A rare mid 18th century month duration longcase regulator Thomas Wright

A rare mid 18th century month duration longcase regulator Thomas Wright The hood with free-standing fluted columns supporting a quoined break arch beneath a swan-neck pediment with rosette terminals. Below, the trunk flanked by two free-standing fluted columns and centred by an ogee-arched door with satinwood banding. Inside the door, a pasted note inscribed with astronomical details about star movements and the regulation of timepieces, stating that the timepiece purchased from Miss Wright, daughter of the maker Mr. Wright, Watchmaker to King George III, by G. Hurt in September 1795 for twenty guineas. The case with four cabriole feet supporting a plinth, fronted by a raised hollow-cornered panel with satinwood banding. The 10-inch silvered brass dial signed Wright in the arch above the regulator chapter rings, with outer Arabic minutes, Roman hours, and an Arabic seconds ring, all with blued steel hands. The movement with thick brass arched plates united by six baluster pillars, and a wheel train with five crossings to each wheel, terminating in a Graham-style deadbeat escapement with a pivoted anti-friction crutch piece. The steel-rod pendulum with a brass-faced lead bob, bimetal bars united by iron rods, and adjusted by a calibrated disc at the top bar and a fine adjustment ball at the base. The likely original ovoid brass-cased lead weight and crank winding key included. 215cm (84.5 inches) High Footnotes: Thomas Wright (1736-1792) was a respected clock and watchmaker in the late 18th century and was named 'Watchmaker to the King' by George III. He joined the Clockmakers' Company in 1770. One of his clocks, with a case made by Matthew Boulton, is part of the Royal Collection and mentioned in Cedric Jagger's *Royal Clocks* (1983, p.98). Wright played an important role in the development of Thomas Earnshaw's spring detent escapement. In 1781, Earnshaw asked Wright for feedback on his new design. Wright was impressed and had Earnshaw make a watch with the escapement, which Earnshaw completed in two days. Wright then spent a year testing it, though tantalisingly the whereabouts of this watch are unknown. They later worked out an agreement on patenting the escapement. Earnshaw would make watches for other makers and charge an extra guinea per watch to cover Wright's patenting costs. The patent, granted on February 1st, 1783 (no. 1354), included not only the spring detent but also the pendulum design used in the present regulator. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP TP For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Constantine, Constantine House, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge ML5 4EF, Scotland, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please refer to the catalogue for further information. For all other auctions: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing