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TimeODanaos
路Hope this helps,
gatorcpa
'Special Watches' from 1934 Catalogue
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Helvetia History
路
Great resource, thanks! The Aster Self-Winding is interesting (alarming?) It's good to know that this device "forms an effective shock absorber for the movement"... 馃槻
Is this the same principle as the Leon Hatot "wagging" auto movement?
I suppose if the movement is independent of the case to some degree to allow for the auto winding it would work as a shock absorber preventing knocks on the case being transferred to the movement in the same way as the spring Mounted Helvetia movement.
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Helvetia History
路While both the "Wig-Wag" and the ATO/Rolls are both early automatic movements, I believe the winding mechanisms are somewhat different.
Here is a Wig-Wag example:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/101050-the-aster-wig-wag-automatic-wristwatch
And ATO/Rolls:
http://forumamontres.forumactif.com/t19537-mvt-de-forme-automatique?highlight=rectangulaire automatique
What I'm not sure about is the "Ena" automatic watch mentioned on the same catalog page. By 1934, there were several manufacturers using different designs for automatic wristwatches, filling the small void left by Harwood when then ceased operations in 1931.
Hope this helps,
gatorcpa
Looking at the catalogue I think the Ena brand may be their own in-house name. If that is the case it could have any auto movement in it in theory. It says it is a rotary weight version , I don't know how many different makers of these there were in 1934.
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Helvetia History
路What an amazing post and thread, with amazing pics and also a beautiful collection of watches!
First of all, it鈥檚 so interesting to see a retailer offering a certain type of gold watch with options of various movements from various manufactures in them.
Also... I鈥檓 getting a kick at seeing that the watches nowadays being hyped up as 芦 doctor watches 禄 are simply termed 芦 double dial 禄 and marketed as sports watches. Really so much B.S. that deserves to be called out.
Thanks. It looks as if the options for different movements are in the 'English Cases' so I presume they are importing the movements only for these and then are able to add whichever movement you want to the case they are sourcing in the UK.
Ref the Double Dials, here is another Helvetia advert from 1939 with them referred to as Double Dials (Double-cadran) though they are not actually pictured. Note also by then the waterproof watch on the right of the ad has evolved , from the one pictured in the 1934 catalogue, into the later version of the case as per the right hand watch in my photo of the different cases together above.
Here is a nice example of a Helvetia Double Dial.
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Helvetia History
路While we are talking about Helvetia and double dials here is a pic from a patent Helvetia applied for in 1940. The specifics of the patent are around having the minute and hour counter of a chronograph on the same axis and dial.
The only Chronograph I've seen with this setup is the Helvetia 'Sport' which has the two hands on the same dial like the patent but with very different looking minute and hour hands to differentiate them.
The only Chronograph I've seen with this setup is the Helvetia 'Sport' which has the two hands on the same dial like the patent but with very different looking minute and hour hands to differentiate them.
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Helvetia History
路Great stuff! The watch band pages would be cool to see馃榾
As requested here are the watch band pages.
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Radiumpassion
路Cool! Thank you馃榾
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Helvetia History
路For interest I've found a couple of watches of the type shown as a 'Protected watch'.
First is branded 'The Fenchurch Lever' this seems to be an Australian brand but the watch is made by Helvetia as shown by the movement, serial number etc. Date is 1927/28. Have a look here for details about these watches: https://omegaforums.net/threads/depollier-fhf-and-helvetia-was-movement-id-help.91999/
The other couple are earlier trench watches using the same guard but earlier Helvetia movements and trench watch style cases.
Notice how the one in the catalogue has the middle removed, the edges of the hole follow the design in the ones with intact centres..
Thanks. Carl.
First is branded 'The Fenchurch Lever' this seems to be an Australian brand but the watch is made by Helvetia as shown by the movement, serial number etc. Date is 1927/28. Have a look here for details about these watches: https://omegaforums.net/threads/depollier-fhf-and-helvetia-was-movement-id-help.91999/
The other couple are earlier trench watches using the same guard but earlier Helvetia movements and trench watch style cases.
Notice how the one in the catalogue has the middle removed, the edges of the hole follow the design in the ones with intact centres..
