Help ID movement

[Boz]

Over the last few months working on scrap movement I've built up quite a stock. Most I'll keep as my spares stock or service them again now my work is getting tidier. I'd like to build a few it to time pieces and to that end I bought some NOS Benrus 1345 cases and dial - old dealer samples. Probably not a great place to start as there is no simple way to shim the movement to fit the case, the dimensions have to be perfect, but I like the look of them and I'd be glad to wear one on my wrist.

The dials have the standard ETA post positions so that was a big clue. One case is marked "self winding". This on was an easy match, second time lucky in fact, an ETA2452 I'd currently servicing fits perfectly, the rotors running free, the dial height being spot on, and the stem perfectly centred. I thought this might be a clue to the vintage and pulled out a ruinously poor ETA2409 to try for fit in the hand wound case but no luck. Whilst the dial site at the correct level, the stem position is about 0.25mm too high in the case and precludes smooth operation. 

Any way - some forum searching later, I came across this thread:

This looks like the self same watch. Does anyone recognise the movement in the pictures. I've linked to the thread as linking direct to the picture isn't allowed. If you recognise the movement, please let me know.

Many thanks!

 

[Boz]

This is the movement if anyone knows it? Thanks in anticipation!

[jdm]

48 minutes ago, Boz said:

This is the movement if anyone knows it? Thanks in anticipation!

Please post a picture of top side, rotor removed.

[Boz]

Really sorry but I don't have the movement, only this picture! I've PMd the original poster but no luck.

[WatchMaker]

Not sure I understand the question. The OP in the thread you reference confirms he's working on a Benrus 1345.

Can you clarify what you're after?

[Boz]

23 hours ago, WatchMaker said:

Not sure I understand the question. The OP in the thread you reference confirms he's working on a Benrus 1345.

Can you clarify what you're after?

I'd like to know what the hand wound movement in the picture is. Its hard to iD without seeing the bridgres on the reverse side. 

[WatchMaker]

Hi @Boz

Ah ... I think I can see where the misunderstanding has happened. Seeing the OP said this was a Benrus 1345 I thought it would be straightforward to do some web research to find out what movement was used. Having had a look around myself I can see it's anything but!

My best guess is that it is an Eterna from this family: http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&0&2uswk&Eterna_1424U_2

To try and be helpful / show where I'm coming from I include a composite below of your reference pic oriented with the Eterna for comparison (clearly the hour wheel has been removed in the reference pic). Do your dial feet positions tie up?

 

Edited February 4, 2022 by WatchMaker

[Boz]

Thank-you so much! The dial feet match your picture exactly. I'll set up a search alert on the 'bay and see what crops up.

[Boz]

Thanks again @WatchMaker for an excellent starting point. After a less than half an hour on Ranfft I think I've found it, the Eterna 1448U. 

[WatchMaker]

On 2/5/2022 at 11:29 AM, Boz said:

Thanks again @WatchMaker for an excellent starting point. After a less than half an hour on Ranfft I think I've found it, the Eterna 1448U. 

Ah good, glad that helped. A 1448U looks nothing like the reference movement you asked about (and thus 141x/142x family I pointed your towards) but if this has got you where you want that's good news.