Musée International d'Horlogerie (MIH) Final Part

Musée int. d'horlogerie (MIH), – Part 9  and final part

 

From historical automata to modern robots: We are leaving the section of automates and musical clocks, entering an entirely different world now.

 

 

…while I didn't cover the robot special exhibition at the MIH, you have to have a look at this "time robot": it was built by students (if I remember correctly) and must be one of the smallest robots, which can be used for industrial applications. In the use as shown here, however it is a robot that re-arranges the small plexi squares on a plain to show the time in digital format. A mirror reflects the time.. Innovative, isn't it? You can't wear it on your wrist, but you can buy it for your home, complete with a high-tech stand made of carbon fiber, for a mere 110'000 CHF. Honestly, you can hardly get anything more exclusive, for this price! It is fascinating to watch….

 

 

 

 

 

The MIH displays some historical machines that were used in the watchmaking. The walls are covered with paintings by Hans Erni made for the Swiss Pavillon at the 1958 "L'exhibition universelle" in Bruxelles.

 

 

Blanking machine from the early 20^th century, Osterwalder S.A. Bienne.

 

Micrometer, with pressure indicator. End of 19^th century.

 

I forgot to take notes on this machine….

 

Machine for marking the divisions on the dial. End of 19^th century.

 

Stand for drying the dials before going through the oven. Early 20^th century

 

 

There is are a few showcases explaining  the development of key elements in watch movements, such as the balance wheels shown above.

 

Finally a few wristwatches! This display shows various ways how to protect the watches from impact and damage.

 

Number 1: Patek Philippe pocket watch, around 1900

Number 2: Savonette with cut-out which allows to see the time while still protecting the crystal. Henri Blanc, around 1900.

Number 3: Wristwatch GALCO with protective cover on top. These type of watches were made around the time of the first world war (1914-18)

Number 5: Wristwatch with digital hour and minute indication, around 1930

Number 6: Rado Sintra with Ceramic case, 1993

 

Example of an early waterproof watch. Unfortunately I didn't note when the watch was produced as the claim they make is interesting with regard to the Rolex Oyster.

 

Of the showcases of the wristwatches, I only took pictures of the tourbillons. Visible are:

 

Number 3: an AP Tourbillon from the 1986 which I remember that AP claims it to be the thinnest Tourbillon ever produced: the case is only 4.3mm thick! The tourbillon measures 7.2 mm diameter at 2.5 mm height.

 

Number 4: Blancpain Tourbillon

 

Number 5: Breguet Tourbillon

 

Number 6: GP Tourbillon "sous trois ponts" (under three bridges)

 

Blancpain flying tourbillon, manual wind, with 8 days power reserve. 1993

 

Breguet Tourbillon 1996

 

My favorite tourbillion!  (well, there are many other nice ones…..but if I had to choose only one, than it would be a GP Tourbillon sous trios ponts!) The hands are actually blued steel, but appear black on the photo.

 

 

And the cherry on the cake for all tourbillon lovers out there: Chronometer with Tourbillon, Movement signed "fabriqué spécialement pour Willy Graef par James Pallaton DHC 1943. The Tourbillon cage makes one turn per minute.

 

If I am not mistaken, James Pellaton later became the technical director of IWC

 

After a full day at the museum, we walk out into the streets of La Chaux-de-fonds…

 

Passing the Art Museum….

 

…only to stop again at the watch shop which we already visited at lunch time:

 

 

A marine chronometer caught my eyes….

 

Looks like new, in unused condition, from the 1970s. It was priced at 5000 CHF. I had difficulties to take my eyes from it….

 

We still had time for a walk around historic La Chaux-de-fonds….

 

 

Learnings something about its history….

 

 

 

…and admiring some beautiful details in pure arte deco.

 

Short stop at the shores of Lake Bienne / Bielersee on the way back home.

 

It was a wonderful day at the museum. I highly recommend a visit. It is simply amazing to see what has been achieved in the previous centuries and decades with means that were some much more modest than what we have at hand today.

 

My learning of the day: We are truly standing on the shoulders of giants. It is good to remember this if we are admiring the latest creations of the watch industry.

 

I hope you enjoyed this report.

 

Stefan

End