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Identifying a (very old) vintage movement


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Hi Everyone! 

By any chance anyone recognizes this movement? 
The dial is branded “Borel Fils” but the movement is not branded or marked with any name or number except for a serial (already disassembled it so I checked closely). Should be Swiss and dated late 1800 / early 1900.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 
I’m in dire need for some replacement parts which were corroded by rust so I hope by identifying it I will manage to locate a donor movement or any other lead.

0B53CA5E-D408-428D-9CCB-63F5AAB1B7EA.jpeg

628C8445-EFBE-4048-A9D9-BE8BCEE3039B.jpeg

Edited by Rafael
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  • Rafael changed the title to Identifying a (very old) vintage movement

If that's a Swiss ébauche movement, which seems probable from what little I can see, it could be an FHF (Fontainemelon) or A. Schild, or a Minerva or a number of ones allied with ETA.  See if you can spot a logo hiding below a bridge somewhere; there may be none but it's worth careful inspection. 

Also: could you post the size please?  And perhaps some photos of dial and hands?  Maybe a closeup of the pallet lever too?  And what kind of case is it in?  I saw the hinged back cover, but I also see lugs on the sides; if from late 1800s to early 1900s, it was made before wrist watches, so I am wondering if it was re-cased.

Edited by KarlvonKoln
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Just now, HectorLooi said:

I'm curious. Why did the Swiss manufacturers used "FAST/SLOW" on the balance cock instead of something in  French, German or Italian?

I wondered about that too.  On a foreign watch, I usually see "Avance" and "Retard".  Made for the British or American market perhaps?

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7 hours ago, KarlvonKoln said:

If that's a Swiss ébauche movement, which seems probable from what little I can see, it could be an FHF (Fontainemelon) or A. Schild, or a Minerva or a number of ones allied with ETA.  See if you can spot a logo hiding below a bridge somewhere; there may be none but it's worth careful inspection. 

Also: could you post the size please?  And perhaps some photos of dial and hands?  Maybe a closeup of the pallet lever too?  And what kind of case is it in?  I saw the hinged back cover, but I also see lugs on the sides; if from late 1800s to early 1900s, it was made before wrist watches, so I am wondering if it was re-cased.

Hi, thanks! I’m attaching a few more pictures. Movement diameter is ~25mm so probably 11 lignes.

3C4F2B28-82AB-490D-B1A7-FEF5C6F6EDC5.jpeg

24261E24-D1A9-4F43-A563-8C27A5083C05.jpeg

352E1667-58EC-4296-A902-B0340586DEF0.jpeg

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6 hours ago, Nucejoe said:

Have you tried Dr ranffts database to trace the caliber down by its keyless. 

 

 

After fiddling about with Dr Ranffts website, I did the database search based on specific characteristics. No luck as well, didn't find one that is even close and I basically went through like 300 movements (and this is after I searched Bestfit catalogue 1+2). 

 

Well, I guess unless there's a miracle and someone will magically identify it, I'll have to start thinking of how to sort generic parts and hope that it will fit 🙂  

Edited by Rafael
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