1950's Vintage Forsythe Swiss Chronograph Watch LANDERON 48

Landeron was a Swiss watch movement maker in Le Landeron famous for chronograph movements.

History

The company began in 1873, formed by Charles Alfred Hahn and his brother Aimé Auguste Hahn, and called Charles Hahn & Cie. They produced watches at first, but moved into watch movement production in the 1920's.

In 1924, Charles Hahn (son of the founder, who died in 1875), acquired the patents of Anatole Breitling and began producing chronograph movements. This movement production company took the name, Landeron. In 1925, Landeron merged with Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF), being renamed Fontainemelon et succursale du Landeron. FHF/Landeron became a founding member of Ebauches SA in 1926.

Landeron's column wheel chronograph movements were famous, and the company supplied these movements to many militaries. Examples include Cal. 11 and 13 and the state-of-the-art Cal. 39. Because they held the Breitling patents, Landeron was the exclusive supplier of column wheel chronograph movements until their expiration in the 1930's.

Just before World War II, Landeron developed the first cam actuated chronograph. Their Cal. 47 had three pushers: One to start, another to stop, and a third to reset the counter. They refined this movement to become the two-pusher Cal. 48. This would become one of the most popular chronograph movements ever made, with more than 3.5 million examples produced between 1937 and 1970. The lower price of production compared to a column wheel model meant an average person could afford a chronograph for the first time.

In the 1960's, Landeron produced the first Swiss electric movement, Cal. 4750. It featured a battery-powered balance wheel rather than a mainspring.

Movements

See also Category: Landeron calibres

Cam actuated two-pusher chronograph Landeron 48 family

Landeron 48

Cal. 48 is one of a family of chronograph movements produced by Landeron from 1937 through the 1970. In all, over 3.5 million examples were produced.

Overview

The original Landeron 48 featured a deep, curving hammer, a feature carried on to the 54, 56, and 58. The Landeron 51/151 features a conventional "boot" hammer, as does the 55, 57, 59/159, 80/180, and 81/181. The Landeron 148 moved to a distinct "JI" hammer shape, a feature shared by the 149/189/349, 154, 185, 186, and 187/248. Finally, the Landeron 152/352 moved to a deeply bowed hammer, a feature shared by the 153/353. Landeron 48 - 13.75 ligne

I love vintage chronographs, especially with two registered. Not too busy, and this is a nice entry level vintage complicated watch. Forsythe seems to be having others mak parts for them, since based on what I can see on the net, there are different marks on the case back and movement which was consistent on the way they did business. Please look at all the pictures, as they are part of the description. The condition of the watch is the same as it appears in the photos.  The watch is working Certified Pre-Owned CPO Program checked.   Contact me if you have any questions first.