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Vintage Ads: The Series – Part #2 Memovox Pocket Alarms

Jun 18, 2011,18:17 PM
 

Hello Vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre Lovers,

 

Now when I have opened my “black book” for you, or actually my black books…

 

I better get the ball rolling because as you can imagine, I have a lot of material for this series…

 

And it will take some time to go thru…

 

smile

 

 

You know my unconditional love for the Memovox!

 

My feelings also includes the Memovox Pocket Alarms.

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre, catalogue, 1971 (for a full manual, please see the reference post).



 

So, what separates a MPA from a Memovox or an Alarm clock?

 

Well, the MPA is meant to carry in your pocket, put on your nightstand or your desk in the office.

 

The movements used in MPA’s are the same as in the wrist watch Memovox while Alarm clocks often use “simpler” clock movements.

 

Cal K814, ca 1964-65.



 

In the MPA’s only manual movements were used, with or without date.

 

Cal 489, Cal 814, Cal 910 and Cal 911 (date).

 

Earliest trace of the MPA I found is from the mid 1950’s and they were in the JLC catalogue until mid 1970’s.

 

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre, ad, 1957.



 

Different way of placing the watch upright, this one has the same construction as the Ados.

 

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre, French catalogue, 1958.



 

Most of them are made in brass or gilt metal and with leather pouches.

 

The 11002 uses the leather cover as a foot support.

 

   

Jaeger-LeCoultre, catalogue, 1966 (for a full manual, please see the reference post).



 

Jaeger-LeCoultre, catalogue, 1967.



 

 Note the alarm disk, the whole dial is the alarm disk!

 

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre, German catalogue, 1965.



 

This one stands erect, no folding foot support.

 

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre, French catalogue, early 1960’s.



 

LeCoultre, catalogue, mid 1960’s.



 

The most common foot support, folding bracket.

 

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre, Memovox catalogue, 1972.



 



 

 

Group photo of my small ladies...

 

 



 

Thank you for reading Part #2 of this Vintage Ads Series.

 

Hope you enjoyed!

 

 

Best

 

Blomman

 

Vintage Ads: The Series – Intro!

 

Vintage Ads: The Series – Part #1 Futurematic

This message has been edited by blomman on 2011-06-18 18:18:16

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Comments: view entire thread 

excellent blomman, thanks [nt]

 
By: chronomtr : June 18th, 2011-20:43
No message body

Thanks, Chrono! :) [nt]

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-02:12
No message body

Thanks for letting me discover a ground I don't know well, Blomman.

 
By: amanico : June 18th, 2011-23:05
This is, in my opinion, somethings which misses, in the current JLC catalog. The versatilty of the product was simply great, as you could use it as an Alarm Table clock or a pcoket watch. I would well see myself with the Ref 11076 in the '72 JLC Catalog, ...  

Sunday Benchmark .. So enjoyable .. And educative, thnx !:)

 
By: hs111 : June 19th, 2011-00:25
Really, my friend - Benchmark revisited, about a topic, where my knowledge ( and possessions) are simply said, pretty blank pages ! It's interesting to see, how this development, and market penetration attempts of the Memovox principle is pertinent and ap... 

The first alarm wristwatch...

 
By: amanico : June 19th, 2011-00:36
It seems that the first Alarm Wristwatch was a Vulcain, in 1946 if I remember correctly the date, and that JLC came 4 years after, in 1950 with the Ref 3150 and its characteristic tubular lugs. Best, Nicolas.

Quick and clear.. Thank you, Nico ! :)

 
By: hs111 : June 19th, 2011-00:41
I then may deduct also, that the alarm watches were later ? Thnx, anyway for sure - hs

The pocket Memos came some 5 years later, yes. [nt]

 
By: amanico : June 19th, 2011-00:44
No message body

Not the most known part of the JLC history for sure!

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:14
And I think you are on the right track, to start with the wrist Memos… Further down the road maybe pick up one or two. Or in my case try to snatch everything that has an alarm, LOL! As Nicolas explained, first came the wrist Memo and then came the pocket....  

