Matile fine Swiss 1800's movement maker.

[artbissell]

I am lately interested in Matile of Le Locle because of recent awareness about ~1850 ruby cylinder, duplex and Nardin patent detent fine escapement examples. Have not found much historical info about Matile. Would appreciate any references. Examples, 2 mine, one of friend's who was source for my 2:

 

[artbissell]

I still do not even know for sure that Matile Brothers were a movement designer and maker. Only that what movements I have observed are exceptional in all respects thus my continuing interest in knowing about their activities and reputation. Matile ruby duplex:

 

[Dr. Jon]

MAtiel was a fime amker. This watch is bit of puzzle since it is NOT a duplex. It is a bascule or pivoted detent. Matile made these, I have a similar example. It is inconceivable that Matile would have mis labeled a movement.

It is such a fine case that I suspect Matile replaced the original movement with this one. That diamond on its button is way over the top. A pivoted detent chronometer was considered a better movement so in no way were they tryong to reduce the quality of the item. The jewel count (fine rubies) on the movement in is now is now 15 or 16, not 12. A ruby duplex is a much rarer item but such is the way fine watches were worn used and serviced.

Art's picture looks to me like a real ruby duplex. I am guessing that he was too polite to point out the change. I agree with him the Matile was a very fine maker.

It is very nie item. It probabaly has a very iunteresting history.

 

[artbissell]

MAtiel was a fime amker. This watch is bit of puzzle since it is NOT a duplex. It is a bascule or pivoted detent. Matile made these, I have a similar example. It is inconceivable that Matile would have mis labeled a movement.

I have confused the issue here by providing images of Matile movements not consistent with the cases.



Art's picture looks to me like a real ruby duplex. I am guessing that he was too polite to point out the change. I agree with him the Matile was a very fine maker.

I much appreciate your noticing my confusion. Politeness has nothing to do with it. The complex convertible case marked duplex has this movement description. The movement shown was from a dealer, Matile marked the same, but I guess with wrong movement.

View attachment 147236

 

[artbissell]

MAtiel was a fime amker. This watch is bit of puzzle since it is NOT a duplex. It is a bascule or pivoted detent. Matile made these, I have a similar example. It is inconceivable that Matile would have mis labeled a movement.

I have confused the issue here by providing images of Matile movements not consistent with the cases.



Art's picture looks to me like a real ruby duplex. I am guessing that he was too polite to point out the change. I agree with him the Matile was a very fine maker.

I much appreciate your noticing my confusion. Politeness has nothing to do with it. Both complex convertible cases marked duplex have same movement description. The movement shown was from a dealer, Matile marked the same, but I guess with wrong movement.? My mvnt. is identical as previously shown here. In post 2.

 

[Dr. Jon]

I am the one who was confused, for some reason I thought post #1 was from someone else and that you were showing a true duplex in post 2, my error. II assumed the movement in picture #3 went incase #4. The movement in post 2 and the lower pictures of your gold cased watch are duplexes so your gold watch has a duplex escapement.
The upper picture showing the nickel cased movement is a bascule detent.

Its an educated guess but I suspect that the Matile duplexes are circa 1850 or earlier. They were the preferred over levers as an alternative to pocket chronometers for precision timekeeping up to about that year.


BTW, the case in post #5, in addition to having the correct type of movement is a "magic" case. It can be switched from open face to hunting which is why its cover has a lift spring.

 

[artbissell]

Dr. John: Thanks for confirming. I tend to be a confuser with my rather superficial but enthusiastic interests. So I appreciate your generosity in attempting to inform me about interesting details. There is no maker mark in the interesting case.

 

[artbissell]

Dr. Jon: Thanks for confirming. I tend to be a confuser with my rather superficial but enthusiastic interests. So I appreciate your generosity in attempting to inform me about interesting details. There is no maker mark in the interesting case.

I have Greg Frauenhoff fine 102 page book AMERICAN WATCH CASES OF THE 1880s loaded with case makers advertising reproductions and historical details.
Covers thoroughly the 1882 patent by Muckle for case design very like this 30 year older Swiss convertible. Case makers listed as North Western Watch Case Co, Rockford, Muckle's Climax Reversible Case. Looks same to me as the old unmarked Matile convertible.

Another interesting one is hidden hinge by Blauer W.C. Co, Chicago Invisible joint cases.1885-1890, then Kenosha W.C. Co. Premier Maximus was supplied with a few of these. I have a 16s Maximus that may have one?

 

[artbissell]

The Maximus invisible hinge case is actually from Dubois watch case Co.