Small Marine Chronometer, Longines-Wittnauer 1932, Switzerland Due to the absence of modern GPS systems and reliable long-range radio, sea voyages were unsafe without an accurate time meter. In order to navigate nautical charts, one needed to know the exact coordinates of the vessel, latitude and longitude. Finding the latitude is fairly simple – it can […]
Wittnauer/Longines Marine Deck Chronometer 24.41 Read More »
This is a nicely sized movement for wearing on the wrist, with a particularly unusual repeater function. Due to the complexity and originality of the module design, at first it wasn’t entirely clear what kind of function it was, although eventually it turned out to be an hour and half hour automatic repeater (self-striking, sonnerie).
Sonnerie Half-Hour and Hour Repeater Watch project Read More »
Information Concerning Radiation in Antique Watches There are a lot of rumours and speculation concerning the radiation that can lie in wait for us in antique watches. Some of them are really ridiculous, and in some cases perfectly safe watches will be lost for ever in a rubbish dump because of these assumptions. The problem
Dangerous Radium Watches Read More »
A simple demonstration of removing radium from an enamel dial First of all, of course, there are precautions that must be taken. When the watch is without its glass cover, radioactive dust can fall from it, causing the possibility of food contamination or inhalation into the raspatory tract which is very dangerous. It is vital
Removal of Radium Paint from Vintage Watch Dial Read More »
Conta Spese Balzar, Early 20th Century Since watches with complications are ‘smart machines’, then the same machine without the watch feature also deserves attention – especially when the machine is an early attempt at creating portable computing equipment. This device is an early calculator, or rather, it is a simple counter for bank notes (lira
Italian Lira Pocket Counter-Calculator Read More »
Type: Pocket watch movement with new case Case: Nickel, 54 mm Movement: Escapement, with functions as follows: day of the week, month in 4-year leap year cycle, and moon phase indicator Country of Origin: Switzerland Production year: 1890 Signed: Perpetual Cal., serial number 15871 This is a very rare pocket watch movement with leap year
Perpetual Calendar Movement Read More »
Type: Pocket watch Case: Open type, silver, 58 mm Movement: Cylinder escapement, quarter strike “Petite Sonnerie”, independent quarter repeater Country of Origin: France-Switzerland Production Year: 1810 – 1820 Signed: No name A very complex movement with two very serious complications – a quarter repeater and a quarter self-striker “Petite Sonnerie”. This watch has three barrels
Petite Sonnerie Quarter Strike Watch Read More »
Type: Chronograph wristwatch Case: Brass, brushed nickel-plated, screw-wheel one-button chronograph Movement: Lever escapement, shockproof, column-wheel one-button chronograph Country of Origin: Germany Production Year: 1942 Signed: Hanhart, number 100236 This is a military chronograph (watch with a built-in stopwatch). Hanhart began producing watches in 1938 – 1939, but as such there were no special editions, instead
Hanhart Luftwaffe Pilot Service Chronograph, with Early Serial Number 236 Read More »
The legendary ‘Russian Swiss’ company Henry Moser & Cie was by Johann Heinrich Moser in Le Locle, Switzerland. In sending their products to Russia, the company found a very large and lucrative sales market, and so all production was focused on the Russian market. Johann Henry Moser Johann Heinrich Moser, the founder, was born in
History of Henry Moser & Co. / Henry Moser & Cie. Read More »
Virgule Escapement and Calendar Pocket Watch circa 1790 In a suburbs pawnshop, among many boring old watches, my attention was drawn to a large dial with true antique-style numerals. The watch stood out because of its large size (over 60 mm), the dial in the old ‘regulator clock’ style, and there was a hole for
Pocket Watch With Rare Virgule Escapement and Calendar Read More »