So this is.. The 3150 ? .. The first Memo .. Thnx, blomman !

 
By: hs111 : June 20th, 2011-21:39
This answers my questions from above, Kind thanks to you and Nico, as well ! Hmm.. The tubular lugs, a peculiar appearance in a way, but apparently significant for its historical importance.. Thnx for education again, Best, hs

A lesser known chapter in the Memovox history…

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-02:27
Yes, I would love to see JLC make a modern version of the MPA. Why not with a Cal 914 crystal on the back?! There is still a lot of info missing on this topic, but hopefully one day we will know the whole story. Or the history of the LeCoultre… There is s...  

The Lecoultre production is one of my weak points ...

 
By: amanico : June 20th, 2011-06:31
In the Vintage JLC knowledge... There are so many watches I don't know at all, like the one you just posted above. The loss of the LeCoultre archives doesn't help, indeed. As for your referenced posts, they are worth the honours! Best, Nicolas.

Lost archives doesn’t help…

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:02
That’s for sure! That’s why I am trying to build my own archive… Wait until I come to the LeCoultre Memovox post… I have a surprise for you! Best Blomman

I love surprises...

 
By: amanico : June 20th, 2011-12:07
What is it, what is it, what is it??? Best, Nicolas.

Na, you will have to wait…

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:16
I already spilled some of my secrets for you! Best Blomman

LC archives loss .. How come ? .. Or so much production as well?

 
By: hs111 : June 20th, 2011-21:49
Interesting, to trace these back, but demanding I guess, Did they produce completely independent ? - No records ? Just lost, or lack of systematics ? - question, questions . Good luck, Holmes ! Now, I start to even more understand your fascination, extend... 

Lost or never existed..?

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 22nd, 2011-02:13
Hard to tell, HS. But one thing is for sure – that the LeCoultre part was a joint venture in different constellations’: Longines, Wittnauer, Vacheron Constantin… + the fact that the company has changed owners since then… Doesn’t help! One day I hope to ha... 

So.. Still Holmes on the riddles .. Good luck ! :-o

 
By: hs111 : June 22nd, 2011-02:55
I guess, I had written it here once: On the occasion of a very famous case, Holmes makes this so fitting remark to his notorious assistant: - we have not enough data, yet .. And when you don't have enough data, It will be very difficult .. -- not to match... 

It seems that the LC archives have been lost....

 
By: amanico : June 22nd, 2011-03:04
I even contacted the Longines Heritage Dept to ask them if they kept some interesting Lecoultre Docts about this era, and they told me they had nothing... Damn Quartz Era! Best, Nicolas

Desinterest ?.. Neglect ?.. Coincidence .. or just "dommage" ?

 
By: hs111 : June 22nd, 2011-03:25
.. What difference does it make.. ;-) well, it keeps the detectives busy, sometimes confused .. but mostly happy, Isn't it ? Happy hunting and reflecting, Messieurs ! Best, hs

The mystery is a part of the thrill…! :) [nt]

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 22nd, 2011-12:04
No message body

To bad…

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 22nd, 2011-12:03
It would have been interesting to see! Best Blomman

Excellent post to start a Sunday

 
By: grigo : June 19th, 2011-00:13
Thanks for sharing, stupendous work as usual. I will be on the lookout for MPA's from now on. Best regards, George

The problem when you “discover” something more…

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:20
Is that your hunting list gets longer…! But, what fun would it be with an empty wish list? Thank you, George! Best Blomman

A man always needs objectives in life.

 
By: grigo : June 20th, 2011-22:26

Wonderful lblomman!

 
By: =RWK= : June 19th, 2011-00:14
Thanks, for a great post! -- Richard.

My pleasure, Richard!

