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Home » The Gruen Model Database » 1950's and Up » Autowind Leader
Autowind Leader [message #3276] Sat, 15 March 2014 02:27 Go to next message
dwillie is currently offline  dwillie
Messages: 8
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Apprentice
Model name :Leader
Type :Autowind
Period/date :1953-1955
Gender :Gents

Case Maker :
Case Material :
Case Serial :
Case Style no :

Caliber :
Movement Maker :
Movement Serial:

Bracelet :

Other info :


Hey all.
I cantget the case back off this, and am curious about the year. The caseback is marked 69901D.
index.php?t=getfile&id=1315&private=0
index.php?t=getfile&id=1316&private=0

EDIT Jenneke: Rearranged pictures

[Updated on: Sun, 04 February 2018 21:40] by Moderator

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3277 is a reply to message #3276] Sat, 15 March 2014 02:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C. Hurt is currently offline  C. Hurt
Messages: 243
Registered: May 2013
Gruen Guildsman
Somewhere around 1950 to 1955, give or take a couple of years. Depends upon which movement it's fitted with.

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3278 is a reply to message #3277] Sat, 15 March 2014 14:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Thojil is currently offline  Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France
Gruen Master
Model name is "Leader"

index.php?t=getfile&id=1317&private=0

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3279 is a reply to message #3278] Sat, 15 March 2014 15:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dwillie is currently offline  dwillie
Messages: 8
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Apprentice
Thanks much for the info. The ad is a dead on match to the one I found yesterday. I didnt see that ad in my search. I wonder what year the ad was ran? Leader...
Thanks again.

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3282 is a reply to message #3279] Sat, 15 March 2014 17:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Hi,

as far as I know the Autowind Leader was introduced late 1949 and was available until late 1955. Somewhen in between the hands and the subsecond were slightly modified, your model is of the face lifted style, so I would date it 1953 to 1955...

But I am not as long with the Gruens as others in that forum so I might be corrected.

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3283 is a reply to message #3279] Sat, 15 March 2014 18:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Thojil is currently offline  Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France
Gruen Master
dwillie wrote on Sat, 15 March 2014 16:29
Thanks much for the info. The ad is a dead on match to the one I found yesterday. I didnt see that ad in my search. I wonder what year the ad was ran? Leader..


It's a screen print of a '50s tv show. Lost the link, but maybe somebody here still recalls which show it was.

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3284 is a reply to message #3283] Sat, 15 March 2014 18:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1312
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
It was Walter Winchell's show, and it was showcased by Sterling Hayden.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2486/3812795249_2803596804_o.jpg

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3285 is a reply to message #3284] Sun, 16 March 2014 08:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Thojil is currently offline  Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France
Gruen Master
afire wrote on Sat, 15 March 2014 19:48
It was Walter Winchell's show, and it was showcased by Sterling Hayden.


That was the one! Do you have a year? I know Gruen ran a whole campaign around it and there was a link to the episode in a Post around this subject in the old forum.

Here is an example of a jeweler display.

index.php?t=getfile&id=1325&private=0

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3286 is a reply to message #3282] Sun, 16 March 2014 09:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Thojil is currently offline  Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France
Gruen Master
Barney Green wrote on Sat, 15 March 2014 18:05
as far as I know the Autowind Leader was introduced late 1949 and was available until late 1955. Somewhen in between the hands and the subsecond were slightly modified, your model is of the face lifted style, so I would date it 1953 to 1955...


True, I know there were at least three of them. Here is another dial version.

index.php?t=getfile&id=1326&private=0

and this one is I think the last variant they did. From a 1955 issue of Life Magazine.

index.php?t=getfile&id=1327&private=0

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3289 is a reply to message #3286] Sun, 16 March 2014 21:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
The funny thing is that in all ads the hands are different style, but never this pointy ones the watch has in reality. As I have seen another Leader of this period which has the same hands I believe in reality Gruen shipped the later ones with this hands although they were never advertized this way.

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3295 is a reply to message #3289] Mon, 17 March 2014 03:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MikeTheWatchGuy
Messages: 319
Registered: May 2013
Location: North Carolina
Gruen Guildsman
In "The 1950s" Decade Book, there are a good number of ads with the exact configuration of this watch, including those very distinctive and unique Gruen hands. I see them as starting in 1952 with some overlap of the 2 hand styles. Page 164, from 1953, has a nice clear image of it.

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#### [message #3302 is a reply to message #3295] Wed, 19 March 2014 00:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Timeticker is currently offline  Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world
Gruen Master
Adios

People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!

Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"

[Updated on: Fri, 21 March 2014 22:23]

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3303 is a reply to message #3302] Wed, 19 March 2014 08:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Sorry, I don't get your sense of humor just in case this was some sort of. Question Most likely my English skills are inadequate, my Spanish ones definitely are. Uh Oh

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3304 is a reply to message #3303] Wed, 19 March 2014 09:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Thojil is currently offline  Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France
Gruen Master
It must have been way after midnight when Tomas wrote his immortal words... Laughing

Anyway, to stay on the subject a few pics of my Autowind Leader

index.php?t=getfile&id=1344&private=0
index.php?t=getfile&id=1345&private=0

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3305 is a reply to message #3304] Wed, 19 March 2014 09:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Wow, that's what I would call mint condition. Looks like you purchased N.O.S., never worn. No tarnish or darkening of the dial, hands in perfect shape. What I usually purchase looks pretty much different. That might be due to the fact that my buy limit is somewhere at 20 Euro as long as there are no precious metals or small but hard stones involved...

