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Posted

Hi All, I have a JLC watch supposedly from the ‘50s. I have no experience of this brand but from internet research the numbers stamped on the movement and watch back are all different.  The watch back is stamped ‘19009’, the barrel bridge is stamped 86104 and the movement plate only has the number 56. I can’t find anything on a calibre 56 that looks like the movement in the watch.  Apart from servicing marks on the inside of the case back there are no other markings. Is this a hash of different parts cobbled together? 

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Posted

I don't think it's a hodgepodge. LeCoultre made a number of calibers on that base, the most common being the 424 and 438. You can tell the difference by measuring the movement thickness. 410 is 3.35mm, 424 and 438 are 3.50mm, then 413 is 3.90mm. The only way I've been able to tell the difference between the 424 and 438 is by the crown and ratchet wheels, they have finer teeth in the 438 (30 teeth in the crown wheel). Yours looks to me like a 424.

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Posted
35 minutes ago, nickelsilver said:

I don't think it's a hodgepodge. LeCoultre made a number of calibers on that base, the most common being the 424 and 438. You can tell the difference by measuring the movement thickness. 410 is 3.35mm, 424 and 438 are 3.50mm, then 413 is 3.90mm. The only way I've been able to tell the difference between the 424 and 438 is by the crown and ratchet wheels, they have finer teeth in the 438 (30 teeth in the crown wheel). Yours looks to me like a 424.

That’s incredibly helpful, many thanks nickelsilver. I’ll measure it up later. 

Posted

That’s a lovely watch. The only issue I can see is the hour hand should be a blue dagger style, like the minute hand is. 

Posted
2 hours ago, rodabod said:

That’s a lovely watch. The only issue I can see is the hour hand should be a blue dagger style, like the minute hand is. 

Good spot - hadn’t noticed that.  I suspect I’ll have the devil’s own job trying to find a replacement hour hand...

Posted
40 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

Hi Following Nicklsilvers lead I have attached the sheet for the 424 for your interest.

Hi watchweasol, very kind thank you. Unfortunately, I can’t see where the attachment might be?

Posted
7 hours ago, Aedui said:

Good spot - hadn’t noticed that.  I suspect I’ll have the devil’s own job trying to find a replacement hour hand...

If you can get a hole size then I can have a look for one. Alternatively, get a larger blue hand and file to size. 

Posted
On 11/19/2020 at 10:59 PM, rodabod said:

If you can get a hole size then I can have a look for one. Alternatively, get a larger blue hand and file to size. 

That’s really kind. The hole size on the hour hand is 0.85mm. Is that the measurement you need? The hour wheel diameter is 1.28mm

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