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THOMAS MERCER CHRONOMETER THOMAS MERCER 2 DAYS CHRONOMETER A very scarce 2 Day mechanical marine chronometer by Thomas Mercer, St. Albans, England. No. 26858 is complete with baklite carrying case and leather strap. This chronometer is equipped with electrical contacts to operate slave units, a cutaway to the dial expose adjustment screws to make and break(half minute) contact points. Jewelled earnshaw type spring detent escapement, compensated balance and helical spring. Movement inscribed with serial number. Fully gimballed and in good working order, these sought after 2 days are becoming increadibly hard to find. Circa 1969. TIMEKEEPERS OF THE SEA The chronometer is one of three of a navigator's nautical instruments which is used to give consistently accurate time in order to aid in determining a ship's longitude when not in sight of land. Without these accurate, well-crafted timepieces to assist in navigation, great sailing ships frequently would become misguided in their course or lost at sea. Such steamships as the "Queen Elizabeth" and the "Queen Mary" are two vessels among a numerous list of ships that have used Mercer chronometers. With the advent of electronic systems of navigation and GPS, most marine chronometers have been retired to the homes of private collectors and connoisseurs who wish to preserve the remarkable skill displayed in these original timekeepers of the sea. THE STORY OF THIS CHRONOMETER This chronometer is one from 5 pices that supplied by the british admirality to the israeli navy in 1959, to be placed in the five british submarines that rebelt in portsmouth great britain and herewith ther story. ISRAELI SUBMARINS On the 21st of September 1958 the government of Israel decided to purchase two submarines from Great Britain. They were 2nd World War "S " Class submarines, HMS Springer and HMS Sanguine. Both Submarines were build by Cammell Laird shipyards at Birkenhead during the war, and were launched towards the end of it. Founder of the state and first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion gave them their new Hebrew Names. Springer was named TANIN and Sanguine got the Biblical name RAHAV(Rahab). Both names of ancient monsters were taken from Isaiah. Chapter 51, Verse 9: After refit and renovation at Cammell Laird shipyards INS Tanin was commissioned under the Israeli flag in August 1959 and the Rahav shortly afterwards. A period of buildup training, sea and dive trials in England and Scotland followed. In November 1959 the Tanin left Portsmouth and headed towards her new home base at Haifa. On the 16th of December 1959 the first Israeli submarine INS Tanin under the command of LC Yosale Dror entered the port of Haifa. 6 months later, Tanin's sister submarine, INS Rahav arrived at Haifa. Rahav enterd Haifa on June 16th 1960 under the command of LC Hadar Kimchi, a few month later arrived Dakar, Dolphin and the liveyatan submarine. The Dakar submarine lost in sea in 1968 with 69 crewman on board.   Specification: No Reserve!        Click Picture to enlarge     Click Picture to enlarge     Click Picture to enlarge