Vintage Gruen: 1940's » Zephyr circa 1947

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Re: A very nice hinge lug driver's style [message #742 is a reply to message #728]

Mon, 24 June 2013 13:32

Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France

Gruen Master

JackW wrote on Sat, 22 June 2013 08:06

This whole thread has made me happy to see the Gruenites getting on so well!

Why you may ask?

Well, why was Gruen using a Swiss-made 335 in one that was obviously made after the start of production at the Norwood facility (1948/49, yes)? Although, case number 558 is 1948 so maybe this was an early offering on the 335 line?

From my perspective it all fits using all dating sources that are available today.

1. Wadsworth "G9" case number dates the case around 1948/49 according to Jack Wood's study.
2. As you said style number 558 dates it around 1947 according to Mike Barnett & Barry Cooper's research.
3. Cal. 3351 start of production date is not exactly clear to me, but according to Mike's "Repairers Reference" it should be 1949. However Mike also issued "Movement New Model Lifetime" table showing the start of production in 1942 (Mike can you confirm?).

From all this you can conclude that the case was produced about 1948, which would match with the Swiss produced 3351. They would still have fitted stock movements from Switzerland for some time after Gruen started production in the Norwood facility in 1948 or '49 (assuming this date is confirmed)

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[Message index]

		Zephyr circa 1947 By: brtime on Fri, 21 June 2013 22:10
		Re: A very nice hinge lug driver's style By: JackW on Sat, 22 June 2013 00:09
		Re: A very nice hinge lug driver's style By: Bazzab on Sat, 22 June 2013 00:55
		Re: A very nice hinge lug driver's style By: MikeTheWatchGuy on Sat, 22 June 2013 01:18
		Re: A very nice hinge lug driver's style By: brtime on Sat, 22 June 2013 01:49
		Re: A very nice hinge lug driver's style By: MikeTheWatchGuy on Sat, 22 June 2013 03:32
		Re: A very nice hinge lug driver's style By: JackW on Sat, 22 June 2013 06:06
		Re: A very nice hinge lug driver's style By: Thojil on Mon, 24 June 2013 13:32

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