When one looks at the side by side photo of the two movements in Tonny's post
today - the one big similarity is there in that you see that almost shark like
fin shape of the bigger of the two main bridges and one imeadiately begins to
thinks they are the same movement. However, if you take your time and really
compare the two movements, then you are going to come up with not one, but
many visual diferences in these two pictured movements.
Personally, I would say both deserve their own unique calibre identifier - but
then, who am I to make such a call.
All I know is that my own looks like this.
And Tonny can tell me which one it actually is.
The Watch
The watch I share today, is one I ran up against when browsing my computer
earlier today. I was busy with the[Rust Bucket Virtual Museum Restoration
Project Day #3](/t/virtual-pocket-watch-museum-
restoration-project-day-3/32005/) post and as I wrote something about blue
numbers on the dial, I recalled this particular watch and in the back of my
mind, it has another color numeric on the dial too. ****
And then imeadiatey after I finished my post, I see Tonnys post here today -
and he writes " I have a soft sport for the colour blue " so I decided
lets give hime some good old Blue, White & Red.
Now aint that sweet - true Blue, White & Red.
Now of course, their are many countries whose flag carries those colors, and
in fact even Nato use it too. However, having said that - this is pure 100%
USA colors. Of this I am sure - and if you would ask, how could I know this
(as after all the watch comes out of Schaffhausen), then the answer lies here.
So what does this tell us? Well, the extract from the archive shows it as a
Cal. 57
But if you ask Tonny or some of the other experts here you will hear them
refer to this movement as a Lep. 57T Americaine
I first posted this watch some years back
Todate, no one has been able to explain to me why these Cal. are refered to as
C.57 Americaine.
Besides the fact that this watch dates from 1928, I was attracted to her for
other reasons too. Firtly the T after the Calibre identifier of 57T. Stands
for a ' Tir- meaning that the watch is actually stem set, and the time is
set by means of pulling out the Crown and adjusting it clockwise. There is no
pin set mechanisim like found on most of the other Cal.57 in my collection
(seen here in the close up of another C.57 pocket watch)
And the other reason is that this watch is trully pristine in condition. In
fact, one could say the she is NOS - and in one and the same condition as it
was the day it left Schaffhausen headed for Vienna some 92 years ago.
As you can see above, not a single sign of wear (or tear) - the guiloche work
is razor sharp and not a dent to be seen in the case edge anywhere.
The same is true for the inner case (serial number removed to protect the
innocent).+
Her dial is three color perfect and complemented by those magnificent blue
steeled hands.
This watch remains in the condition I found her and the only work done on the
timepiece has been a routine oil service. After that service she was regulated
and ran to +/- 4 seconds a day!
One of my nicer pieces - but I know that Merle and Tonny would so much prefer
that she was cased in yellow gold. Me I'm completely happy that she is all
mine.
