Minute Repeaters, Chronograph and Other Ebauche Blanc Movements

[Alexander Claassens]

To close to a year ago I posted a twin barrel minute repeater, well a few days ago I came across its two brothers, also a LeCoultre Quarter repeater blanc, chronograph and 2 manual wind movements. What was even more interesting is the non-chronograph minute repeater came in its original double sided glass case to view, and something intersting is the four armed wheel with the teeth for minutes, is compoletely smooth, so when you activate, it will always chime to the highest number of minutes, compared to the other two minute repeaters which have the 15 teeth on each arm. Surely that isn't right as the complication is usually fully completed and the buyer would just finish the movement.

Regarding who made these, none, except the twin barrel repeater, have any makers marks from what I've seen, only hand scribed numbers.

Thought I would share these with you all, and maybe some of you could recognize one of the minute repeater movements, as I have yet to find a complete example of either.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Alexander,

the four armed wheel with the teeth for minutes, is compoletely smooth,

It looks like a quarter repeater snail to me, the racks it controls have only three teeth for each hammer collet, so it can only be a quarter repeater.

Regards,

Graham

 

[Alexander Claassens]

Hi Alexander,



It looks like a quarter repeater snail to me, the racks it controls have only three teeth for each hammer collet, so it can only be a quarter repeater.

Regards,

Graham

Hello Graham, I am not refering to the first, silver repeater, which is the LeCoultre Quarter repeater, I am refering to one of the brass movements, further down. It is hidden behind the hour wheel. Will try add a picture.

 

[Alexander Claassens]

Hi Alexander,



It looks like a quarter repeater snail to me, the racks it controls have only three teeth for each hammer collet, so it can only be a quarter repeater.

Regards,

Graham

 

[Alexander Claassens]

Hi Alexander,



It looks like a quarter repeater snail to me, the racks it controls have only three teeth for each hammer collet, so it can only be a quarter repeater.

Regards,

Graham

Apologies, I am mistaken, the smooth four armed wheel is traditionally whats under the four toothed armed wheel, so that is obviously missing. Bit of a face palm moment there.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Alexander,

I'm not sure what you mean about this last picture, the quarter and minute snails are both present. The division of the minute snail arms was done later in the manufacturing process, once the minute rack was planted and its tail was finally positioned.

Regards,

Graham

 

[Alexander Claassens]

Hi Alexander,

I'm not sure what you mean about this last picture, the quarter and minute snails are both present. The division of the minute snail arms was done later in the manufacturing process, once the minute rack was planted and its tail was finally positioned.

Regards,

Graham

Hello Graham, at first I was wondering where the toothed minute snail was, since the other two blanc minute repeaters already have the toothed wheels. I then realized it was just missing and corrected myself. The last picture is showing that.

 

[Alexander Claassens]

Hi Alexander,

I'm not sure what you mean about this last picture, the quarter and minute snails are both present. The division of the minute snail arms was done later in the manufacturing process, once the minute rack was planted and its tail was finally positioned.

Regards,

Graham

Hello Graham,

My main question is, for anyone that sees this post, have you possibly seen any final productions of either of the three brass blanc minute repeaters?

 

[gmorse]

Hi Alexander,

I'm afraid I can't answer that question, but I think Philip Poniz is the man who can.

Regards,

Graham