Hanhart, Single Button Fliegerchronograph in Nickel Chrome
Fine, water-resistant, nickel-silver military wristwatch with single button chronograph and register, circa 1940.
Case: Two body, polished, sand-finish, stainless steel screwed case back.
Dial: Black with radium-coated Arabic numerals, auxiliary seconds and 30 minutes register dials. "Skeleton" radium-coated hands.
Movement: Rhodium plated, 17 jewels, lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self compensating Breguet balance-spring, the single button on the 2 is for start-stop and return to zero functions of the chronograph, number 09362.
Condition: The case is in good condition with very little loss of chrome, if any. The back case is protected by a yellow sticker. Chronograph monopusher seems to have been replaced. Crown is original. Dial and hands are in excellent shape. Watch is within vintage specifications +/- 15 sec per day.
Diameter: 41mm.
More about Hanhart:
Founded in Diessenhofen, Switzerland in 1882 by Johan A. Hanhart, primarily as a retail operation before relocating to Germany in 1902. There, in Germany, Hanhart experimented with the manufacture of different models before launching its first stop watches in 1924.
In 1938, Hanhart developed its first monopusher chronograph, the caliber 40, called the “Primus.” During the war, production of watches was limited, and then, from 1945 through 1948, production halted completely.
In 2008, the company relocated back to Switzerland with a new office located steps away from its original Diessenhofen location.
The case back is signed with the three stars of Cétéhor (Centre Technique de l'Industrie Horlogère) along with the heraldic emblem of Besançon.