Marine chronometers were used at sea to find longitude for navigation, housed in a mahogany, rosewood or coromandel box. They can be one day, two day or eight day duration.
The development of the chronometer arose due to intense rivalry of European countries to dominate and control the seas and expand their empires. All ships captains had the same problem that at sea they could not establish their ships position within hundred of miles to the east or west. The best solution to solve this problem seemed to be a clock which could calculate how much the Earth had turned and thus accurately establish longitude.
In 1714 the British government put up prizes totalling £45,000 to solve this problem. The Yorkshire clockmaker John Harrison eventually won the prize and was awarded £20,000. Over the years that followed, marine chronometers were developed and produced in large numbers.
Story Clocks are specialists in Marine Chronometers and always have interesting expertly restored examples for sale.
