Lot 216

Charles Fasoldt

Patent Chronometer

A heavy "Precision Patent Chronometer" with Fasoldt's patented coaxial double-wheel lever chronometer escapement

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Charles Fasoldt (1818-1898) was born in Germany and was sentenced to death in 1848 because of his participation in the revolution. He managed to escape from jail though and emigrated to the United States. He settled in Albany and began setting up an impressive enterprise, which produced clocks, measuring instruments and microscopes as well as his famous watches. He sold the watches for 150 to 300 dollars per piece, which was a considerable price at the time. All watches were designed by Fasoldt himself and nearly all of them had his patented anchor escapement. For his pocket watches he invented a mechanism for winding and setting the hands - this cleared the way for the change from key wind to crown wind systems. Fasoldt patented his extraordinarily dependable escapement on March 7, 1865; the system requires no greasing and has a very strong angle of drag at both anchor pallets. Fasoldt carried out a spectacular test to prove the reliability of his escapement: he attached one of his pocket watches as well as several watches of other makers to the connecting rod of an Empire Express train engine for a return trip Albany - New York - Albany. After the bumpy ride Fasoldt's watch showed only a slight deviation while all the other watches had stopped after just a few minutes.