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3306 is a reply to message #3305] Wed, 19 March 2014 13:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mikey is currently offline  mikey
Messages: 709
Registered: May 2013
Location: Paris, Ontario
Gruen Master
Tomas is a good person and a valued member here. He keeps things light-hearted and is just a little "off the wall" at times. Very Happy

Still here....

[Updated on: Wed, 19 March 2014 13:05]

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3307 is a reply to message #3306] Wed, 19 March 2014 16:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
These are exactly the vibes I don't get in English and vice versa sometimes express my own German way. Hence I apologized in advance ;-)
May be I am too much an engineer than a social being. Very Happy

Tomas, if I have insulted you in any way please take my personal apologies. Same as yours my post was in no way being meant offensive.

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3308 is a reply to message #3304] Wed, 19 March 2014 21:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MonKee is currently offline  MonKee
Messages: 177
Registered: May 2013
Location: Finger Lakes
Gruen Guildsman
Here is the Walter Winchell TV news show sponsored by Gruen. Your watch is featured at about 9:50.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_WoJpzh0TA

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### [message #3312 is a reply to message #3308] Thu, 20 March 2014 00:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Timeticker is currently offline  Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world
Gruen Master
Adios

People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!

Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"

[Updated on: Fri, 21 March 2014 22:24]

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3313 is a reply to message #3312] Thu, 20 March 2014 01:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gary
Messages: 2108
Registered: May 2013
Location: Left Coast
Gruen Authority
Cheerleader
Mucho te queremos Tomas! You are well loved by all here.

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3315 is a reply to message #3312] Thu, 20 March 2014 07:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Understood. Beeing a Gruen apprentice and a rookie in thist forum I have to find my place and have to learn about my fellow campaigners. When I read your post I simply felt offensive vibes beneath the humor this was for sure due to the mentioned plain engineering mind and insufficient knowledge of a foreign language paired with a portion of persecutory delusion. Embarrassed

Have fun!

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

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### [message #3324 is a reply to message #3315] Thu, 20 March 2014 22:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Timeticker is currently offline  Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world
Gruen Master
Adios

People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!

Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"

[Updated on: Fri, 21 March 2014 22:24]

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Re: Precision autowind [message #3333 is a reply to message #3324] Fri, 21 March 2014 07:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barney Green
Messages: 1725
Registered: February 2014
Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
Gruen Authority
Tomas,

absolutely no need to apologize. I simply did not get your post and hence asked. If anyone could feel insulted than it would have been MikeTheWatchGuy, because your post was an answer to his. As he did not step in I assume he did get the humorous part of your message which I missed. I have seen him answering in a similar style, so this appears OK to me.
Be assured I am well, don't feel insulted and appreciate your style. I can learn from it so please don't change.

And now let's end this discussion as this is a thread about Autowinds and not the psychologist's couch. Smile
If an admin finds these personal posts deserved being deleted please go ahead.

Peace, brother!
Bernd

Gruen, Gruen, Gruen ist alles was ich habe... Gruen, Gruen, Gruen is all I have...(German folklore song)

[Updated on: Fri, 21 March 2014 17:46]

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### [message #3338 is a reply to message #3333] Fri, 21 March 2014 10:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Timeticker is currently offline  Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world
Gruen Master
Adios

People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!

Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"

[Updated on: Fri, 21 March 2014 22:25]

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Re: ### [message #3800 is a reply to message #3338] Thu, 05 June 2014 22:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
koskid is currently offline  koskid
Messages: 23
Registered: March 2014
Location: The Peninsula
Gruen Apprentice
I recently acquired a Leader that is in pretty good shape. The movement is clean and runs great. It needs a new crystal and hands need re-lume. I have a crystal on order...do I need a crystal press to install it? Also I need an new case back gasket. Anyone know what size gasket this watch takes.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c298/koskid/DSC00830_zpsd1272e64.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c298/koskid/DSC00828_zps8b5d2195.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c298/koskid/DSC00824_zps8300fceb.jpg

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Re: ### [message #3802 is a reply to message #3800] Fri, 06 June 2014 13:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Thojil is currently offline  Thojil
Messages: 650
Registered: May 2013
Location: Concorès, France
Gruen Master
koskid wrote on Fri, 06 June 2014 00:20
I have a crystal on order...do I need a crystal press to install it? Also I need an new case back gasket. Anyone know what size gasket this watch takes.


Nice clean Autowind Leader you have there. I'm wearing mine quite often and when not in use it is on a watch winder. It has been running permanently without any problems for two years now.

I recall the crystal is kept in place by a tension ring which would mean you need a crystal press, but not sure anymore. I see you have opened the case so you should be able to verify yourself if there is a chrome tension ring on the inside.

For the gasket dimension you should measure the diameter of the threaded ring of the case back. This is the inner diameter for the gasket. The outer gasket diameter should not exceed the outer diameter of the case back.

Hope this helps

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Re: ### [message #3803 is a reply to message #3802] Fri, 06 June 2014 15:39 Go to previous message
koskid is currently offline  koskid
Messages: 23
Registered: March 2014
Location: The Peninsula
Gruen Apprentice
Thanks,

Yes there is a chrome reflector ring between the crystal and the case.

I may try to polish out the crystal rather than replace. I had great success doing that with a couple other watches with badly scratched crystals.

Measuring the gasket seat in the case it looks like about 28.5mm ID and 30.5mm OD. Maybe I'll get a couple about this size and see what fits best. I'm pretty close to Otto Frei so maybe I'll run over there today.

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