Thanks. Carl.
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Syrte
路路MWR Tech Support DeptSo fascinating to see that the mesh and Milanese bracelets existed in the 1930s! I otherwise would have thought they were post- WWII.
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Farmer
路Some of these watches are simply stunning. I must try harder to get some.
Iain
Iain
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Helvetia History
路@Bill Sohne @CVivash - I am intrigued by the Helvetia calendar watch with a date window, circa 1934, in a tank model no less!
I always thought the date-window calendar (with internal date disks) didn't develop until the 1950s. I can't even think of any tanks that had date windows (not counting jump-hour models). Any insight into the movement on this watch?
Hello. Yes, this is the Helvetia 75A rectangular movement adapted with date disks.
Solvil/Ditis, Mimo/Girard Perregaux and of course Helvetia produced 'Big Date' watches using this movement in the 1930s.
Here is my page about them: https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk/helvetia-large-date-watches
I have just found out today that the Angora Watch Co also used the Helvetia 75A in a 'large date' watch. And I've found a pic of the date disks.
If you look you will see the seconds counter is the same odd style as the helvetia watch.
I've been looking for a picture of the dial side of this movement for a while.
Thanks. Carl.
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Helvetia History
路Found another example of a watch from the catalogue. Slightly different/earlier case:
Hallmarked 1928:
Hallmarked 1928:
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Helvetia History
路And one more example. This is the exact watch described as the 'Protected Watch'.
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vkostr
路And one more example. This is the exact watch described as the 'Protected Watch'.
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Snowman
路My aero from 1938
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Helvetia History
路Hello @vkostr
Really good to see your watch again. Nice to see the Helvetia on the dial as these early Helvetia shock protected watches aren't usually marked.
Have you seen my page?: https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk/1930s-sports-watches
I would be interested in some better pictures for my site if possible?
Many thanks.
Carl
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Helvetia History
路While I am here I'll update with another couple of actual examples of watches from the catalogue I've found recently.
First a nice example of the demi-hunter. Exactly the same case this time and fitted with a Helvetia movement of the type they used in their trench watches.
And also the first example of the exact same large date watch as in the catalogue that I have seen. The others I've seen have a different sub seconds dial, not the jump hour type like here.
And for those interested in the technical aspects here is an entry in the Swiss design register from 1932 where they registered the design of a date watch with a window as 12 and jumping style seconds at 6 though this is a smaller date display than the two disk large date they eventually went with.
Thanks. Carl.
First a nice example of the demi-hunter. Exactly the same case this time and fitted with a Helvetia movement of the type they used in their trench watches.
And also the first example of the exact same large date watch as in the catalogue that I have seen. The others I've seen have a different sub seconds dial, not the jump hour type like here.
And for those interested in the technical aspects here is an entry in the Swiss design register from 1932 where they registered the design of a date watch with a window as 12 and jumping style seconds at 6 though this is a smaller date display than the two disk large date they eventually went with.
Thanks. Carl.
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vkostr
路Hello @vkostr
Really good to see your watch again. Nice to see the Helvetia on the dial as these early Helvetia shock protected watches aren't usually marked.
Have you seen my page?: https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk/1930s-sports-watches
I would be interested in some better pictures for my site if possible?
Many thanks.
Carl
well, I can do some additional pictures of my watch if it is what you need. Please tell me what exact pictures do you need?
Regards,
Vasily
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Helvetia History
路V vkostrHi Carl,
well, I can do some additional pictures of my watch if it is what you need. Please tell me what exact pictures do you need?
Regards,
Vasily
Thanks Vasily. Actually just to use your picture in this thread wold be good as it is better than the one I currently have and the movement and inner case back pictures I have aren't too bad.
I think I found the current ones from the sale listing, can I ask where you got the watch from?
Thanks. Carl.
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vkostr
路Thanks Vasily. Actually just to use your picture in this thread wold be good as it is better than the one I currently have and the movement and inner case back pictures I have aren't too bad.
I think I found the current ones from the sale listing, can I ask where you got the watch from?
Thanks. Carl.
Regards,
Vasily
