
Appraisal: T. Earnshaw Marine Chronometer, ca. 1815
Clip: Season 29 Episode 17 | 2m 18sVideo has Closed Captions
Appraisal: T. Earnshaw Marine Chronometer, ca. 1815
In Vintage San Jose, Hour 2, John Delaney appraises a T. Earnshaw marine chronometer, ca. 1815.
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Appraisal: T. Earnshaw Marine Chronometer, ca. 1815
Clip: Season 29 Episode 17 | 2m 18sVideo has Closed Captions
In Vintage San Jose, Hour 2, John Delaney appraises a T. Earnshaw marine chronometer, ca. 1815.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipGUEST: A friend of mine had it, and we decided to, uh, buy it from him.
I like clocks.
I made a grandfather clock in high school.
And I know it was for ships but that's about all I know about it.
APPRAISER: Well, this is a pretty important marine chronometer, probably made sometime around 1815.
And it was made by Thomas Earnshaw, who was a London maker.
He was born in 1749 and he died in 1829.
What he's really well known for is he invented the patent spring detent escapement, which is an escapement that compensates for changes in temperature.
Two metals working against each other, and as a result, it's a much more accurate way of keeping time.
Now, that's very important when you're measuring longitude, because if you're sailing across the ocean, if you're off a couple of minutes, you could be on a shoal of rocks or you could be in another port.
During that early period of maritime sailing, the English government put out a prize for that, which was won by John Harrison.
He actually invented the chronometer.
This particular maker improved it.
And his improvements were used universally after that time period.
He won a prize from the Board of Longitude.
He became known as the father of the chronometer.
And you can see that it is a chain fusee, it gets its power from the spring here and the original chain is still there.
This is actually supported in a very protective case.
This fits into this brass cylinder here and it has a porcelain dial.
It's very easy to read.
And when we screw on this bezel, it's locked into place.
Now, it's set in a gimbal so that if the boat's rocking, it compensates for that.
It does have a hairline crack in the dial.
It's fitted in a box that helps protect it from the elements.
Can you tell me what you bought this clock for?
GUEST: Uh, I paid $125 for it.
APPRAISER: How long ago did you purchase this clock?
GUEST: Um, within the last year.
APPRAISER: This particular clock would probably have an auction estimate of somewhere between $6,500 and $8,500.
GUEST: Whoa.
APPRAISER: That's a pretty good investment of $125.
Yeah.
GUEST: A pretty good investment, huh?
(chuckles)
Appraisal: Gustav Stickley Desk, ca. 1910
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 1m 1s | Appraisal: Gustav Stickley Desk, ca. 1910 (1m 1s)
Appraisal: 1813 Reverend Young Marriage Certificate
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 1m 27s | Appraisal: 1813 Reverend Young Marriage Certificate (1m 27s)
Appraisal: 1886 Leland Stanford-signed Joaquin Miller Book
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 59s | Appraisal: 1886 Leland Stanford-signed Joaquin Miller Book (59s)
Appraisal: Boxing Folk Art Cane, ca. 1895
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 47s | Appraisal: Boxing Folk Art Cane, ca. 1895 (47s)
Appraisal: Handel Piano Lamp, ca. 1920
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 1m | Appraisal: Handel Piano Lamp, ca. 1920 (1m)
Appraisal: "The Grabhorn Press" Sign, ca. 1940
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 1m 19s | Appraisal: "The Grabhorn Press" Sign, ca. 1940 (1m 19s)
Appraisal: Ansel Adams Modern Prints, ca. 1960
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 2m 48s | Appraisal: Ansel Adams Modern Prints, ca. 1960 (2m 48s)
Appraisal: 1885 Frederic S. Cozzens Chromolithograph
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 3m 32s | Appraisal: 1885 Frederic S. Cozzens Chromolithograph (3m 32s)
Appraisal: 1934 Martin 000-18 Guitar
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 2m 55s | Appraisal: 1934 Martin 000-18 Guitar (2m 55s)
Appraisal: Christoph Münhofin "Night" Clock, ca. 1680
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 2m 36s | Appraisal: Christoph Münhofin "Night" Clock, ca. 1680 (2m 36s)
Appraisal: Italico Brass Oil Painting, ca. 1920
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 2m 38s | Appraisal: Italico Brass Oil Painting, ca. 1920 (2m 38s)
Appraisal: Izabel Coles Jewelry & Drawings
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 2m 34s | Appraisal: Izabel Coles Jewelry & Drawings (2m 34s)
Appraisal: Marius Hammer Plique-à-Jour Bowl, ca. 1900
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 1m 59s | Appraisal: Marius Hammer Plique-à-Jour Bowl, ca. 1900 (1m 59s)
Appraisal: Margaret De Patta Studio Jewelry, ca. 1949
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 2m 27s | Appraisal: Margaret De Patta Studio Jewelry, ca. 1949 (2m 27s)
Appraisal: 1938 Ray Jerome Baker Book
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 3m 5s | Appraisal: 1938 Ray Jerome Baker Book (3m 5s)
Appraisal: 1990 Wayne Thiebaud Pen & Ink Drawing
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 2m 49s | Appraisal: 1990 Wayne Thiebaud Pen & Ink Drawing (2m 49s)
Appraisal: Roger Broders Dunkerque Travel Poster, ca. 1930
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 3m 39s | Appraisal: Roger Broders Dunkerque Travel Poster, ca. 1930 (3m 39s)
Appraisal: Almeric Walter Pottery Vase, ca. 1890
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 2m 16s | Appraisal: Almeric Walter Pottery Vase, ca. 1890 (2m 16s)
Appraisal: Philadelphia Walnut Sideboard, ca. 1880
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 1m 4s | Appraisal: Philadelphia Walnut Sideboard, ca. 1880 (1m 4s)
Appraisal: Enrico Fanfani Oil Painting, ca. 1860
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 34s | Appraisal: Enrico Fanfani Oil Painting, ca. 1860 (34s)
Appraisal: Japanese Lacquer Box, ca. 1800
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 3m 41s | Appraisal: Japanese Lacquer Box, ca. 1800 (3m 41s)
Appraisal: Longines Aviator's Watch, ca. 1938
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 1m 50s | Appraisal: Longines Aviator's Watch, ca. 1938 (1m 50s)
Appraisal: Philadelphia Chippendale Walnut Chair, ca. 1775
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Clip: S29 Ep17 | 3m 20s | Appraisal: Philadelphia Chippendale Walnut Chair, ca. 1775 (3m 20s)
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