A Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox alarm money clip in ten carat gold filled. This very interesting and exceptionally rare piece was part of the brand's continuation to evolve and develop more interesting and varied models in the post World War Two expansion into the US market. Wristwatch models such as "Powerwind", "Futurematic" and "Memovox" were propelling Jaeger LeCoultre to the forefront of watch innovation during this time and seeing them gain increasing market share and popularity in the US market, which was only really know for its Atmos clock range up until the Second World War.
The history of the brand, and others, in the US is an interesting one during this time. They were part of SAPIC holding company which controlled Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines and Wittnauer. In 1940, one of the SAPIC directors, Georges Ketterer, also purchased a majority stake in Vacheron Constantin from Charles Constantin which also added this powerhouse in horology into their family.
The relationship that was forged between JLC and Longines-Wittnauer to sell and distribution JLC watches, under the "LeCoultre" brand in the U.S. The raw LeCoultre movements would be imported into the U.S. under the pre-existing VXN import code registered to Vacheron. Once in the U.S., The Longines-Wittnauer company would arrange for U.S. case makers such as Star, Apex, Wadsworth, and as in this case;Schwab & Wuischpard"S&W", to produce the cases and designs to JLC's specifications. The watches were then assembled and timed and distributed through the Longines-Wittnauer/Vacheron dealer network in the U.S. under the LeCoultre name. It was not just limited to just watches as other items such as house keys, other novelty items as well clocks fitted with LeCoultre movements we manufactured. They were probably one of the most innovative
Although many of the U.S.-market LeCoultre watches were identical to their Swiss JLC counterparts, there were other new LeCoultre models produced solely for the U.S. In general, the unique U.S. market LeCoultre case styles tended to be much less conservative and more "trendy" than the JLC Swiss-market watches.
The wrist alarm itself was not a new concept, initially launched by Eterna in 1914. However, they did not gain widespread popularity until the introduction of the Vulcan "Cricket" in 1947. It was this well made, loud and fairly inexpensive model that introduced the wrist alarm to the wider public, and President's alike! Off the back of this growing segment of the watch market, Jaeger LeCoultre developed their own model to compete in 1949. This initial model was powered by the manually wound caliber 489 movement, and was officially unveiled to the public at the Basel watch show in 1951.
Memovox, from the Latin "voice of memory", came in a large variety of cases and models, and with both manually wound, and automatic movements. In 1956 the caliber 815 included an oscillating weight fixed at the centre of the movement, limited by two bumpers, equipped with tiny shock-absorbing springs. Also, the nature in which the sound was created differed from other watches. A hammer struck a post which is welded to the inside of the case back.
Regarding this example, it is based on the larger, over 35mm case just without the lugs added to it. The case and frame remain in almost perfect, unpolished condition. There are very light scratches from handling, but it would not be unjust to assume that this piece was never actually used for its intended purpose. There is still very tight spring to the clip, and it can easily be used today.
With regard to the dial, it is very much the classic Memovox design. The inner, alarm disc is a creamier colour to the more silver outer area featuring the radium lume filled Arabic numerals and arrow head markers. There border which surrounds the alarm disc is a shiny metal finish with concentric circles running through it, and a beautiful blue minute track with small hour pyramid markers which mirror the pyramid applied marker to set the alarm on the disc which sits in the center of the "Wrist Alarm" printing. The dial is also marked "Swiss" at the foot of the dial below the six o'clock marker. The hands are the classic dauphine design, also lume filled and matching and original.
The two crowns; one for setting and winding the alarm, and one for setting and winding the time are both original, and unsigned. They appear to be a smaller size for the money clip than the ones found on the watches. This was presumably to keep them slimmer to the case, and reduce the chance of them catching on a pocket etc. when being removed regularly from a pocket. The design brief for a money clip is different to that of a watch.
This is a US market watch, hence the dial being signed LeCoultre, and not Jaeger LeCoultre. The movement is the manually wound, seventeen jeweled, caliber 814 which was introduced into the Jaeger line in 1953, joining the 489 and 601 calibers. It remained in the line until 1964 when it was replaced by the 910 and 911 calibers. It is in fine working condition and presented in excellent shape, as can be seen by the movement photograph.
The watch dates toward the mid-1950's based on the movement serial number starting with 1,084,XXX. It is an exceptionally rare piece. It does not come up in any searches, and none have been found in any of the classic Jaeger based books. It is therefore assumed that there was not a great demand for it at the time, and therefore kept to low production numbers, as with items such as the key. The case maker Schwab & Wuischpard are held in high regard having even made cases for Patek, amoung others. Although the watch money clip is not unique, as Cartier made examples dating back to the 1930's, one featuring an alarm certainly is. This is a must have for any watch, clock, Memovox or novelty collector.
