And They Start Arriving... (Laco Baumuster B)

[Crusader]

Congratulations to you all - this is a magnificent watch.

I really "dig" the gray hue of the case. Is it a particularly coarse beadblast?

[hwilsdorf]

Bhanu deserve a kiss and a hug yenfoolun! :) :)

[JohnF]

Hi -

No, it is a very, very fine finish, and really reminds me of parkerized finishes. Think of the finish on an original Benrus Type I: this is very nearly the same.

While Lacher says it's a blast finish, it really looks like a good chemical finish. In any case, it's outrageously well done...

I'll try and get a good surface picture later today. I've got some things to experiment with...

JohnF

[Gordon]

Great watch and pics guys

It looks just great on the wrist!

How does the modified movement feel when winding?

Keep the pics coming

[JohnF]

Hi -

I've got both the Archimede Pilot Original and the Laco in front of me right now and the modified 2824-2 doesn't feel anything like the vintage Junghans in the PO from Archimede. The winding is just a tad rough (in comparsion, for instance, to a bog-standard 2824 in a Fortis Pilot watch or one of Bill Yao's masterpieces), but better, for instance, than hand-winding one of the Vostok Europe movements. Just feels different.

The backlash of the click, for instance, is very small in comparison to the really luxurious feel of the vintage Junghans movement, something like only around 5° or so, while the Junghans has a really nice long spring movement of around 35° or so. The Junghans reminds me of a good movement with the Glashütte Sperre, as opposed to the much smaller spring leverage of more modern movements.

JohnF

[Crusader]

No, it is a very, very fine finish, and really reminds me of parkerized finishes. Think of the finish on an original Benrus Type I: this is very nearly the same.

While Lacher says it's a blast finish, it really looks like a good chemical finish. In any case, it's outrageously well done...

Very interesting ... the hue reminds me of the Damasko cases (fine beadblast, but different steel), though the finely beadblasted cases of 316L I have here are not nearly as darkish gray as the Laco case.

I would really like to know what finishing process they applied ... perhaps Bhanu can enquire of them for inclusion in his reference booklet ? I think the authentic-looking case finish - in addition to all the features discussed at length in the forum - really sets the watch apart from other B-Uhren homages, my own Stowa FO LE included.

[Gordon]

Hi -

I've got both the Archimede Pilot Original and the Laco in front of me right now and the modified 2824-2 doesn't feel anything like the vintage Junghans in the PO from Archimede. The winding is just a tad rough (in comparsion, for instance, to a bog-standard 2824 in a Fortis Pilot watch or one of Bill Yao's masterpieces), but better, for instance, than hand-winding one of the Vostok Europe movements. Just feels different.

The backlash of the click, for instance, is very small in comparison to the really luxurious feel of the vintage Junghans movement, something like only around 5° or so, while the Junghans has a really nice long spring movement of around 35° or so. The Junghans reminds me of a good movement with the Glashütte Sperre, as opposed to the much smaller spring leverage of more modern movements.

JohnF

Thanks for reply John, that's interesting. Is there a definite stop at full wind?

Besides the rotor removal, i wonder what other mods have been done to the 2824.

[JohnF]

Hi -

Absolutely. A full, completely wound-up stop. No mistaking it whatsoever. I imagine - I am NOT going to take it apart to find out - that Lacher probably replaced the mainspring of the watch with one for a manual-wind watch. Makes sense to have done so, and shows that the modification was well thought-through.

JohnF

[Gordon]

Hi -

Absolutely. A full, completely wound-up stop. No mistaking it whatsoever. I imagine - I am NOT going to take it apart to find out - that Lacher probably replaced the mainspring of the watch with one for a manual-wind watch. Makes sense to have done so, and shows that the modification was well thought-through.

JohnF

Yes, Laco has done a great job for this timepiece

I really pleased for you guys. I've strapped on my well used Laco 42 B-Uhr auto to celebrate the arrival of yours.

More pics please!

[Crusader]

Hi -

Absolutely. A full, completely wound-up stop. No mistaking it whatsoever. I imagine - I am NOT going to take it apart to find out - that Lacher probably replaced the mainspring of the watch with one for a manual-wind watch. Makes sense to have done so, and shows that the modification was well thought-through.

JohnF

I seem to remember that a modification of the mainspring was planned by Laco in the course of the removal of the winding mechanism.