Early electric marine chronometer, c.1904

Overview

This clock was patented by Swiss engineer and clockmaker Henri Campiche in 1904, and appears to be Campiche’s attempt to enter the market in distributing marine chronometers, a growth area at this period as a result of developments in steamship technology.
The movement is of full plate construction in several tiers, with an unusually large balance wheel and spring – about 6 times the size of an ordinary marine chronometer. A large solenoid coil is mounted between the plates. When energised, it attracts a pivoted armature. According to an article published in L’Électricien for 1912, this clock was designed to distribute not just the time ‘but also all sorts of light and sound signals’ across a small ship. However, it is possible it was never manufactured at scale: only six are known to survive today (including this one), and all of them have serial numbers lower than eight – this is number 2.