Secometers/rotating seconds/revolving seconds?

[Spike]

I believe that most of these, regardless of maker, were 12 size. Lindell V. Riddle has noted (Hamilton Secometer (http://www.nawcc.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/003288.html)) that ?they represent an early attempt at digital timekeeping and more than 70 years later remain an interesting curiosity. Most collectors will gladly pay an extra premium for a watch so-equipped.? Many people, like Lindell, find them fascinating.

Question: What might account for the fact that this feature was not added more often to 16s or 18s watches?

Thank you!

[Spike]

I believe that most of these, regardless of maker, were 12 size. Lindell V. Riddle has noted (Hamilton Secometer (http://www.nawcc.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/003288.html)) that ?they represent an early attempt at digital timekeeping and more than 70 years later remain an interesting curiosity. Most collectors will gladly pay an extra premium for a watch so-equipped.? Many people, like Lindell, find them fascinating.

Question: What might account for the fact that this feature was not added more often to 16s or 18s watches?

Thank you!

[abereiter]

Well heres my guess. I would say that is was reserved for a "dress" type watch and that was primarly the 12s watches. 16 size was a working mans watch and if it wasent they tipicaly were not as fancy. And I think that the 18s watches were prety much phased out by the time this feature came about. Just a guess.

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Aaron Bereiter
NAWCC #156432

[Spike]

Lindell says (Hamilton Secometer (http://www.nawcc.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/003288.html)) a secometer-type dial (and seconds disc) could certainly have been fitted to any movement for a nominal charge by a retail jeweler. In that case they could?ve (if available) been added ?aftermarket? to 18s movements even if the latter had been phased out by that time. Is fashion thus the best (and only) explanation for exclusive application of secometers to 12s watches?

[Hoopty]

Having a couple of these types of watches and having taken them apart, I dont see any reason why it couldn't have been done on a 16 or 18s. I think aaron was right when he said a 16 or 18s was a working mans watch.. If you look at a 16 or 18s dial, it only takes a second or two to focus on the second hand. Thus you can tell the time (via seconds) faster.. It takes a little longer to focus in on the secometer dial to figure out which number is passing.. Just idle thoughts of a novice collector :smile: Bruce

ps.. I have an Ingrahm secometer that measures out at about a 14s.

[Spike]

There're plenty of watches like this one ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=955142857 ) (I could've posted a just-as-fancy all-original 18s BW Raymond) that appear to cast at least some doubt on the ?16 or 18s was a working mans watch? thesis!

[This message has been edited by Annie (edited 09-01-2002).]

[abereiter]

Annie, Your right there are plenty of 18s watches with fancy dials but the majority of these were much earlier than the 12s watches with the feature being discussed. I have herd the fancy 12s watches called "bankers" watches and other descriptions such as that. I think the secometer came around in a art deco era and were on fancy watches with fancy cases. Of course you can probably find some exceptions but I think this was the norm. The 16s was still a working mans watch and the lower grade 16s were styled after their high grade RR type watches. Once again just a guess.

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Aaron Bereiter
NAWCC #156432

[terry hall]

Here's one I found reading an old Bulletin.....October 1980 whole # 208

Front view (http://web.infoave.net/~ehall/digital2.jpg)

Under Dial (http://web.infoave.net/~ehall/digital1.jpg)

Movement (http://web.infoave.net/~ehall/digital3.jpg)

Case Mark (http://web.infoave.net/~ehall/digital4.jpg)

TEXT FROM ARTICLE (http://web.infoave.net/~ehall/article.jpg)

More Text (http://web.infoave.net/~ehall/article2.jpg)

I am sorry for the quality of the images, taking pictures of pictures ya know...
This came from a letter to the ANSWER BOX. The writer was from Victoria, Australia. The watch came from the writer's grandfather, who was from The Netherlands.

[This message has been edited by terry hall (edited 09-01-2002).]

[This message has been edited by terry hall (edited 09-01-2002).]

[abereiter]

I,m keeping an eye on this one. Nice watch but to nice for my collection $. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=953640599

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Aaron Bereiter
NAWCC #156432

[BrianC]

The secometer is all in the dials. One main dial with a cut-out for a second dial, mounted on the seconds bit. It could be used on any size watch. I believe it was a novelty that was tried on a 12s dress watch and it wasn't widely accepted.
Brian C.

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