Westminster Photographic Chronometer

[Secondhand]

Hi all, new member here and by having a look through a few threads it seems I'm the third member from Queensland Australia.

 

Can anyone suggest why this watch would have an outer dial marked off in increments up to 500?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

[Secondhand]

Oops, chronograph not chronometer.

[Geo]

I hope someone has the correct answer, I'm curious myself!

Oops nearly forgot, welcome to the forum. :)

[bobm12]

Welcome to the forum from me too! I don't know the answer but I can venture it might be some calculation of maybe distance...

[frenchie]

No real answer from me either, but a warm welcome !

And the increments are 25. up to 300 ;)

Does the watch tick 5 times fer second ? that would mean that the dial just shows you the precision of the chronograph... just a guess. Then it's easier to calculate whatever it is you're calculating with the chronograph (speed, distance...)

[WillFly]

Some chronographs were made for a specific scientific purpose, and had dials appropriate to the purpose. It's possible that this one had some specific photographic purpose, given the signature on the dial - just a guess!

 

Will

[bobm12]

My thoughts exactly Will, and considering the cameras in use those days, speed of shutter and distance were necessary calculations....MHO.

[frenchie]

Also, the "Westminster Photographic Exchange Ltd" was a photographic equipment distributor in the 1920s from what I can gather

 

[EDIT : unsure if it's the same Westminster Photographic as your watch

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1922-westminster-photographic-catalogue-antique]

Edited December 21, 2015 by frenchie

[Geo]

I wondered if it was something to do with cine photography at first, but the divisions don't relate to frames per second, or feet per minute.

[Cougarnaut]

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&u=http://www.pocketwatch.ch/chrono_dials.htm&sandbox=0&usg=ALkJrhgL33x79325bo5x7uQZYWHocLOYyQ

Edited December 21, 2015 by Cougarnaut

[Cougarnaut]

Do you have a picture of the movement?

Edited December 21, 2015 by Cougarnaut

[Secondhand]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. Well, i've learnt I need new glasses. Well spotted Frenchie it is indeed 300 and not 500. The 275 before the top should have been the giveaway hey. A bit red faced over that one.

Although a bit erratic it is ticking 5 times a second. The back defies removal so I cant see the movement. There are no hinges so I assume the back screws off. Any tips for removal?

[Geo]

Try using a stick ball to screw off the back. http://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/1512-my-sticky-ball-came-today/?hl=%2Bsticky+%2Bball

I personally think it is a snap on back, but I could be wrong.

[Secondhand]

You were right Geo, it is a snap on.

 

[Geo]

That's good that you got the back off. It may be chronograph, and I've no idea how they are making that work if at all, but it certainly is no chronometer. Are you going to give it a service, or leave it alone?

[Secondhand]

I don't have the know how to service it so it will go back in the box of curios I've collected over the years.

I collect vintage Australian real photo postcards and vintage folding cameras. Grabbed the watch as it had the photography reference.

My current interest is restoring racing bicycles from the 1970's and 80's. Unless you have a lot of room don't take up that hobby!

[Cougarnaut]

Is that a pusher on the one o'clock? It is a "System Roskopf" movement with a central second pointer and I think you can "stop" the time up to 60 seconds properly. Would be interesting to see how this works as I never saw such a kind of "Roskopf" before.

 

Regards

Dirk

[Secondhand]

Hi Cougarnaut, it does have a pusher and it stops the second hand. Playing around with the watch must have done some good. Previously it would only run for a few seconds. It's now been running for the last thirty minutes.