Vintage Gruen: The caliber database

Home » The Gruen Model Database » The caliber database » The caliber 885 (Font caliber)

Show: Today's Messages :: Polls :: Message Navigator
E-mail to friend

The caliber 885 [message #8774]

Sun, 11 February 2018 17:12

JackW
Messages: 2012
Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver

Gruen Authority
Head Janitor
Site Admin

The 885 is another common one out of the caliber stable. I've one on the bench and thought I should take some images. Afire has this post on his very fine watch, which I think is the only other one that clearly IDs what the movement is. An ebauche finished by/for Gruen from FHF. However, Afire state 324, Ranfft indicates the cal 1146 by FHF. There is a clear stamping with the FHF mark.

index.php?t=getfile&id=3636&private=0

For those working on restoring the 885 there is this post on issues with the staffs
Cousins has the mainsprings as 1.45 x 0.11 x 280 x 9 (Part #GR3981) and Borel has these as 1.40-.10-320 9 (Part # MS-511M). Both are in white alloy.
Gruen (1947 Horological Manual) listed the size as 1.45 x .11 x .280 but this is for a blued steel.

Attachment: cal 885 bridges.jpg
(Size: 221.40KB, Downloaded 1619 times)
Attachment: cal 885 FHF stamp.jpg
(Size: 970.77KB, Downloaded 1577 times)
Attachment: cal 885 top.jpg
(Size: 226.60KB, Downloaded 1652 times)

All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton

[Updated on: Mon, 12 February 2018 04:01]

Report message to a moderator

Re: The caliber 885 [message #8802 is a reply to message #8774]

Tue, 13 February 2018 20:06

afire
Messages: 1357
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin

Gruen Authority

Huh. I must have gotten that from somewhere. There was this discussion in which the 885 and FHF 324 come up as allegedly having some interchangeability.
http://vintagegruen.org/vgforum/index.php?t=msg&goto=286 1&&srch=324#msg_2861
And a quick google of FHF find mention of the FHF 324 being the base for the Bulova 10AN, and from the bridge side, you can see a family resemblance. I googled 10AN set lever, and it certainly has more than a passing similarity to the 885 set lever.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~tAAAOSw6ShZVMI~/s-l225.jpg

I would say there's some connection.

Report message to a moderator

Re: The caliber 885 [message #18726 is a reply to message #8802]

Sun, 19 November 2023 20:23

Jenneke
Messages: 2002
Registered: May 2013
Location: Netherlands

Gruen Authority

The base of this movement isnt the FHF 1146 mentioned by Rannft. The stem doesnt fit.

Another example (with uncommon swirlies on the balance cock).
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=10865&private=0

/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=10865&private=0

And a strange G next to the 885.
/vgforum/index.php?t=getfile&id=10866&private=0

Attachment: 72211536219__28995C7E-0F28-4604-9F2A-C5506EC21297.jpeg
(Size: 98.49KB, Downloaded 1089 times)
Attachment: IMG_9880.jpeg
(Size: 339.76KB, Downloaded 1106 times)

You can only waste time if you forget to enjoy it - Loesje

Report message to a moderator

Previous Topic:	Columbus watch co
Next Topic:	The Caliber ... [I guess I get to name it, but I'm just speechless right now]

Goto Forum:

-=] Back to Top [=-

[ Syndicate this forum (XML) ] [

] [

]

Current Time: Fri Jul 04 11:50:23 UTC 2025

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02338 seconds