I have this rare grade C 19 lignes caliber in my drawers, currently a project looking for a case. It's particularity is to have the balance on the right side of the winding stem (it is a lepine so the winding stem is at the bottom on my pic) so it is a perfect symetry of the usual Omega disposition. I had my attention drawn on this specific caliber reading a thread by Zen, on French Forumamontres (here : http://forumamontres.forumactif.com...-omega-le-calibre-inverse?highlight=invers%E9). He is the one who unearthed this model. I saw pictures of only three other ones (all owned by Zen) with the same disposition. I'd be interested in specialists opinions, especially if anyone else has a similar one :

 

could be the remontage` from 1905. was done in 9 different qualities. best was DD. quantity unknown. i think i saw one at the munich watchfair in the mid 90`s in a " car clock like case ". kind regards. achim

 

Hi Bill
I am not talking about the winding wheels which will be in different positions depending whether it is a lepine or savonette. On this movement, the balance is on the right side and the mainspring on the left, where it is the mirror on all other movements. According to Zen, who contacted Omega museum when he found one like that, they only had one drawing of a caliber with this disposition, showing a grade D. I agree that grade C are not uncommon and not among the interesting ones, but I wanted to know if inversed movements like that were really rare or if many of them could still be found. I know that you are a reference for older Omegas, therefore the question. If you have pics of movements with the same disposition, I would be interested.
Best regards,
Yann

 

Thanks for this explanation. Was your inversed caliber with the stepped balance bridge or with the flat one? Do you have a picture?
Best regards.
Yann

 

EEEKK!! I had one of those a few years back, it was in a nickel railroad case with a jewelers dial signed "J.S.Walker, Sudbury". The serial number dated it to 1905 and it presumably did service on a Canadian railroad. It was even marked 17 jewels and "adjusted" just as seen here! Little bugger kept excellent time! I think I paid $160 for it. Sorry I've no photos of it... I didn't keep decent records back then.

Wish I hadn't sold it but I think it went in a deal for a Hamilton/Ball 999B.

 

Hi Bill,
Thanks a lot for taking the time to post pictures. This is an outstanding high grade one. Mine has the negative hour setting, which makes the finding of a suitable case not so easy. Is yours also a negative hour setting?
Take care,
Yann

 

Hi,
I don't know if they dedicated this mechanism to higher end calibers, but I sure know that it is a pain for repairing... I still don't understand the interest of this mechanism.