Let's see your early automatic watches

[Еmre]

Let's see what you have there in your collections.I have only 2 of the first 3 mass productions,maybe later some time will complete the herd with all the known early automatic mechanisms:

Harwood,the first mass produced self-winding wrist watch,from 1926 -31. Mine is hallmarked 1928 London in 9kt rose-gold case:







And the Glycine self-winding. Eugene Meylan's ingenious find - Oct 1930 ,the module which can be (un)mounted on most 8.75 lignes hand-winding movement and turn them into automatics:





The 'Rolls' is missing in-between though.Wig-wag and Pierce linear automatic is also in my radar,just waiting for the right time

Let's see those early inventions

[Dan R]

That Harwood is pretty sweet. Thanks for sharing!

Dan

[RayMac]

Thanks Emre. I haven't seen a Harwood up close until now.

[WWII70]

My grandad's Omega 28.10 RA SC PC "Bumper" from 1945-6. It was given to him on his retirement from the Imperial Bank of India on 7/31/1947.

[Еmre]

Nice bumper WWII70,thanks for sharing.Well back then,because Rolex patented the rotor,I guess until the patent expired everybody else went with non-spinning rotor inventions.Obviously the crown trials were also popular.That was also the intention of John Harwood.Being challenged during the WW I as an active service man,he saw the problems caused by the crown ( dust-water...) and came up with that bezel function setting the hands.This way the watch was sealed and no space for dust to penetrate.
The Glycine fold lever was another interesting and chic invention in 1932,fold away lever acting as crown.
Until 1942 there was no bi-directional winding rotor,first one was Felsa 690 aka Bi-dynator.Those years watchmakers were really creative,eh?

[Еmre]

The bi-dynator Felsa 690:

[Preston]

For me it's my Cadman with bronze finished 21 jewel Felsa 690.



Peace,
Preston

[Andrema]

[Smeagal]

Paid £7.00 for this mido at a market stall keeps good time dates 40s or 50s