All about Gruen

[Mr. Bieser]

This maker and calibre is totally unknown. Any suggestions?

[Fred]

No later than 1917. I need to look back at hippolyte parrenin. The bridge cuts around winding wheel remind me of him.

[Dietrich]

My spontanous first thought was V+C, but that might be totally wrong...

[Mr. Bieser]

I appreciate you guys going out on a limb to share your speculation.
D, it does have a similarity to some V+C calibre's.
F, I get that "remind me of" isn't a declaration...but was Hippolyte Parrenin ever producing movements in Switzerland?

[Fred]

...but was Hippolyte Parrenin ever producing movements in Switzerland?

No, but like Rannaz many Swiss used their ebauches. My speculation is doubly moot—first, bc not the finisher; second, bc HP hasn’t yielded a match. From 1915-1918 ads, their smallest was 11L; not sure about this Gruen’s size, but I presume 10.5L if not smaller.

I do agree it is V&C inspired. Conjuring the thought may be the closest we’ll come to them here

[Dietrich]

I checked a couple of source meanwhile and so far did not find a match. So for me it is still open and pure speculation, but Hänni could as well be an alternative as V+C and Longines. But somehow the finish does not look like one of the estbalished makers, so may be Hänni is not too bad a guestmate.

[Fred]

That’s a good possibility. I’m still in France, either Michel Cartier or Rannaz. I have just shown this click spring used by Rannaz in another thread. Lecoultre had filed a similar one & obtained a patent for it, but had to recant <6 mos after it was granted.

But I mention Michel Cartier, based on the winding bridge. Here is one of his bridges, to illustrate

[Dietrich]

LeCoultre caliber 1 is one of the most copied designs and as you said from just a photo from 1 side it is almost impossible who finally made the movement...

[Fred]

Man, the rabbit hole just leads deeper & deeper on this one! Found another maker never previously referenced elsewhere, along with a new, if smaller, store of design registrations. No paydirt on this one as of yet.

[Mr. Bieser]

Man, the rabbit hole just leads deeper & deeper on this one! Found another maker never previously referenced elsewhere, along with a new, if smaller, store of design registrations. No paydirt on this one as of yet.

Yeah?! Awesome! Thats how I often find new stuff, looking for something completely different. Lol. Great find on the new maker and hoard of designs, love to hear what you've found.

Totally agree it can be almost impossible with only one photo of the layout to ID a movement, but it's completely impossible with zero photos...I do what I can & sounds like it sparked something productive!