By Bruce Shawkey
Mortima is together with Sicura one of the most important brands if you are interested in every man’s and affordable watches from the 1960s and 1970s. Mortima was a french brand from company ”Cattin & Cie” in Morteau. The name ”Mortima” was probably inspired by the city name ”Morteau” and the English word ”time”.
Rare Tenor Dorly Jump Hour Watch
By Bruce Shawkey
Interesting watch company, Tenor Dorly. Tenor Dorly was founded in Tramelan, Switzerland in the 1950s, went bankrupt in 1974 and was relaunched in 1997. Early models, especially of this 'space egg' design, are quite rare and very sought-after. The term 'space egg' refers to the oval, egg-shaped dial.
More info for a seller who had one for sale (picture below):
Rare, 100% Swiss steel 'jump hour' watch with date display and 17 jewels. Tenor Dorly was founded in Tramelan, Switzerland in the 1950s, went bankrupt in 1974 and was relaunched in 1997. Early models, especially of this 'space egg' design, are quite rare and very sought-after. The term 'space egg' refers to the oval, egg-shaped dial. Outer dimensions of the case are approx. 4 x 4 cm, the inner 'egg' measures approx. 2.7 x 1.6 cm. Mechanical, manual winding, water resistant, not tested. Comes with a black/dark blue leather strap that's only been worn a few times, and with a new box with watch cushion. The watch keeps good time, minimal deviation is possible, in very good condition for its age, with light, age-related signs of wear. Note: the date jumps to the next day at around 10:30. Please see the photos to form your own impression. Will be carefully packaged and shipped with track and trace.
The watch sold for €200, about $258. Here is another image from Europa Star magazine:
More Tenor Dorly watches:
By Bruce Shawkey
Ran across this ad for French watches in a 1975 issue of Europa Star magazine:
By Bruce Shawkey
We tend to think of Switzerland as the watch capital of the world, but France also held its own in the heyday of watch manufacturing. Some of the players were LIP. Yema, LOV, and others. Paris, Lyons, Bordeaux, Marseille, etc. all hosted exhibitions. Here are some examples:
By Bruce Shawkey
In a recent issue. we showed readers the model of an electronic quartz watch fitted with a system enabling it to be used also as a mini-computer. We are able today to announce further progress in this field since we hear that the American firm Uranus Electronics Inc. has unveiled a solar-powered computer calculator watch.
It consists of a five function watch and an 8-digit calculator with four functions. floating decimal and memory. The calculator functions by means of push-buttons set round the bezel in the usual hour-circle. rather like a telephone dial. The resulting readout is shown by light-emitting diodes. It is powered by tiny solar cells that convert ordinary sunlight or incandescent light into energy to be stored in batteries lasting approximately 3 years with normal wearing. Uranus Electronics Inc. is an American company specializing in precision electronics and the technique of semi-conductors. Founded in 1970, it began manufacturing digital electronic watches under the direction of Messrs. Levine and Arthur Cake. vice-presidents of the technical department who possess several patents for LCD and LED watch design. According to information received. it appears that this concern intends to market the above-mentioned watch-computer on a very large scale and is also preparing to release several new developments that are described as being sensational.
By Bruce Shawkey
From an article in a 1972 issue of Europa Star magazine:
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| LIP |
France became quite a manufacturer and exporter of watches in the 1970s, rivaling the output of Switzerland. Europa Star magazine in the '70s had a story almost every issue about a French brand of watches. Their production continues to this day. Why did this occur? I believe this was because the Swiss watch industry was in turmoil due to the quartz crisis. The French slipped in to take up the slack. Nature abhors a vacuum, as the old saying goes, and the French were simply upping their game.
By Bruce Shawkey
Some watches from the 1970 Basel Expo. The Basel Expo got its start in 1917 as the Schweizer Mustermesse Basel. Tissot, Longines, and 27 other exhibitors represented the watch and jewelry industry at the first edition of the fair, and others like Zenith and Patek Philippe joined in 1923 and 1932. The expo grew and grew, eventually collapsing of its own weight. The $200 milllion main Expo Hall still hosts a variety of events, but the last Basel show was held in 2019 due to Covid.
By Bruce Shawkey
Found this interesting watch in a 1970s issue of Europa Star magazine. The reference, of course, is to Charles Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, heralded as one of the great events of the 20th century. The post office even issued an airmail stamp to commemorate the event:
The postal service normally honors a person only after they are dead for at least 10 years, but Lindbergh's achievement was of such significance, the post office made an exception.
After crossing the Atlantic, Lindbergh returned to a hero's welcome. He lived until 1974, dying in Hawaii at age 73.
