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Northernman
··LemaniacBeing a collector of Lemania watches, and then of course intrigued by their chronographs, I am always on the look out.
Some weeks ago a auction lot in UK caught my attention as it looked to have a nice military chronograph as part of it. Not really mentioned too baldly, and with a very low estimate figure.
Having checked the images I became certain it had to be an early (so called series 1) Lemania H.S.9 caliber 15CHT.
After some time the images for the lot was updated and revealed that it also contained the box and the original “Bonklip” bracelet it was delivered with.
As normal no word on the actual condition of the movement except that it was really not running that well, and that it had zero reset issues.
Digging into the H.S.9 history it soon became evident that the Bonklip bracelet and the box itself was relatively unique to find.
When, in addition, the lot contained the WWII service medals for the airman, also in the original box it had been sent with from “Director of Navy Accounts in Somerset”, I knew I needed to make a move. I love when a watch can both tell time and a story!
Unfortunately more then myself had seen the lot, and I ended up (with my in absentia bid) to bring it home with a margin of GBP25.
I have yet to recover the actual service records of Mr. Barrow (I am working on it, and will appreciate any hints as the best way of sourcing this), but the H.S.9 was used by the Royal Fleet Arm (Navy Airforce) and normally only issued to their navigators.
Based on the three medals he had been presented with, the War Medal, the Defence Medal and the Burma Cross it is obvious that Mr. Barrow´s had served both in the UK during WWII and also in the later parts in South East Asia.
The Bonklip bracelet was handy as it provides easy adjustment in order to fit it on the outside of a warm jacket.
Back then the planes did not have heated cockpits, and flying high to avoid being spotted also meant you would need to dress heavily in order not to freeze.
When the watch arrived at my watchmaker it had a very weird chrono pusher. It actually was a crown having been converted to a pusher.
One can only speculate, but it makes sense that it would be easier to operate it with thick and warm gloves compared to the relatively small regular pusher.
I was considering for a while to keep it “as found” but was strongly advised against it as it left no protection against the elements what so ever. Hence we had it replaced with a correct (original) one, and kept the odd modification parts.
The case was only ultrasonically cleaned, so was the bracelet.
In order to strengthen the very fragile luminous compound on the hands, some clear lacquer was applied to the back side of the hands, otherwise nothing was touched except for the regular service items as gaskets and main spring.
So here it is. Original dial, lume, hands, crown, bracelet and box.
BTW: DIBS are futile!
Some weeks ago a auction lot in UK caught my attention as it looked to have a nice military chronograph as part of it. Not really mentioned too baldly, and with a very low estimate figure.
Having checked the images I became certain it had to be an early (so called series 1) Lemania H.S.9 caliber 15CHT.
After some time the images for the lot was updated and revealed that it also contained the box and the original “Bonklip” bracelet it was delivered with.
As normal no word on the actual condition of the movement except that it was really not running that well, and that it had zero reset issues.
Digging into the H.S.9 history it soon became evident that the Bonklip bracelet and the box itself was relatively unique to find.
When, in addition, the lot contained the WWII service medals for the airman, also in the original box it had been sent with from “Director of Navy Accounts in Somerset”, I knew I needed to make a move. I love when a watch can both tell time and a story!
Unfortunately more then myself had seen the lot, and I ended up (with my in absentia bid) to bring it home with a margin of GBP25.
I have yet to recover the actual service records of Mr. Barrow (I am working on it, and will appreciate any hints as the best way of sourcing this), but the H.S.9 was used by the Royal Fleet Arm (Navy Airforce) and normally only issued to their navigators.
Based on the three medals he had been presented with, the War Medal, the Defence Medal and the Burma Cross it is obvious that Mr. Barrow´s had served both in the UK during WWII and also in the later parts in South East Asia.
The Bonklip bracelet was handy as it provides easy adjustment in order to fit it on the outside of a warm jacket.
Back then the planes did not have heated cockpits, and flying high to avoid being spotted also meant you would need to dress heavily in order not to freeze.
When the watch arrived at my watchmaker it had a very weird chrono pusher. It actually was a crown having been converted to a pusher.
One can only speculate, but it makes sense that it would be easier to operate it with thick and warm gloves compared to the relatively small regular pusher.
I was considering for a while to keep it “as found” but was strongly advised against it as it left no protection against the elements what so ever. Hence we had it replaced with a correct (original) one, and kept the odd modification parts.
The case was only ultrasonically cleaned, so was the bracelet.
In order to strengthen the very fragile luminous compound on the hands, some clear lacquer was applied to the back side of the hands, otherwise nothing was touched except for the regular service items as gaskets and main spring.
So here it is. Original dial, lume, hands, crown, bracelet and box.
BTW: DIBS are futile!
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