| Author | Message | ||
     William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
I would really like to post in this forum, but the automatic censor forbids too many innocent words. wtallman | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 2 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
I'll try again. I've got a LeCoultre similar to that of Jim Hinman, posted on August 8, 2006. The movement seems to be identical, but without the numbers in the box found on his. Above the LeCoultreCo is the number: 232343 and the number on the case back is 974486. I figure it for early to middle '40s, given it's VXN stamp and that it's a curvex case. What is the calibre designation, if anyone knows? Thanks, wtallman | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2160 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Hi there. The site is constantly bombarded with spam, so sorry of the censor is agressive, but I don't want to spend my days deleting messages. The movement you have is what is called a leCoultre "11 ligne" movement. They started calling thse the 11, 11U, 11L then switiched to a different scheme like 411, 424, 438, etc. You can determine the exact caliber by opening the watch up and taking a look. Jim's was a 438 caliber. | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 3 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for responding. I sympathize about the spam. I saw the calibre number on the picture of Jim's movement. The only number that appears on mine is what looks like a serial number: 232343. It's engraved above the underscored LeCoultreCo. Otherwise the engraved nomenclature is identical. 'Swiss' is engraved about the LeCoultreCo, and 'Seventeen 17 Jewels' and 'Unadjusted' are below. Perhaps I can tentatively conclude that my movement is older than Jim's. BTW, his watch is listed in the latest Cooksey Shugart and dated to the early '50s. Mine is (I think) a curvex model and probably dates to the '40s. Next time I pop the movement out, I'll look to see if an '11', '11U', or '11L' can be seen. Anyway, it cleaned up very nicely, runs nearly spot on although the mainspring is detached from the barrel (27 hour reserve and never winds tight). Not bad for $60.00US and will make a nice dress watch! Thanks, wtallman | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2166 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
If the caliber is not marked, you'll have to identify it by the balance wheel, it is not all that obvious. | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
Aha. Is there a reference for this? Thanks, wtallman | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2169 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Not publicly available, no. | ||
| Polaris King Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Hello William, You can utilize any copy of the Best Fit manual to identify any movement caliber including balance wheels. You can also obtain copies of JLC factory parts manuals for any vintage calibers. If you need assistance, I can direct you to several available resources. | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2170 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
I think you'll find it a challege to identify the 11"' movements using bestfit. The differences are very subtle. If you have the original factory parts sheets that will do the trick, but they're not all that easy to come by, but by all means refer William to someone that may have them. Even then, the early 11"' movements with no caliber stamp, are some of the hardest time only movements to identify. | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 5 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
Hello PK, Zaf suggests original factory parts sheets would do the trick; are those the copies of JLC factory parts manuals you cite? If so, I would be so pleased if you would point me to where copies might be available! Although this is an interest only issue, I really appreciate your responses. I was told this was a good forum for vintage watches, and now I can testify as much to others. Thanks, wtallman | ||
| gatorcpa Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Here is a list of some parts lists for old LeCoultre movements: http://web.archive.org/web/20020311133644/http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.org/ Hope this helps, gatorcpa | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2176 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
That's weird, I host that site but this is a copy of it? In any event, those are only post 1937 calibers i.e. 3 digit nomenclature, so it will not have the very early 11 ligne rectangular movements only what they evolved into. | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 6 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the URL, gatorcpa. You would not by chance be an accountant living in Gainsville FL, would you? ;) Turns out that Zaf is correct. The '11' series is not listed. Does PK have any (other) available sources? Thanks, Zaf. wtallman | ||
| Polaris King Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Hello Mr. Tallman, If you can post a scan of your movement, I will be able to tell you the caliber as well as parts availability for repair. BTW: Thanks gatorcpa for providing this valuable resource for identifying JLC calibers for all to benefit. Regards, PK | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2177 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
For future reference, please go here: http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.org/ I host that site and if I'm ever going to update it, it will not be reflected of of the copy. | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 7 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the ID offer, PK. Here is a large scan: 1.6M jpeg. http://www.olypen.com/wtallman/lecoultre.jpeg Hope that works. wtallman | ||
| Polaris King Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Your movment specs out to a JLC Caliber 424. Enjoy, Polaris King | ||
| gatorcpa Unregistered guest Rating: N/A |
Zaf - I apologize for posting the copy, as I did not know it was yours. Basically, All I did was a Yahoo search for "Lecoultre Movements", which came up with a link which was invalid. Yahoo then links you with a Web Archive where old versions of almost any website may be found, along with any original links. It's real nice no-cost place for research. To Mr. Tallman, yes, I'm an accountant who was educated in Gainesville (Univ. of Florida). Take care all, gatorcpa | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2178 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Actually, there is a problem with the DNS setting for that site, I didn't realise that. I have corrected it and it should propagate in the next 24 hours. If I ever find time for "non income producing" activity, I'll load the rest of the movement sheets. I have the earlier ones too, but only so many hours in the day. | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 8 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
Thanks to PK for the ID. Tried checking the URL gatorcpa posted and got the page, but no images. Not available from jaeger-lecoultre.org either. I'll check back later. Thanks, wtallman | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2179 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Try this: http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.org/Caliber-details/Caliber_424.jpg | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 9 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
I can get that URL from the archive listed up thread, though with several clicks through links. It winds up at another web.archive.org page advertising Domain Direct, which says your site is currently under construction. Clicking on the link above, which is exactly the same URL as the last link above re-directs me to landing.domainsponser.com and what appears to be the front page of your site. No links to caliber images are shown. I did take a look at calibre 436 at the archive page, which appeared to be the same calibre but with a date function. Other calibre numbers yielded different results, sometimes the data and sometimes not. In any case, I'll check back again later. I do sympathize with your site troubles, having hacked through my own share of html, xhtml, xml, etc. Good luck with that! wtallman | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2180 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Give it 24 more hours, I did have a problem with it that has been corrected but it takes a while to propagate through he internet. You can the same info off of: http://www.jaegerlecoultreforum.com/ In the information section under lecoultre movements | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 10 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
The URL just provided works fine, thanks. The 424 listed lacks some of the engraved information, notably the VXN near the balance mechanism. Might the 424 be a later version of the original 11 series? Two other questions: Did LeCoultre produce curvex models after the 1940s? I've a list of the watchmaker's marks on the case back that should yield the date of the first service; anyone able to read such things? Thanks, wtallman | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2182 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
I actually think you have an 11L as the 424, its successor, was not introduced until 1945. Your movement is from around 1942. I don't think they're going to stamp VXN on the factory parts sheet, so that is not relevant. If you mean by Curvex, a watch that has a curved movement, then LeCoultre did not make such watches. Good luck! | ||
| Ilja Probst Moderator Username: Ilja Post Number: 195 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Zaf, where the hell did you get all the scans from? :P | ||
| Zaf Moderator Username: Zaf Post Number: 2184 Registered: 05-2003 Rating: N/A |
Yes, Master Vader. | ||
| William D. Tallman New member Username: Wtallman Post Number: 11 Registered: 09-2006 Rating: N/A |
Okay, thanks for this informed identification. And the manufacture date of circa 1942 fits other criteria (watchmakers marks inside the case back). The business of curvex is from the current Cooksey Shugart, page 896. Two examples are termed 'curvex'. The idea of a curved movement is very interesting (bizarre?). Never even heard of such a thing! I took curvex to mean a curvex case, such as would fit the wrist, etc. In any case, thanks for this long exchange, and all the references and input! wtallman |