Definitely need help here regards a Valjoux Stopwatch!

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village
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Definitely need help here regards a Valjoux Stopwatch!

Post by village »

Right...i bought this on a whim years ago from the Bay of Fleas.
I had the grand idea of using it to time race horses ( i was reading a book on it at the time..). Obviously i didn't.
Anyway-i was having a sort out and i thought i'd give it a good look over.

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Its a nice clean face with two sub-dials. The top one is a 30 minute dial split into 3 minute sections. Thebottom dial is a 60 second dial which continues to run even when the stopwatch isn't being utilised.
The main dial has smaller markings so you can measure really accurately.
Top button starts and stops the stopwatch,the 11 o'clock button is used for the split second operation.

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It's a nice size- about 50mm across and 15mm thick.
The back of the watch has

3 GPO
ABE 68
35201

engraved on it.

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With some research this looks to be a watch issued to GPO telecomms engineers for the accurate measurement and timing of the electro-mechanical call timing equipment (ie the stuff that timed the STD phone calls)

Interestingly,when i was looking inside with a loupe i saw a mark hidden under the balance wheel with a 24 next to it...with a bit of research (phew!) i tracked this down to be the mark for Valjoux! So a Valjoux 24 calibre...a 19 ligne movement with split second capability which was introduced in the 30's/40's.

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It winds and works perfectly-i can see some watchmakers marks which look to be dated '75,'81 & '85

Now....does anyone have any more info? ie did they used to use one of these or similar? How much do we think its worth? (Sorry to be vulgar but i am interested) etc etc etc
If you can read this you are too close to your computer screen....
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Re: Definitely need help here regards a Valjoux Stopwatch!

Post by Uncle Bill »

From what I've learned from my Precista, it's a column wheel movement; the column wheel is the turrety thing at the top of the movement photo. This was the norm in those days, I gather, from when man-hours didn't matter so much...Envy!
This site may add to your interest and jump you off somewhere...UB

http://www.valjoux.info/index.htm
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Re: Definitely need help here regards a Valjoux Stopwatch!

Post by Monkey »

Interesting looking piece Andy!! There's one or two tell tale parts on the mov't that told me it was a Valjoux.....but what's this 'turrety bit Uncle Bill's on about?? :ka:
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village
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Re: Definitely need help here regards a Valjoux Stopwatch!

Post by village »

Monkey wrote:Interesting looking piece Andy!! There's one or two tell tale parts on the mov't that told me it was a Valjoux.....but what's this 'turrety bit Uncle Bill's on about?? :ka:

I assume this bit...

Image
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Re: Definitely need help here regards a Valjoux Stopwatch!

Post by Uncle Bill »

Yes, that's the column wheel. There is quite a lot of info and illustrations out there if you Google it; interesting...UB.. :)
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Re: Definitely need help here regards a Valjoux Stopwatch!

Post by Lamps »

I don't think its worth much, I'll give you a tenner for it Image
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Re: Definitely need help here regards a Valjoux Stopwatch!

Post by village »

Apparantly the ABE 68 probably refers to the place and year of issue ie Aberdeen in 1968
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