Can use your help to identify

[Nookster]

Howdy all. I don’t know where to start with this one. If anyone can identify, please let me know.

 

[Dr. Jon]

Nice watch. It is commonly called a 1/4 second jumper or two train independent seconds.

This one has issues:

1) It is recased, it is key wound and key set in a stem wind case
2) The hour and minute hands are mismatched
3) It should have a lever on the side to start and stop the independent seconds (It just may not be visible in the photos

These are unusual watches and and a lot of fun to use and wear.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Nookster,

The really interesting part of these is under the dial, where the going train and the independent seconds train have their connection, because although there are two separate barrels and trains, there's only one balance and escapement. They're very ingenious and continued to be made into the 1860s, even though the true chronograph had been patented back in the 1840s. Perhaps the operating lever is hidden by the bezel, which is hardly practical.

Regards,

Graham

 

[Nookster]

Thanks all. I see the opening for the lever, it’s either way in there or missing. Any idea who made this?

 

[Nookster]

Dr John. I just bought this while on a road trip. Found it interesting so I purchased it not knowing anything about it.

 

[Dr. Jon]

Making was a many step process with several operator. This movement was in use by several finishers. With the case gone and the dial unsigned it at best a guess. Huegenin made a lot of these.

 

[Nookster]

Thank you

 

[gmorse]

Hi Nookster,

I see the opening for the lever, it’s either way in there or missing.

That cut-out in the case looks like the opening for a setting lever for whatever movement was in this case previously, it isn't sensible for this movement at all. The lever was probably removed when the movement was recased, effectively disabling the stop/start function.

Regards,

Graham

 

[mosesgodfrey]

Huguenin covers a lot of bases, Dr Jon!

Not just “a Huguenin,” but “A. Huguenin”

This particular layout of horse timer / 1/4 second timer was a hallmark design for A. Huguenin & Fils of Locle. Yours is an early type, possibly from 1860s. The serial under the dial might get you a year. This design—still with keys—lasted into the 1880s.

A lack of signature here means it likely sold under another brand. Their clients were numerous & included some highest-end brands.

 

[Ethan Lipsig]

Descendants of Nookster's watch included . . .

Stem-wound, tandem wind independent second watches, such as this helical-hairspring Louis Audemars



stem-wound, tandem-wind, jump quarter-second (aka diablotine or foudroyante) rattratpantes, such as this L. Huguenin



and even stem-wound, single-wind foudroyante rattrapantes, such as this Ami LeCoultre.

 

[Bruce W Sims]

I made this suggestion on another "I D" thread.

I have started to use GOOGLE LENS to see if it can provide any additional information on my movements.

You go into GOOGLE on your phone or tablet and press the Camera Icon actuating your camera.

Now take a picture of your movement and the system will pull up examples of what it thinks your picture is about.

Probably a lot of EBAY and ETSEY listings but maybe there is a way to focus its searches better. I'm hoping one of these sharp young I T minds may be of help with that.

BTW: Current not available for PC or WINDOWS 10. FWIW.

Best Wishes,

Bruce

 

[mosesgodfrey]

The direct descendant to Nookster. This one made in 1868.