A Marvin For Christmas

[WillFly]

Well, I'm afraid that one Marvin just isn't enough! Spotted this last night and made an offer - a Marvin 510 from either late '40s or early '50s. The 510 movement isn't quite as beautifully finished as my 520, but the dial is lovely.

[Geo]

I do like the classic look of that Will, it looks like a real watch. I've never seen a balance shock system like that before.

[bobm12]

 

I've never seen a balance shock system like that before.

Me neither. Interesting. Congratulations Will on another nice looking Marvin!

[WillFly]

The seller of this advertised it as a 1940s watch (with the usual "military, WW2" shtick, which I ignored). Ranfft doesn't list a 510 - just the later 520, which appeared around 1955. So it could be a 1940s watch. Incabloc was invented in 1934, but I don't know when it started to appear as more or less standard in Swiss movements - it's certainly not in this 510.

 

So, on balance, it's possible the watch is 1940s - and the balance shock is decidedly a first for me!

[Geo]

Here's another I stumbled across for comparison.

[WillFly]

That's virtually identical - the balance wheel looks different, but it may be that the one in mine was snapped while in motion.

[dbals]

I'm such a sucker for sub sec.  Nice pick-ups!

[WillFly]

The second Marvin arrived yesterday - very nice indeed. The lugs are fixed, which is typical of the 1930s and 1940s, and the case height profile is very square - also typical of the period. My pics:

 

[Geo]

What a nice pair, that'll be Lee and Hank then! :)

[bobm12]

LOL!

 

Good pair Will!