All about Gruen

[Fred]

Hi all—stumbled upon this. No photos, but the dimensions are interesting.

What movement /mechanism model could it be?

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collecti ... mah_834584

[Mr. Bieser]

I understand it's a Gruen Gigante, but I'm confused as to the dimensions, bc I'm very visual, my mind isn't forming anything tangible.

Last known location of Goliath Pentagon was Ohio, AWI in the 90's.. Last known location of Goliath Quadron was Gruen Ohio in the 40's.
Does the dimensions of link fit these?
Hm. I think I documented one more giant "pocket watch", but I'm rusty and can't recall, I'll freshen up, some of the articles did mention dimensions.
Do you think that's one of those or something new?
Says it's in an exhibition at: SC Johnson Center Lobby, National Museum of American History. Could be on display. I requested a photo to be taken of it.

[Fred]

I wondered if it was one of those models. I briefly wondered if it was an escapement model, but none exist that I know of.

Of the known models, Quadron seems to fit. I also hit the button to request a photo. “Vote early, vote often

[Dietrich]

From heigth and depth it could be both, the Pentagon and the Quadron. But the depth makes me wonder if it really is a watch. Escapement model appears more likely to me unless the depth comes from some kind of socket...

[Mr. Bieser]

"was an escapement model, but none exist that I know of."

I saw one come up for sale once, absolutely, it was hard to tell scale but I didn't think the dimensions were as big as links, it fit in something more like a mariners chronometer wood box. I don't have pictures anymore, saw photos w my own eyes and it was chatted about, one friend even bid I think over 4 g's for it but unfortunately slipped away, consider Gruen escapement model existence confirmed. One detail I remember from listing..,that the old guy who worked at Gruen who seller got it from? Hearsay now, told him there was only 5 in existence...or somethin like that.

[Mr. Bieser]

As far as I can tell, The Smithsonian is in possession of one Giant Gruen.

From the link accession number:162782.

Imo, that's a typo because cross referencing I found this: "Giant operating display model of Gruen watch". Accession number 161782.

Which the museum gained possession of in *1942*.
From this, I believe it's a watch model not an escapement model.

But accessioned in 1942,.....that would exclude the Pentagon that AWI had in their possession in the 90's and exclude the Quadron that Gruen had in its possession in 1949.

This leads me to conclude that this is one we haven't seen.

[Fred]

I believe you are correct. How has this escaped us? Hidden in plain sight, apparently on display? Hoping they get photos

[Mr. Bieser]

I believe you are correct. How has this escaped us? Hidden in plain sight, apparently on display? Hoping they get photos

I have refreshed on this subject.
I can say with 100% certainty that the Gigante Pentagon-Ultra VeriThin, built in 1926, that was at AWI in 1988, 1994, and 2020 was on loan from the Smithsonian!

They are one and the same. Also used in the Lafayette jeweled car promotion. Smithsonian acquired the UV Pentagon in 1942.

It is 10 times the size of a regular UV, diameter of the movement is 36.6 cm, discrepancy may be Smithsonian measured case.
The Gigante Quadron, while we don't know the exact calibre, is also 10 times greater than the regular sized movement.


Photo:

1988.

1994.

1949.

[Fred]

Great sleuthing! So it’s the Pentagon. Thanks!

[Mr. Bieser]

Great sleuthing! So it’s the Pentagon. Thanks!

Gladly, learned a significant amount looking back into it, guess that's why they call it re-search.

There was a Gruen Gigante shown at the 1939 World's Fair in NYC. It's unknown which model.

Things like that, and your attention to things like Gruens in museums, have made me wonder at times if there is a third example. Especially with the unreliable reporting or discrepancy of dimensions in articles of period that also have raised questions, some articles say the Pentagon is 20! times it's original size...

But these things tended to make the newspapers not only on US but in Switzerland and other countries when they've gone on tour, so far only found documentation of these two in Switzerland. Gruen and the local community was very proud of producing these, very.