A couple of new projects..... Any info welcome!?

[Robbie010]

Decided to take a quick look at a couple of new project watches that I picked up last week from an aquaintance, just wondering if anyone is familiar with them and can point me to any resources that may help with the planned service / repair:

This one marked as Corteberts 592 R:

This one looks Russian, marked 18KAMHEN 3602:

This one I am told is trench watch, no initial markings but what looks like an interesting hacking mechanism?:

 

Edited March 5, 2021 by Robbie010

[spectre6000]

I don't think any of those qualify as trench watches. They were typically small pocket watches with wire lugs soldered on. An interesting movement in that last one. Once you get into it, I'd be interested to see if there is any means of returning the second hand to 0. Jeweled pin lever movements aren't the norm either. Definitely interesting.

[Nucejoe]

Cortebert is a good quality swiss, well worth fixing/ service and a good keeper.

The second one is Russian malnija, a copy of cortebert, rumour has it Russians hired former cortebert watchmakers to build malnija. Pivots polish themselves when used a lot but the piece wouldn't qualify as a watch in my book.

Third one ain't worth winding, in my book. 

Regs 

Joe

[Robbie010]

15 minutes ago, spectre6000 said:

I don't think any of those qualify as trench watches. They were typically small pocket watches with wire lugs soldered on. An interesting movement in that last one. Once you get into it, I'd be interested to see if there is any means of returning the second hand to 0. Jeweled pin lever movements aren't the norm either. Definitely interesting.

I’ve removed the wristwatch from its case, the first thing that strikes me is a very strange balance wheel / pallet fork setup. The pallet fork I have never seen before, I did a quick sketch:

[Robbie010]

Removed the hacking mechanism and the watch is ticking away merrily! It must have been stuck on.

[watchweasol]

In deed a very odd looking fork assy.  Looks like the watch double as a stop watch, Like spectre6000 I woder if there is a reset somewhere.

[WatchMaker]

5 hours ago, watchweasol said:

I woder if there is a reset somewhere.

No. These are super simple. Probably a Rego 143 or similar. The pusher literally just stops/frees the balance wheel.

[spectre6000]

I thought I saw some extra pallet fork in there, but obviously hard to tell from the photo. 

So if you want to use the tachymeter, you have to wait for the second hand to reach 0, then stop it, hope whatever artillery didn't need to be fired in that time, then fire/start and stop again? That seems more decorative than useful... 

Wait... Looking again, is there even any sort of detent to keep the balance hacked between button pushes, or does it only stop while the pusher is pressed?

Edited March 6, 2021 by spectre6000

[Robbie010]

@WatchMaker is right, it looks as though the hack is spring loaded and just stops the watch when the pusher is pressed. So is this a first world trench watch then? I wondered what the dial markings were for. 

Anyhow, I did a little more teardown this morning, very strange looking pallet fork and no impulse pin or jewel on the balance, just a piece of metal:

[watchweasol]

A super sturdy movement, If they were military issue there would usually be the arrow mark an the case back along with a serial number.

[Watchtime]

This Cortebert looks like its from the late 30's. The Molnija is produced from 1960 till 2008. Very interesting wristwatch

Edited March 6, 2021 by Watchtime

[Robbie010]

The only markings on the movement are a number 5 stamped on the main plate and number 3 stamped on the bridge plate. There are some faint marking inside the case back which I’ll try and get a better look at after its been through the sonic cleaner but the outer case back is well worn....

[Robbie010]

Can anyone tell whether this is a friction fitted centre wheel? How do I remove this?

Edited March 6, 2021 by Robbie010

[Robbie010]

On 3/6/2021 at 12:17 PM, watchweasol said:

A super sturdy movement, If they were military issue there would usually be the arrow mark an the case back along with a serial number.

The outer watch case back looks as though it may have had some markings but they are long since worn away. However, the inside of the watch case back has a few markings which look hand inscribed rather than stamped. They are:

addio ABABA

N94P8/43

189168

SJN + JHN

Do these mean anything to anyone?

[watchweasol]

If they are hand engraved thay may be previous repair numbers 

[WatchMaker]

On 3/6/2021 at 12:09 PM, Robbie010 said:

So is this a first world trench watch then?

Hi @Robbie010. No. This looks like a watch from the 1950s. Lapanouse had a brand called Rego which I've mentioned above. In the 1950s the Cimier brand came into being from this manufacturer. Could the 'CIR' logo on the dial be shorthand for Cimier? I don't know but irrespective of that it looks too similar to the range of inexpensive pin lever escapement watches produced in the 50's by this brand or similar.

Look for instance at the 'Telemetre' watches halfway down this page: http://www.mcbroom.biz/forum/read.php?5,2931 .

Such watches were made to look like more expensive proper chronographs but, as you've found, could simply have a 'balance stop' mechanism and no reset to zero. Doesn't mean it's a watch you shouldn't like though! Hope you get it going.