Beschreibung:

A RUSSIAN SOVIET ERA MAHOGANY CASED TWO-DAY MARINE CHRONOMETER
KIROV CLOCK FACTORY, MOSCOW, MODEL MX-6 THIRD QUARTER OF THE 20th CENTURY
The circular four pillar engine turned gilt single chain reverse fusee movement with five-spoke wheel crossings, Harrison`s maintaining power and Earnshaw type spring detent escapement regulated by Guillaume type split bimetallic `integral` balance with cylindrical compensating weights, palladium alloy helical balance spring and faceted diamond endstone, the backplate with polished pillar screws and separate mainspring pivot plate applied with spring set-up ratchet and stamped with a crown trademark over number 01782, the 3.75 inch circular silvered Arabic numeral dial with subsidiary seconds dial inscribed with serial number 01782 in red and inscription in Cyrillic followed by CCCP, beneath signature also in Cyrillic to the centre and 0-56 state of wind dial at twelve o'clock, secured by a screw-down bezel into a lacquered brass bowl and mounted via gimbals alongside the brass typsy winding key into a stained mahogany two tier box with glazed top, the front applied with rectangular brass trade plate with number 8916-77 flanked by brass strap reinforced edges and hinged carrying handles to sides, (box top tier lacking).
17cm (6.75ins) high, 19cm (7.5ins) wide, 19cm (7.5ins) deep.
 
Provenance:
The personal collection of the former owners of Marine Instruments Limited, Falmouth, Cornwall.
 
The First State Watch Factory was founded in 1930 under the instructions of Stalin using machinery imported from the then defunct Ansonia Clock Company of Brooklyn and the Dueber-Hampden Watch Factory of Canton, Ohio, U.S.A. In 1935 the factory was named after the murdered Soviet official Sergei Kirov. After a short period of evacuation, due to the threat on Moscow by Germany, the factory was re-established in 1941 with the name revised to `First Moscow Watch Factory, Kirov`. From 1952 the factory produced marine chronometers (based on the A. Lange and Son, Glashutte M4568 chronometer in use during WWII) of which the current lot is a good example. In 1961 the factory`s products were branded Poljot (flight) in honour of Yuri Gagarin succeeding as the first man in space on 2nd April of that year. The manufacturing of watches still continues on the same site today - mainly producing watches for the Volmax brand.
Condition Report:
The movement is in relatively clean working condition however there is some light oxidation to the rear of the dial plate. The plates have additional holes to allow for electrical contacts to be fitted (to drive/operate slave dials or other instruments) but these accessories appear never to have been fitted. The dial is in fine, clean condition. The bowl and gimbals retain old/original lacquer but with noticeable oxidation/light Verdigris mainly to the walls of the bowl. As catalogued the case does not have its top tier otherwise is in good original condition with faults limited to only very minor bumps and scuffs.
Timepiece has a typsy winding key. No case key is required.
 
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