Cimier 1950s shock spring (Lapanouse 201 cal.)

[b3pete]

I'm a bit of a beginner, but having whetted my appetite with a few cheap Indian movements, I thought I'd tackle something more attractive. Much to my horror, and due entirely to my own carelessness, I've managed to lose the lower shock spring on my latest project. A quite nice and tidy Cimier wristwatch. 

Hours of searching and re-searching have proved fruitless. Silly me.

Anyway, it's apparently a Lapanouse  201 movement from I'd guess the 1950s. Here's a pic of the missing spring I took shortly before it flew away...

 

It bears passing resemblance to Diashock, but presumably predates it by some years. Is it worth trying to use/modify a Diashock spring, or has anyone any other idea? I was looking forward to getting this watch cleaned and fixed ( I'm waiting for a new mainspring to arrive), but unless the old spring turns up I'm a bit stuck.

Does anyone know if other watch brands used this type of shock spring? I'm off to a big antiques fair tomorrow so can look out for scrappers... I've been looking out for info/specs on this pin lever movement, but there's not much on line.

Thanks for reading this.

Pete

 

[clockboy]

Kif have a shock spring named "Trior" that may fit. See doc.

 

KIF shock springs.pdf

 

 

[b3pete]

Thanks... It's certainly a similar shape.

[noirrac1j]

This is a Trior. I have a few, but you would have to know the exact size. They come in KIF 1-2, 1-3, or 1-4. I would recommend buying a couple of each if you don't know the size,

J

[b3pete]

It certainly seems to be a Kif Trior of some size. I'll whip off the upper spring to see if it fits the bottom (this time I'll cocoon the area under a sheet of cling-film!) before measuring it.

I'm assuming I'll be measuring the spring at it's widest point (the lugs).

Thanks for the help!

[noirrac1j]

 

It certainly seems to be a Kif Trior of some size. I'll whip off the upper spring to see if it fits the bottom (this time I'll cocoon the area under a sheet of cling-film!) before measuring it.

I'm assuming I'll be measuring the spring at it's widest point (the lugs).

Thanks for the help!

Cling wrap....ALWAYS!!

Joe

[b3pete]

Success!! After measuring the jewel hole as best I could with my digital callipers, and a Rodico impression with a micrometer I ordered a KIF 1-3 Trior spring from Cousins, along with a small vial of 25 random shock springs as a second chance.

As it turned out, the KIF 1-3 was slightly too small, but the vial of springs contained several suitable Triors (I'm assuming 1-4 size) one of which I fitted after much fiddling about. Cling film saved the day this time of course...

 

Anyway, the watch is back together and ticking away for the first time in many years (with a new mainspring which was all that was really needed after the clean).

I will still need to re-lume the hands and markers, but that's another area where I have no experience, and this week's been exciting enough. 

With my confidence buoyed, I immediately tackled another car-boot sale find with KIF Triors, this time a Lanco Sport (mid 1970s). This watch has a Ronda RAX 1233-21 movement. It took me less time to remove/clean/replace/oil the shock jewels on this one, but it's certainly a fiddle:

I'll be looking tore-case this one (it's not in the original case anyway) and maybe treat it to a new crystal.

It makes me appreciate the relative ease of dealing with the Para Shock arrangement on the Indian HMT 231 movements which have been my previous victims.

Anyway, thanks very much Clockboy and Joe for pointing me in the right direction.

P.