THOMAS MERCER MARINE CHRONOMETER No. 28077
THOMAS MERCER 1854-1984 The company Thomas Mercer Ltd made chronometers, clocks, instruments and measuring equipment in London and St.Albans from 1858 until 1984 when dial gauges were being replaced by electronic measuring devices and chronometers by GPS thus ending 126 years of chronometer manufacturing by Thomas Mercer and his successors who between them had made over 30,000 of all types.
Thomas Mercer began as a watchmaker in Liverpool, the centre of the horological industry, where he began to manufacture marine chronometer. Having success in the Kew Chronometer trials he expanded his business to St.Albans where the factory soon began to dominate chronometer manufacture producing them for many other makers worldwide. Many other marine and survey chronometers, regulator clocks and precision timekeepers where produced especially chronometer-controlled master clock systems for both cargo and ocean liners. In 1960 Mercer Chronometer collaborated with LeRoy and ATO of Paris on their electrically maintained chronometer balance.
Mercer Chronometers written by Tony Mercer (grandson of Thomas Mercer the founder) records the History, Maintenance & Repair undertaken by this firm. This book has an appendix of serial numbers of Mercer chronometers, twelve months would be taken for production and testing, after which the sale would be immediate, the instrument having been made to order.
A good two-day marine chronometer by Thomas Mercer no. 28077, the silvered dial with up/down indicator and subsidiary seconds housed in a glazed mahogany box and outer travelling case.
c.1972
Price £1325
