Kienzle 44

Description

The large 19 ligne Lepine pocket watch movement Kienzle 44 is the last iteration of the Kienzle 14-44 / Kienzle 44 movement family. In the contemporary caliber lists, this movement, which was probably made during from then 1930s until the early 1950s, almost unknown.

The base plate of this stamped pillar movement shows its simple construction. There are no bearing jewels, and the riveted and thus not easily removeable center minute wheel is a bit old-fashioned.

On the base plate, there’s also the ratchet for the rocking bar keyless works.

We have the typical Lepine gear train: Mainspring barrel, directly driven center minute wheel, third wheel, decentral seconds wheel opposite to the winding stem and finally the escape wheel.

The Kienzle 44 builds pretty high and can so use a powerful mainspring.

As escapement, a pin lever escapement is used, whose form has got a half-circle fork for balancing purposes on its other side.

Like other contemporary cheap movements, the monometallic anular balance of the Kienzle 44 also has got mocked screws on its ring. The red dot on the balance wheel cock is of course no ruby, but just a splash of color, which perfectly matches the wannabe screw balance.

The balance, which beats with 18000 A/h has got a non-shock protected pointed staff.

Its frequency can be adjusted with a long regulator arm, with a simple bent hairspring key on its other side. You cannot expect real precision here.

The mainspring barrel is fully located below the base plate.

On the dial side, you can see the rocking bar keyless works, which also offers the additional possibility to be switched to time setting by pressing a pin, just like on really old pocket watches.

The dial side pointed staff bearing can be adjusted in its height with the help of a screw driver. On the movement side, a screw, which bends the balance wheel cock, does the same.