Hi, not a Verge, I sometimes buy interesting Swiss movements. Gallet oddity for the American Marke

[Omexa]

Hi, I always am attracted to odd looking and strange movements; this one has everything that attracts me.

Léon Gallet set his sights on the rest of the world markets. In 1864, Léon's brother, Lucien Gallet (1834–1879), established the company's first US location in Chicago, with a New York City office following soon after. Together with Jules Racine, a cousin of the Gallet brothers living in the US, the company began its expansion into the American market.

Due to the American consumer’s preference for domestically styled products, the Gallet Company created numerous new lines to accommodate this. Not including watches privately labeled for established jewelry retailers, Gallet introduced thirty-seven new brands. While the names that appeared on the dials and the overall appearance and function of these watches were tailored to American tastes, all cases and movements continued to be produced in Gallet’s La Chaux-Fonds workshop. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Photos compliments of Jeff Hess. Regards Ray

 

[Omexa]

Hi, just a few things of note; on the pro side the movement has adjustable Banking Pins and Wolf Teeth Winding Gears; the setting mechanism is rather solidly constructed and has a solid Brass block where the Stem goes through. The movement does resemble an American made movement; on the cons side no Dial or Hands, it has a Half Cut Balance Wheel; possible broken Jewels and a bent bit where the Second Hand goes on and no Cap Jewel. All in All I am very happy with the movement, which may be a Prototype. Regards Ray

 

[Jeff Hess]

i bought that on a table for 100 dollars. thought it would bring 500 or more. truly a rare item. it sold for three bucks. congrats omexa!!

 

[Omexa]

Thanks Jeff, I know that you sell really nice Pocket Watches; I was rather surprised that other people did not recognize that this was a rare Pocket Watch movement. At least it went to a person who really appreciates it. Regards Ray

 

[Tom McIntyre]

Am I seeing correctly that it is push to set? It looks like it would be easy to case in a standard American 18 size case. Or, is it larger than that?

 

[Omexa]

Hi Tom, that is what I thought; not sure about size? I think that seeing as it was possibly made for the American Market it would be a Standard Size 18 or 16 Size; I am hoping that it is an 18 Size Regards Ray

Am I seeing correctly that it is push to set? It looks like it would be easy to case in a standard American 18 size case. Or, is it larger than that?

 

[Omexa]

Hi Tom, you have given me food for thought; assuming I get the movement running, I am thinking how to Case it; I have never liked Hunting Case Cases; they usually have the Lid way over 90 degrees and have hinge problems. So my ideal Case will be a Salesman type of Case with 2 Crystals; a Female stem and maybe an unmarked Conversion Dial. All this is assuming that it is a Standard American Size; Gallet did make all their Cases in Switzerland. Regards Ray

 

[pmwas]

Thanks Jeff, I know that you sell really nice Pocket Watches; I was rather surprised that other people did not recognize that this was a rare Pocket Watch movement. At least it went to a person who really appreciates it. Regards Ray

It looks too much like a common 'Swiss fake'.'d say some of the 'Swiss fakes' are in fact just Swiss movements made for American morket, not necessarily true fakes. Most of them are of lower quality, than American made movements of the time, no doubt.
Here's an example of a Swiss moveemnt made for English market:





It even has 'English lever' escapement, with separate bridge:



It's Swiss, no doubt:



At the time the Swiss were copying English and American designs, especially for products aimed for these markets.
This shown here is an interesting one, though the crown wheel right under the balance does look weird. Just... not right so to say

 

[Omexa]

Hi pmwas, the Swiss movement that you have shown is just what it is, a Medium Grade Pocket Watch made for export. In no way does it resemble the Gallet movement that clearly states that it is for the American Market. In no way does it resemble the "Swiss Fake" Movements that were meant to deceive. Read carefully my description.

Hi, just a few things of note; on the pro side the movement has adjustable Banking Pins and Wolf Teeth Winding Gears; the setting mechanism is rather solidly constructed and has a solid Brass block where the Stem goes through. The movement does resemble an American made movement; on the cons side no Dial or Hands, it has a Half Cut Balance Wheel; possible broken Jewels and a bent bit where the Second Hand goes on and no Cap Jewel. All in All I am very happy with the movement, which may be a Prototype.

