October 03, 2009, 23:50
Ernest C. BarnesHi Lp Matile Quarter Second Chronograph
Another piece I don't know to much about. The 18kt case is marked 8099 Hi Lp Matile and Locle. The dial and movement are also marked with the same name and number. Gorgeous movement with two barrels and gold train wheels. The watch has two pushers, one that starts and stops the chronograph function and the other is for time setting. I would like also to add that the small bits hand is a quarter second recorder. Very high grade, but don't know too much about the maker. I am sure it is Swiss made.
October 04, 2009, 00:19
Steve MiddlesworthErnest,
Can't tell you a thing about the watch other than it has "Coolness" written all over it.
Steve
October 05, 2009, 15:55
Gerald ZimmermannErnest
Wow! What a watch! Great find!
It is definitely swiss made - (Le) Locle !
The maker was one of the less known great ones:
Henri-Louis Matile, Locle, Switzerland
second half of the 19th century; made very fine high quality complicated watches mainly imported to the United States
He displayed watches at 'The New York exhibition of the industry of all nations' 1853. The official catalogue says: Fine gold chronometer balance and independent seconds watches; two
chronometer movements.
He also took part at the Philadelphia exhibition 1876:
... makes a speciality of complicated watches and displayed among others repeaters, chronographs and chronometers, also accompanied rating bulletins from the Neu-chatel Observatory.
... #10607 is a repeater watch, sounding the hours, quarters and minutes, independent seconds, chronograph, indicating the phases of the moon, the months and the days.
... #10661 is a watch with independent seconds, fifth of second, chronograph with two split seconds hands.
With help of the two numbered watches I would date your watch close to 1870.
Regards,
Gerald