, and the catalogue for the Museum of Time Measurement, Beyer, Zurich p.26 Pl.6.

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