Gallet had Sales offices in Chicago and New York. Regards Ray

 

[pmwas]

I know - just thinking why it sold cheaply, that's all

 

[Omexa]

Hi pmwas, I pick up lots of cheap movements and Pocket Watches; movements with poor photos I download and enhance and some times I hit the Jackpot, like a couple of ruby duplex movements that I got recently; one for US23.00 and the other for about US 50.00. Jeff Hess who has two Shops in Florida and an expert on Pocket Watches thought it was a good buy.

i bought that on a table for 100 dollars. thought it would bring 500 or more. truly a rare item. it sold for three bucks. congrats omexa!!

Jeff's photos were excellent so I don't know why it was not bid on more. Just the luck of the draw. Regards Ray

 

[pmwas]

Sometimes I also like to risk and buy a (preferably working, in such case) watch with no movement pic. Sometimes you get a pleasant suprise inside. Well... sometimes

 

[Omexa]

Hi pmas, in earlier times I have had a few horrors; like the really nice Pocket Watch (costs lots) that when I went to take the Hands off I discovered that the Hands and Cannon Pinion were super glued onto the Pillar Plate because of a Broken Center shaft. I could not find the seller because he or she were not on eBay anymore. Regards Ray

 

[pmwas]

Obviously, buying non-serviced antique watches will often result in an unpleasant suprise. And sometimes - buying a serviced one as well

 

[Omexa]

Well it was partly my own fault, because I was in another State (Queensland) for about a Year for Family reasons, before I came home and got around to servicing it and then Shock- Horror. Regards Ray

 

[Omexa]

Hi, I have been trying to find another movement like this movement; no success. The inscription on the movement; "PATENT Julien Gallet's AMERICAN WATCH New York" I am wondering if this movement was the work of Julien Gallet himself? For a young, ambitious man, who wanted to break out of the tightly regulated luxury watches trade, to constitute his own company in an area with great growth potential, La Chaux-de-Fonds was the right place. However, the harsh climate at 1000 m. above sea level of this watches metropolis did not agree with his health. He died at the age of 43. (1806-1849) However, his widow Louise was very competent and continued the business until she could hand it over to her two sons, Léon and Lucien. If this was his own work it would date before 1849 when he died. Regards Ray

 

[Omexa]

Movement

 

[Omexa]

Well I always thought that I have one of everything; I have 2 of this weird movement; one unmarked; all I have to do is find it which will be a massive search! Regards Ray

Strange Swiss Fake with "Wolf's Teeth".

 

[Omexa]

Software troubles again; it won't let me edit my post a minute ago. So I will put the photos in now. Regards Ray

 

[Omexa]

Hi, the movement that I found; my filing system (Brain) told me where it is-was, and it is similar enough to be made by the same moment maker. It is 18 Size and has a small makers mark stamped on it? I am purchasing a nice salesman case from a friend to put it in. Regards Ray

 

[Omexa]

Hi, I am starting to get a bit desperate to find out what the "Stylized Duck" means? Surely someone knows? Regards Ray

 

[Allan C. Purcell]

Hi Ray- my guess is a motion makers mark-but you will need another, or its just a one off-his name you will never know. Best Allan.

 

[astonvilla]

I believe these movements were originaly key wind movements , which much later has been converted to stem winds . I am guessing the movement was made around 1860-70 and rebuilt to stemwind maybe around 1900 .
H Sandstrom

 

[Omexa]

Thanks
H Sandstrom, I have been wondering about these movements. I contacted Gallet; whether I get a reply or not is up to the Gods. Regards Ray

 

[Omexa]

• Hi, I received the movement today and I have some more information. An interesting thing is a scratching on the movement "J D Oct 2nd 1885" So I now have who made the raw movement. Regards Ray

Prichard reports that this was the firm of Alcide Droz and H Perret which was founded in1864.
The firm won a Silver Medal at the Paris Universal exhibition for a winding mechanism.

