I am wary of this sub-dial design. The mutilated stud carrier does not inspire confidence. I believe the dial should look more like the examples that follow. Here is the eBay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Longines-Ca...f8022c2&pid=100037&rk=2&rkt=3&sd=282254040575
Great eye on the stud carrier. I would've missed that. Too bad given otherwise nice looking movement. Can't comment too much on the dial but follow you and others' expertise here to point these things out and learn from you.
I'm with you, DD, on the sub; the ones I've seen have minute markers between the five minutes. Another example below.....
What's the "stud carrier"? +1 on the subdial. Gee, Wes, are you the one who pulled that one off Ebay last year?
Hiya, Sylvie! Unfortunately, I couldn't get the owner to come off his asking price for this little (30 mm) guy last year, so not mine... The stud carrier is the bar shaped thing sticking out the side of the bridge holding the pinion for the balance, having an adjusting screw in it in this case. Shouldn't fool with it when trying to adjust the length of the balance spring, only the "F" or "S" bar to change regulation. Does this description make sense?
Yeah, and who would have gone to the trouble to do that?! Or, these guys out there doing it now are really getting good at fake "age" on the dial.
Thanks Wes, is the "stud" that grey triangle that connects to the hairspring? Not sure what the balance pinion is. I know there's a part that touches the hairspring to modify its length and regulate it, and there's a part that serves to attach it to the rest of the balance, but I must admit despite having attended a horology workshop I still haven't figured it all out.... (not to mention the fact it was in French). Guess I'll have to look things up. Many thanks, S
Yes, you've got it. A pinion is just a shaft/rod that holds hands, wheels etc. in place; the ends of which fit into bearings, or "jewels" in some cases.
Thank you all for the input. The condition is curious but the dial does not give me a good feeling. I was also tempted by the "Giudici" signed piece as I have its central-seconds cousin.
You're a lucky guy with good taste! I admire both of them; aren't they just swell, and in different style cases.
Thanks, Wes. It was indeed a lucky find in a local antique market. Inside is a caliber 12.91. The case measures ~32 mm. The date of the original invoice is 1936. Slightly odd with closed 6/9 but very much of the 1930s.
Well, I don't know the 12.91 at all, couldn't find it on Ranfft, so wonder if it's close to the 12.68 in looks? The earliest I've got is from 1937, but this one also has a closed 9 on the minute track and the 6 on the sub. To my mind there's nothing better looking, more satisfying than the 30's style and fonts and colors...
The stud carrier has indeed been mangled. The screw is usually tiny and easily lost. No problemo, just grab a screw from the junk drawer and,even if it's one size too large, force it in. I'm more interested in how it is "running well" when the hairspring isn't even properly located between the regulating pins. This would be a money pit.
As Jim said, changing the stud screw is an easy fix - at least with the correct tool, it less easy if you only have tweezers and a screw driver! Jim, are you sure the hairspring is not in the pins? I cannot tell because of the angle of the pic.