FHF 12''' (cylinder)

Description

This 12 ligne pocket watch movement with cylinder escapement cannot be identified more precise. With only six rubies it is a convenient standard product, not bad, but also not outstanding quality-wise.

However, the logo, an apple with an arrow, reveals that it is an ebauche from FHF (Fabrique d’Horlogerie de Fontainemelon). Since there were no systematic caliber designations until around 1920, a more precise designation, including the caliber number, is virtually impossible.

The “Emmy” hallmark, also, provides no further information.

The gear train is typical for a movement with cylinder escapement: The mainspring barrel drives the center minute wheel, followed by third wheel, seconds wheel and cylinder wheel.

The cylinder wheel and the three-leg, screwless annular balance are in direct connection. They can therefore be removed as a kind of module for adjustment purposes.

Regulating the beat rate of 18,000 A/h is in principle possible with the help of a long regulator arm, but in practice, there are limits to this; one cannot expect particularly high accuracy from a movement in which the tips of the cylindrical wheel constantly act as a brake on the balance.

This movement uses a yoke winding system, where by applying pressure to the lever next to position 1 o’clock, the crown is switched from winding to time-setting.

Nice to see is the modular design, in which the balance wheel and cylinder wheel are located on a module screwed into the movement.

In the lab

Timegrapher result

Cylinder movements usually show a poor performance on the timegrapher, especially when they are well used. How the results actually look like can be seen on this specimen:

Technical data

Usage gallery