Posted 14 years ago
bigben
(72 items)
The dial is labeled: TURTLE TIMER ZELL BROS SWISS MADE
The movement is 23.35 mm in diameter.
The front of the movement is labeled: ROLEX GENEVE
The rear of the movement is labeled: OYSTER WATCH LTD, GENEVA, UNADJUSTED, SEVENTEEN 17 JEWELS, SWISS, N.
The 3 digit code on the balance cock has been overstamped with stars. The sweep second wheel that fits over the third wheel is missing.
The crown is labeled "OYSTER PATENT" and is 5.4 mm in diameter
im looking for some info about a rolex that i just bought, the dial is labeled turtle timer below the 12 and rolex above the 6, and swill made on either side of the 6. the back of the movement says only swiss made and 17 rubies. crown says oyster patent, but i believe it is in a different case because there are no serial numbers between the lugs. the dial does not say zell bros. can anyone tell me anything about this watch or movement?
Hopefully you've found some stuff on the internet about your watch before now. If you go to Rolex Forums ... like http://www.vintagerolexforum.com you would find an endless resource of information. But what you have is a 1940s watch that was marketed by Zell Bros. out of Portland and Seattle. It is a Turtle Timer and that name was only sold in the United States to the best of collective knowledge. Other watches with the movement that your watch has were sold mostly in Canada and Australia in both Rolex and Tudor. The movement is a 59 FHF (Fontmelon) movement. Under the dial, if you were to take out the movement and flip it over, you would see the stamp Rolex Geneve. Treasure it. Nice watch.
oh - just noticed you knew about the flip side of the movement.
Oh - there might be serial numbers in the inside of the caseback or the outside - don't look between the lugs, that style of identification came later in Rolex's life.
This is also a military watch and considered to be a men's size.