Horological Meandering

FLYBACK

Thank you for your helpful insight.

My focus is on the genesis of the first FLYBACK waterproof chronograph, with rotating bezel, luminous hands & numerals, produced on a large scale.

Putting together all these separate inventions apparently happened in 1936-1939 in Central Europe, curiously at the exact time when one particular nation was rearming itself against the Versailles treaty, and was secretly developing an air force practically from scratch, having to use subterfuges in order to develop the armaments and the tools necessary for that endeavour without alerting the western nations.

Interestingly, within the Romanian army at that time, the soon to come fascict dictatorship of Antonescu was breeding...

I can see some curious connections here that can lead one to believe that the Flyback Chronograph was indirectly and secretely originally developed by the Third Reich's Luftwaffe (founded that same year!) through the Romanian military contract, picking Longines for it and later taking charge of the production of a similar version within the Reich.

Only an hypothesis, at this stage, of course, but it would place the Tutima-Glashütte and Hanhart models as the PURPOSES of all the previous developments.

Interestingly, that is also the time when Panerai, helped by Rolex, was developing the first military diving watches for another fascist regime and ally of Germany...

Watchmaking and History... And a side of History that the brands wouldn't like to publicize, at least until recently, a History that would thus remain in the shadow until collectors like us decide to research a bit...

This message has been edited by passetemps on 2014-03-14 10:33:38

💰1859 Marketplace Listings for Rolex›

TUTIMA-GLASHÜTTE FLYBACK PILOT CHRONOGRAPHS from WW2 (by popular request)

By: passetemps : March 11th, 2014-07:35

FACTS: Column wheel integrated hand wound flyback chronograph movement. Manufacture caliber UROFA 59 (based on UROFA 58 Glashtte manufacture caliber). 18,000 bph. 39mm nickeled brass case (hence the beautiful and varied patina, as steel was reserved for ...

And a view of the movement...

By: passetemps : March 11th, 2014-07:57

...of one of the earliest units manufactured (the 607th). The movements were gold plated in order to add extra resistance to corrosion: ...

A view of another movement

By: passetemps : March 11th, 2014-08:01

One produced by the end of 1942 (at the turning point of the war). A tool watch is a tool watch: ...

Thanks much, I really enjoyed reading this...

By: ZachBush : March 11th, 2014-09:30

On a daily basis I wear a Hamilton Pioneer Chronograph. While I own other watches, I work in a lab environment and the use of a chronograph comes in extremely handy. My work is also very much hands-on and I needed a tool watch that I could beat up and not...

Oh, I realise that I haven't mentioned the ASSYMETRICAL PUSHERS

By: passetemps : March 11th, 2014-10:51

Meant to avoid fatal mistakes by the pilots in the darkness of their cockpits (together with the originally red color of the reset pusher) the assymetry is an essential element of these watches, a detail that is part of the original DNA of a true Flieger ...

A few remarks...

By: SuitbertW : March 11th, 2014-17:00

Hello, Frank, stunning collection ! Thanks a lot for sharing !!! Your love is more than obvious and personally I'm with you - it's a true beauty and certainly a true testimonial of this time. I happen to like amost all chronographs of this pioneering peri...

A few remarks on your remarks

By: passetemps : March 12th, 2014-02:50

Many thanks for your input, Suitbert. No offence taken. We're all here to learn! I realise that you are a specialist of chronographs from the first 40 years of the 20th. Brilliant! Regarding your remarks: 1) - I have also read a long time ago that Longine...

Longines....

By: SuitbertW : March 13th, 2014-03:24

Hello, Frank, Longines during beginning of 20th. century is just an incredible company - especially in regards of technical standards, diversity in technical and esthetical aspects.... It will be difficult to find a second company similarily involved in e...

The good things...

By: passetemps : March 13th, 2014-12:13

The good things about the Longines 13ZN is that it is an affordable watch with a very nice movement and that it is relatively easy to find. But at 35mm, the watch is not very wearable nowadays. And it's design looks a bit antiquated, at least in my opinio...

Longines

By: passetemps : March 12th, 2014-07:05

Dear Suitbert, I have researched and found examples of the Longines 13ZN. A very nice watch, and indeed, the movement is very similar in its construction to the UROFA 59, although obviously much much MUCH better finished, as it suits logically to a watch ...

Perhaps...

By: passetemps : March 12th, 2014-07:19

Perhaps documents exist about the link between both developments: the luxury item (normally found in gold) first produced in 1936 and the tool (in brass) first produced in 1940. The proximity of the dates is very interesting (to say the less)! Plus: what ...

That is one wonderful collection

By: Spellbound : March 11th, 2014-20:29

I love the focus you put into building your collection. I know most would be against a full restoration, but since you have 5, as an idea, why not send one in to a good watchmaker for a full restoration. It would be great to see one in its former splendid...

Thank you for your valued appreciation

By: passetemps : March 12th, 2014-00:24

In fact, I have more than five. I only show the ones that are in optimum condition. They have all been already revised by one of the very few watchmakers in the world who are true specialists of these watches. They have gone through a complete overhaul, i...

excellent and informative review. thankyou.

By: G99 : March 12th, 2014-14:34

A little more background about the Longines

By: Ubik : March 14th, 2014-09:01

Dear Passetemps, Suitbert has already given us some great information. I also really appreciate your collection and I have several friends who are passionate collectors of this watch, so like him please take this in a spirit of discussion. There is a fasc...

FLYBACK

By: passetemps : March 14th, 2014-10:22

Thank's a lot Ubik,....

By: SuitbertW : March 16th, 2014-10:17

...great post and nice documentation! Very much appreciated Best wishes Suitbert