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:26
Happy you enjoyed it! More to come… Best Blomman

Sunday morning revelation.. You did t again.. Great post, a keeper ! :))

 
By: hs111 : June 19th, 2011-00:27

Documents like this…

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:38
Documents like this highlight my love for these mechanical marvels even more! HS, I am very happy you like this series - now I will have to go back to my black book and choose a topic for Part #3… Automatics, Atmos, Feme, Art, Master Mariner, Date w... 

re: Memovox

 
By: DRMW : June 19th, 2011-00:58
Another informative posts, nicely done! -MW

Thank you, MW!

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:43
But I am just scratching the surface. JLC’s history is very rich and extensive. But one day I hope we will have most of the info here in the forum! Best Blomman

Again...

 
By: nilomis : June 19th, 2011-02:55
Blomman You don't cease to amaze us. Keep posting. Cheers and a great Sunday to all

Again, thank you, Nilo!

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:51
These kinds of posts take a lot of time to write, but it’s very enjoyable time for me! Thank you, Nilo – very appreciated! Best Blomman PS. PM sent.

Blomman, very nice collection.

 
By: ling5hk : June 19th, 2011-07:06
I actually use it as table alarm clock. Thanks for the excellent post. Regards Ling

Maybe you have a photo of yours, Ling?

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:53
Thank you, Ling – very kind! Maybe you have a photo of your MPA to share with us? Best Blomman

Well done, Blomman!

 
By: Davo : June 19th, 2011-23:45
Very interesting read and pics. Thanks for posting.

Very kind of you, Davo!

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 20th, 2011-12:54
Thank you, happy you like it! Hope to be able to share some more soon. Best Blomman

Excellent collection and..

 
By: ocwatching : June 20th, 2011-15:23
something that I didn't know that JLC made but would be a natural extension... Very cool and thank you so much for posting! Love the knowledge available here!

Re: Natural extension

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 22nd, 2011-02:07
Hi OC! Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I think it was a natural and easy extension for JLC to make these… Don’t know if you noticed, but often JLC pushes how “good present” these small MPA’s and other travel clocks are... 

You need more vacations

 
By: Ubik : June 22nd, 2011-02:10
If this is the result. Excellent posts, thoroughly great reads. Wonderful. Here's a small contribution to this one. This is from a magazine showcasing the 1968 Basle Fair offerings....  

Ubik! :)

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 22nd, 2011-02:29
Great document! Some colour-scheme I never seen before! Thank you very much for posting this one! And thank you for your kind words – YES, I need more vacation! About the 1968 Basel Fair document: any info on the Polaris 68?! Best Blomman

Nothing on the Polaris

 
By: Ubik : June 22nd, 2011-02:32
I'm afraid. I'll check some other magazines today and see if there's anything else - but I would have remebered seeing a Polaris ad or picture in the past.

Cool, Eitan.

 
By: amanico : June 22nd, 2011-03:07
You too have an amazing collection of documents... A field I still have to explore. Thanks for sharing! Best, Nicolas.

this post is just amazing and minblowing

 
By: georgeszaslavsky : June 22nd, 2011-13:06
well blomann this has to be one of the very best post with one of the nicest collection of vintage jlcs ads and nicest vintage jlcs pocket watches I have ever seen. thanks for sharing and congrats on your collection regards georges

Very kind of you, Georges! :)

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 28th, 2011-14:22
Thank you very much for your kind words, Georges! To collect MPA’s is not any of my goals… Just an outcome of being head over heels in love with JLC and the alarm complication… Best Blomman

excellent Part #2...

 
By: FanFrancisco : June 25th, 2011-06:26
... Blomman, your Part #2 does not disappoint us again, well done!!! among these, the one with blue dial in Ref 877 Snowdrop looks stunning to me which is the one to be hunted for my blue Memo collection. best, stefan

Good, I would not like to disappoint..!

 
By: blomman Mr Blue : June 28th, 2011-14:25
Thank you, Stefan – happy you enjoy! Yes, a blue E 877 Snowdrop would fit perfect into your beautiful Blue Memo collection! Best Blomman