DESCRIPTION:
APW - Charles Fasoldt, Albany, NY, serial #66, co-axial double wheel escapement lever chronometer, 15-16J, 18S, silver original E.H. (E. Humbert) HC, silver cuvette engraved "C. Fasoldt's Patent Isochronal Chronometer. Albany, N.Y.," "Charles Fasoldt Albany N.Y." marked white enamel SS dial, KWKS with offset winding arbor, co-axial chronometer lever escapement with double-escape wheel, duo-in-uno hairspring, gilt damascene upper plates with pebbled gilt dial plate, gold regulator, mvt marked "C. Fasoldt's Patent Feb. 1. 1859 and Patent applied for," s#66. This watch represents an early stage of Fasoldt's work following his move from Rome, New York to Albany, New York. Per Mike Harrold's excellent "Charles Fasoldt, Horologist and Inventor" book it is believed that Fasoldt produced somewhat less than 450 watches in total and that the transition from Rome to Albany production occurred at roughly serial number 55. This excellent original example is quite attractive, and the contrast of its movement's differing finishes to upper plate versus dial plate gives it a very pleasing overall visual effect. This movement is also notable for its presence of a duo-in-uno hairspring which combines within a single piece of steel the geometry of both a helical spring and a flat spiral spring. Charles Fasoldt utilized the duo-in-uno hairspring style among a small portion of his earlier output and to our knowledge was the only American maker to have utilized this hairspring design. From the Wing family collection.
CONDITION:
Mvt: Running after a twist to start and ticking with some visible error in the flat of its balance motion, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, excellent gilt tone, some scattered micro-fine scratches and mild surface spots; dial with some scattered light hls, small bit of fill material evident at seating of seconds-register indicating it has been re-secured; excellent though mismatched hands, hour and minute of different styles, hour is blue, minute and seconds-hand are plum colored; case shows medium wear, an attractive dark patina with some areas having darker tone, ding to lower rear perimeter, mild dings at center rear and above center rear, small nick at left perimeter of front, reduced engraving detail, case front opens a bit wide of 90 degrees (to approximately 105 degrees), initials scribed to inner surface of front lid; tight bow, push shows ample wear; good glass crystal.
ESTIMATE:
$8000
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$16000
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