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Watch

Expedition: Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-16 (Endurance)
Materials: metal, glass, enamel
Dimensions: 56mm (width), 78mm (height), 16mm (depth)
Date: 1914-1916
Ref no: N: 999a

A chronometer watch with a silver-plated casing, white enamel face and glass front. It belonged to Sir Ernest Shackleton and was used for navigation by Captain Frank Worsley during the boat journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia in 1916 during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-16 (Endurance). It was made by S. Smith & Son, with serial number '192/262'. The reverse bears the inscription 'F.A. Worsley // From E.H. Shackleton // May 1916'. The watch originally had a wooden stand (N: 999b) with an inscribed plaque (no longer in the collection).

Physical description:

A chronometer with a silver-plated casing, white enamel face and a glass front. The face is marked 'S. SMITH & SON // 9 STRAND. LONDON // 192-262'. The outer edge of the face is marked in hours and minutes, with 1-12 marked in Roman numerals; it has two blue hands. A smaller circle at the bottom of the face is marked in seconds, and is marked in tens from 10-60 in Arabic numerals; it has a single blue hand. The front is hinged to open the glass, and the back of the casing is also hinged. Inside the casing are various hallmarks, possibly dating the chronometer to 1911, and the number '1645' is scratched into the edge. The back of the chronometer is engraved with 'F.A.WORSLEY // FROM // E.H.SHACKLETON. // MAY 1916'. At the top of the chronometer is a winding knob and a hanging ring.

Endurance Expedition chronometer - film

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