VR-595 2-Week Duration Timepiece by Josef Elsner in Wien
A phenomenal mechanism from one of the premier Viennese makers of the second quarter of the nineteenth century. Josef became a master clockmaker in 1838 and died in 1856. During his short career be became recognized as an innovative and exceptional maker. While the clocks that he made in partnership with Josef Petrovits are more common, it is clear that Elsner was the driving force behind the unique mechanism mounting design for which they are famous.
Given the style of this mechanism case, a gorgeously inlaid Laturndluhren, and the rather extreme attention to detail evinced by this mechanism I believe this piece was one of his earlier pieces. And, given his addition of “GRAHAM’SCHER GANG” to the bottom of the dial, one has to wonder if this was not perhaps a piece made for an exhibition.
The reference to Graham is, of course, referring to the use of a Graham dead-beat escapement. In fact, Josef went so far as to nickel plate the escape wheel to make it stand out from the other wheels in this mechanism. He then made the anchor perhaps twice as thick as would have been typical for a Viennese maker, and went one step farther and modified the shape of each pallet by “squaring off” the exit of the pallet face. Why? I can only assume Josef wanted to keep the duration of the impulse as constant as possible, even when the pallet had some wear in the faces. Or, perhaps he felt the pallets provided too much impulse for the anchor, resulting in too wide of a swing.
Whatever the reason, he clearly was focused on the minute details of this mechanisms escapement.
As one would expect of a master from this period, every part of this mechanism reflects Josef’s attention to detail. I really love working on mechanisms like this, seeing details that can only be observed under significant magnification – making me marvel at what was achieved a century and a half in the past.
Read MoreGiven the style of this mechanism case, a gorgeously inlaid Laturndluhren, and the rather extreme attention to detail evinced by this mechanism I believe this piece was one of his earlier pieces. And, given his addition of “GRAHAM’SCHER GANG” to the bottom of the dial, one has to wonder if this was not perhaps a piece made for an exhibition.
The reference to Graham is, of course, referring to the use of a Graham dead-beat escapement. In fact, Josef went so far as to nickel plate the escape wheel to make it stand out from the other wheels in this mechanism. He then made the anchor perhaps twice as thick as would have been typical for a Viennese maker, and went one step farther and modified the shape of each pallet by “squaring off” the exit of the pallet face. Why? I can only assume Josef wanted to keep the duration of the impulse as constant as possible, even when the pallet had some wear in the faces. Or, perhaps he felt the pallets provided too much impulse for the anchor, resulting in too wide of a swing.
Whatever the reason, he clearly was focused on the minute details of this mechanisms escapement.
As one would expect of a master from this period, every part of this mechanism reflects Josef’s attention to detail. I really love working on mechanisms like this, seeing details that can only be observed under significant magnification – making me marvel at what was achieved a century and a half in the past.
