ETA 361

Description

The ETA 361 is an old movement, which was still constructed like a pocketwatch movement, but already uses a pallet anchor escapement. It was probably made in the 1930ies and got different decorations.

The ETA 361 has got a diameter of 8 3/4 lignes (19.5mm) and is equipped with 15 rubies.

The base place shows very well the bordered bearing jewels, which are colored differently. Center minute wheel and mainspring barrel don’t have ruby bearings, but that was standard then.

Unlike modern movements, the escapement wheel, which is located deeply in the main plate, has also got an own cock; the other gears, fourth, third and second wheel are located under an own bridge and are partially beared in synthetic rubis. Their total number is 15, which was the maximum at that time.

An interesting detail is the small mainspring gear. Probably its tiny diameter is due to the fact, that it runs on the same level as the train bridge next to it, reducing the height of the movement.

The balance is not shock protected but of course contains screws and on the balance cock, there’s a long regulator arm to adjust the effective length of the hairspring to make the balance beat with exactly 18000 A/h. Below the balance, the caliber number 361 is stamped in some specimen.

On the dial side, there’s the old “ETA” marking and a yoke winding system, so at least from this side, it already looks like a modern movement.