Service: Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox calibre P489/1

IMG_6420A great looking Memovox in good condition! Patrick brought it in for a service, so let’s have a look inside.IMG_6421

Even though the movement is beating, the timegrapher can’t pick up the signal.IMG_6422

The dial has two parts – the outer for the time, and the inner dial for the alarm time.IMG_6423

The bottom plate with the inner alarm dial.IMG_6424

Movement with balance jewels removed.IMG_6430

Taking apart the top plate.IMG_6433

The bottom plate with the alarm mechanism.IMG_6435

This is the best constructed alarm watch that I have seen so far!IMG_6540

All clean and ready to go.IMG_6541

I start off with the two barrels. I couldn’t get hold of replacement springs, so I use the old ones, that are still in good condition.IMG_6543

The movement comes back together.IMG_6544The gear train in place.572-01

The left banking pin is missing its top, and the pallet fork goes to far to that side. I turn it and reshape it a bit, and it stops the pallet fork properly again.IMG_6546 IMG_6547

That looks good – the mainspring is still spritely.IMG_6548

Beautiful bottom plate with the alarm mechanism.IMG_6549

The alarm dial goes back on.IMG_6550

And then the dial itself.IMG_6551

Cased, and looking great!IMG_6552Lovely little watch!

 

 

21 thoughts on “Service: Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox calibre P489/1

  1. Hi Christian,

    I’ve been following your blog for a while, and wanted to say I really appreciate that someone is sharing all this, it’s quite amazing. As someone who has recently started trying to play with watch movements and understand the inner workings it’s a great place to come again and again.

    I’ve been knowing about the Memovox for a while (I mostly love vintage watches) and now find myself in the position of getting one, the one that I found is just so perfect, nice simple hour batons, no date. But apparently it’s not working. So I remembered seeing this post of yours and was wondering if you could share your opinion on this, is this movement serviceable – I’m attaching the picture with the dial and with the movement.

    https://ibb.co/zPKb4W2
    https://ibb.co/YLZsZXX

    It seems to be a 815 automatic, but a screw on the top plate is is a different position that all the other 815 photos I found online, I wonder if this is a variant of that caliber.

    Would love it if you had time to check it out.

  2. I have been using this watch for quite some time until one of its lugs broke apart recently.
    It was my sad day. I am now searching for a good case. though my original case was a gold one, I shall prefer the same but shall settle for a steel one also.

    Can anybody please help me ??

    Its one of my favourite watches and I shall be really greatful if somebody here guide me.

    ….Milind

    • Hello friends! I have a watch Lecoultre 489/1 damaged some parts (wheels, foot shoes) do not know the clock You are not sold If you sell I will have access to repair my watch. Thank you!

  3. Hello,

    I just inherited a watch with the name Le Coultre. No mention of the Jaeger name. It might be a Memovox because it has an alarm function. I’m guessing it’s from the 40’s or 50’s.
    Can anyone help me I.D. this watch?

    Mark
    armi601@aol.com

  4. I confess I don’t know much about alarm watches. Do they chime like a repeater or is it more a vibration from what I assume is the hammer I saw in the pictures hitting the side of the case?

    If there’s time and possibility, I would be very interested to see a few seconds of video of the mechanism at work.

    Otherwise, that is a very interesting piece, I would have thought that Jaeger movements were slightly more decorated though?

  5. I do like Jaeger items, and this is no exception. I just wish my wife loved them as much as I do. I own a couple of timepieces of this brand and love them.

    They seem quality and no nonsense.Thanks for sharing the repair.

      • I couldn’t agree more, great, high quality engineering.

        ‘180 skills under the same roof’ they say!

        My eyes are peeled scouring the net for both spares/repair futurematics and memovox’s. Hopefully one day soon something will pop up 🙂

          • No doubt Patrick, you’re own Futurematic on this blog was the first time I’d come across them, and that sounded like a journey and a half!

            I have let more than a few ropey looking ones slide on flea-bay… don’t want to end up with a lemon.

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