anonymous Lepine-V caliber

Description

So called “Lepine” pocket watch calibers were made in large quanitites and different versions between 1800 and 1900 in France. The different types denote the different versions, the execution was made by numerous ebauche factories.

Around 1850, the last version, Lepine V, was launched, the last one with winding and time setting by keys.

The movement shown here has got a diameter of 13 3/4 lignes (maybe officially 14 lignes?) or 31.0mm, and is unmarked and hence cannot be identified any further.

The execution of this cylinder movement with 10 rubies was contemporary upper standard.

The gear train follows the usual scheme wiht mainspring barrel, center minute wheel, third wheel, seconds wheel and cylinder wheel.

Each of the gears is beared under an own cock or bridge, all straight executed except the minute wheel bridge, which is slanted.

Winding and time setting is made by key, the squares used here are surrounded by sockets to avoid damaging the movement.

The ratchet is mounted directly onto the barrel arbor. Its strong execution shows, who big the forces are for that part.

As balance, the usual three-leg anular balance without screws and shock protection is used. It beats about 18000 times per hour, which can roughly be adjusted with a long regulator arm and a french (Avance - Retard) scale. “Raw”, because cylinder movements with their non free-swinging balances have deviation rates of several minutes per day due to principle.

As on most older movement, the maltese cross position of the mainspring barrel is removed here, too. This mechanism should ensure constant force of the mainspring barrel by avoiding maximum winding and maximum run-out. Since this mechanism is very delicate, it was removed very often.

And by the way, the mainspring barrel is only beared single-sided, on the movement side.

Technical data

Usage gallery