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PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 7:05 am 
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I realize the purists on the forum do not consider this a "true" Breilting. I have too much work on the bench, nor do I have the inclination, to get mired down in a discussion about the origination of the company. So, save your comments about that. If a moderator wants to move it to the fake forum, that's fine to.

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I picked this up for my wife at a nearby auction about a year ago. I'm finally getting time to work on it.

It is an 18k gold case and all the serial numbers match. It was fully wound (of course), but would not run. A little pressure on the third wheel would start the balance with good motion. When I disassembled it I discovered that he center wheel was frozen. The oil had congealed into a glue. The only thing I found, other than the need for servicing, was that the stop works finger was missing from the mainspring arbor. I'll have to make one.

When I say transitional, I mean look at the mainspring barrel arbor. The arbor has a square post for a key, but the movement has keyless works. Apparently, the manufacturer was transitioning from KW to keyless stem wind. The quality of the workmanship is very good. A lot of thought went into the design of the keyless works. It has a bi-metallic balance wheel and a straight line lever escapement. I'm thinking somewhere around 1870 - 1875.

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 7:59 am 
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Offcourse its a true Breitling and a very rare. Do you want tell us the serial number, which must be around 33000-36000 ?


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PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 9:20 am 
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More than a " vintage" , this one is a true "antique" !
Nice and rare piece , congrats!


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PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:40 am 
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Location: Virginia, USA
Quote:
Do you want tell us the serial number, which must be around 33000-36000 ?


The serial number is in the 35xxx range.

The only other thing I found is that the mainspring has probably been replaced. The current mainspring is a real bear. When I went to calculate the range for the stop works I found that the total number of turns of the arbor is slightly less than the teeth of the Maltese cross because of the mainspring strength. Apparently, the person who replaced the mainspring tossed the stop works finger because it was no longer needed. So, there's a little more work here.

Restoration is never simple. :(

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1809 Cosmonaute
1903 Navi
Navi Olympus
Super Avenger


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