Information help request for a recovered RALCO....

No economic sense but I felt obliged to save this little fella from the bin. I suspect it is not that old (Relatively speaking). Is anyone able to give me more info on the age/movement? It looks ok and runs well after a full service and clean.

Also does anybody have more information on RALCO? I saw it was a trademark from Movado in 1941 and that the name comes from the initials of three of the then owners (Roger, Armand and Lucien). It looks like that mark expired in 1986.

Any info or extra background gratefully received. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Such a handsome watch, and very nice restoration.
I would say it looks to be anywhere from mid 1950's to early 1960's.
Loving that dial and those Dauphine hands.

 

Thanks. I would love it if it was that old, but I have a nagging feeling it might be a later homage. It would be great if someone with more knowledge than me could advise on the movement /maybe guess it within 5 years. Either way I agree with you and think it is a nice simple / clean piece so I am going to keep it whatever. I picked it up abroad and the guy who restored it for me had next to no English (apart from don't waste your money :0)…...so I could not get much info from him. I think he thought I was a bit crazy.

 

Here is mine, probably dating back to the 40's or 50's

 

Very nice watch / works well with that strap … and I like the sub seconds :0)

 

I spoke to a watchmaker today and it looks like I did not get the best picture of the movement for an ID. He thinks it is possibly a calibre from A.Schild, with the watch being made in the seventies (a Quartz crisis victim maybe). This one remains a bit of a mystery for me.

 

Thank you very much! It's a period pigskin strap.

Somewhere under that crazed plexiglass i think there is a beautiful dial

 

Part of the character …. but it would brush up very well I am sure. Nice patina.

 

Check below the balance wheel, there may be a logo and calibre numbers.

 

Thanks - the watchmaker mentioned that as well. I gave this watch to my stepfather at Xmas so it might be a while before I get to check. I appreciate the tip.

 

The movement appears to me to be either a 10 1/2 ligne A Schild (A S) 1187, or a 11 1/2 ligne A Schild (A S) 1194. These movements were produced in the millions from about the late 1940s until probably the early 1960s. Simple, reliable, easy to work on, and were most often seen in countless popular priced generic watch brands. This from Mikrolisk.

 

Thanks for the extra information. I am looking into it now - very interesting history. Appreciate the help.