 

[joetime]

Hello Omexa just picked this up a couple weeks ago this rare J.GALLET'S AMERICAN WATCH IN A FINE SILVER HUNTER CASE Swiss made lever escapement gilt watch movement has blued screws and some large clear jewels the movement is stem wind and pin set written on the movement is J' Gallet's American watch,New-York serial #374 also matching case serial#374 also as English hallmark of a lion head an a lion for fine silver Written on the dial is "J.GALLET'S AMERICAN WATCH" with blued steel spade hands,just thought I would show one that is complete for info.joetime

 

[Jeff Hess]

cool. I knew it was quite unusual when I bought it. It was siting on a table at a regional. Table holder was jones and horan. For a hundred bucks I could not pass it up.

 

[Omexa]

Hi, I saw this but I did not bid, I ended up with another Pocket Watch from the same seller. Regards Ray

 

[joetime]

One cool thing I wanted to mention the clear jewels is like a view port for watching the movement running there is a brass triangle that's is spinning away.

 

[Keith R...]

Gallet has been around for a bit. Turn of the century chronograph and serviced.

Keith R...

 

[Omexa]

Hi Keith, I have some of these somewhere; I did not know they were made by Gallet. Regards Ray

 

[Keith R...]

Yes and sold through a department store chain.

Keith R...

 

[Keith R...]

Now this is Ray's old thread, but it's Swiss. I bought an old Auguste Saltzman Swiss lever 15J that is
in a second generation American case. When it first came in I checked it over, gave it a short wind and
it stopped early, to early for that wind. So I began wondering about re-using the case, it lines up for series
I,II or III E Howard key winds. Now I was about to pull it from the case and decided give it one more try.

This time I gave it a full wind. It ran 26 hours, was still running and so I wound it back full. Since these
initial runs, it times less than 1 minute per day. So that glass back E Howard key wind can remain a glass
back. Now if it ever comes down to it, I can move Auguste to the glass back and the Howard to the coin
case. The serial number on the Saltzman is 37xxx, so I could place it right about 1860. Last pic, glass back
E Howard Mershon.

Keith R...

 

[Keith R...]

The patent date for this straight line lever was 1859. All Auguste Saltzman's for the American
market were paired with 18K cases. Most were a bit smaller than this example, this one right
at an 18 size, equal to an N size E Howard. I date this example to 1860, which would lead me
to think this is the earliest example of nickel plates I've seen for the American market.

Keith R...

 

[Keith R...]

If you notice the case has a charcoal gray hue to it. This case is stamped coin and as
Graham explained on the American side, the contents of coin vs. Sterling is lower in silver
and higher in other mixed metals. So this is my favorite tone for a case.

She is still timing under 1 minute per day after day 3 and that's with me carrying it. My
American Watch maker pulled a joke on me and sent one of my key winds back sounding
like an alarm clock when you wind it, I believe he got to this one in the same way.

Auguste Saltzman, straight line lever patent date, 1859.

Keith R...

 

[Keith R...]

Well, one of those that right when you are ready for the shot the back lid keeps falling.
Anyway, a more clear shot of this 15J nickel Saltzman. Yes, it's running, sorry about
that.

Ray is back home getting some shut eye! He'll be around shortly!!

Keith R...

 

[John Matthews]

Ray is back home getting some shut eye! He'll be around shortly

Pleasant dreams Ray - I hope problem solved and back to normality.

John

 

[gmorse]

Ray is back home getting some shut eye! He'll be around shortly!!

I hope they put a good plumber on the job this time!

 

[Omexa]

Hi Graham, Plumber is about right; I won't go into the details. Regards Ray

 

[Keith R...]

Dear complaint department:

I saw Robert and Ethan's post on the swiss watches, (those modern day jobs, wind with fingers). I decided to give
the Swiss Saltzman a break from it's perfect time keeping run, but that was 34 hours ago and it's still running.

The only problem I seem to have is I've amassed about 100 key wind keys, I started packing them in plastic
containers with lids. The 14J Wathen Rack takes a #7 while the Dubree verge a different key. I have found
no consistency between the English or the Swiss, in key sizes from 1812 (Roskell Rack to 1860 Saltzman). I
just wanted to vent before my 8 year old grand daughter comes to visit PeePaw for one week.

Thanks for taking my complaint!

Keith R...