Issued some 10 years before the legendary Lemania 5012, the Lemania 1872 was the first dual pusher chronograph purchased for its pilots by the South African Air Force.

The Lemania 1872 was issued to one other Air Force in the early to mid 1970’s, namely, the Swedish Air Force.

The Lemania 1872 reference has a direct line to the Swedish and South African Air Force. Currently, my research finds no civilian models of the Lemania 1872 (branded Lemania), however companies like Tissot, Rodania, Chronograph Swiss and Pontiac had their own branded versions made with the Lemania 1872 (see later on in this article for information on these).

The Lemania 1872 used a case, the 817, designed by Ervin Piquerez SA (EPSA) that originated in 1968 and is commonly seen in military chronographs by Breguet, Heuer, Sinn, and most notably Lemania.

Avro Shackelton pilot James Kriel, wearing his lemania 1872 in flight, circa 1972.Full picture above.

A South Africa Airforce Pilot wearing his Lemania 1872 in what looks like a Mirage F1AZ

Sample Pool.

Purchase records show there were a total of 630 Lemania 1872s procured by the SAAF from 1971-1976 (320 in 1971 and the balance of 310 in 1975/76).

To try to confirm this I documented the movement numbers of all the samples I could find.

It is unfortunately not quite as simple as taking the lowest movement number and subtracting it from the highest movement number as they were purchased in batches, and Lemania Watch Co. would have continued to manufacture these movements in the time between orders from the SAAF.

Although the comparison of numbers in the table below (Table 1) doesn’t confirm the number of 630 units procured, it does confirm that there were no more than this purchased. The last column in this table takes the lowest movement (in a sequence) and compares it to the highest number in the same sequence, therefore establishing a movement batch pattern.

HOWEVER PLEASE NOTE ! If I were to find one more with a movement number that was say 100 away from the lowest movement number, this would change this result by 100. So this is far from scientific or accurate, but I will endeavor to keep this information current as new examples of the Lemania 1872 SAAF appear.

Table 1.

Table 2.

Table 3.

The 1872 was issued in 2 dial variations, namely “Arrow dial” and “Non-Arrow” dial.

My very small sample pool suggests 176 Arrow dials and 114 Non-Arrow dials.

Both consisted of matte black dials with a 30 minutes counter at 3 and a second counter at 9.

Contrary to previous information available, I believe the Non-Arrow dial to be the first issue and Arrow dial to be second issue, by some 2’000 movement count. Although I try not to refer to AF numbers for reasons explained, Tables 1 and 2 would confirm my suggestion that the Non-Arrow dial was first execution.

Although there are a few “outliers” (# 2656406, 2656426, 2656505, 3056426, and 3055663 in Table 1), there seems to be a pattern with regards movement numbers and dial variation on the SAAF procured watches.

“Generally speaking” I have found all Non-Arrow dials to be lower movement numbers (in the 2654xxx) and the Arrow dials to be in the 2656xxx. The “exceptions or outliers” I can only put down to the possibility of a movement service or swop. I would assume spare parts or even complete movements were ordered in order to maintain these watches. Possibly the out of sequence watches are as a result of this. Also note, there are 2656xxx serials with Non-Arrow dials (the “outliers”), but no 2654xxx with Arrow dials, once again confirming that Arrow dial was second issue.

2654xxx Non-Arrow dial.

The Non-Arrow dial minute counter is labeled “10-20-30-40-50-60” and its sub second is labeled “5-10-15-20-25-30”. It has outer Arabic numerals 1-12 which are lume filled in a puffy cream coloured tritium mix. The 3 and 9 hour markers are incomplete numbers as this space was take up by the two slightly recessed sub dials. The outer ring of the dial has second and 1/5th sub second markers labeled in 5 second increments. Lemania is printed in white below the 12 hour marker with the “Lemania Crown” above it. Just outside of the sub second markers, below the 6 hour marker is printed “T SWISS MADE T” between 28 and 32 seconds.

2656xxx Arrow dial.

The Arrow dial minute counter is labeled “10-20-30” and its sub second is labeled “20-40-60”. It has outer small Arabic numerals 1-2-4-5-7-8-10-11 and a large 6 and 12, which are lume filled in a puffy cream coloured tritium mix. The outer ring of the dial has one second markers joined by a continuous outer ring. Lemania is printed in white below the 12 hour marker with the “Lemania Crown” above it. There is also a military T printed just below the word Lemania. Just outside the sub second markers, below the 6 hour marker is printed “SWISS MADE” between 29.8 and 31.2 seconds. The crows foot or arrow lies between the 6 hour marker and the dial center.

I don’t believe, as per my article on Lemania 5012s, that there is any current sequence to the AF numbers on the case backs (in trying to establish when they were purchased by SAAF) as these were often swapped during servicing. It should be noted that as watches arrived into “stores”, they would be engraved/stamped. This was “batch” executed and then shelved in “military stores”. I have it on good authority that they were issued randomly and not in AF sequence. As the movements were manufactured by Lemania in sequence, I think it best and most accurate to establish issue dates based on movement numbers (see Table 3).

There were other AF items that were stamped in between each batch, that included aircraft clocks and instruments as pictured below on this Mirage aircraft clock, AF 11117.

The Arrow or crow’s foot was a bit of a mystery to me. As this was a sign of Royal Military property.  What on earth is it doing on a South African Air force issued watch? We must remember that the South African Airforce has a history of supply by the British Government. After World War I, the British government donated 100 aircraft to South Africa as part of the Imperial Gift. The gift also included spares and equipment. I believe even into the mid 1960’s there was still supply or referal by the British.

Lemania also produced a 2 button chronograph for the Royal Navy Air Arm (case reference 818), with the Broad Arrow dial housing the same 1872 signed movement. This was delivered in two batches of 250 in 1975 and 1976.

Table 4. Summary of prefix numbers with 1872 movement (817 and 818 case). Notice how the first 302 prefixes of 818 cases are first issue /75 stampings and 305 prefixes are /76

I assume that the initial Non-Arrow dial was superseded by the Arrow dial in 1975, and when SAAF ordered their last batch, from Lemania, they were sent with the new dial configuration. The movements I have seen, both delivered to the Royal Navy, have had movement prefix 305xxxx (0552/924-3306 5307/76) and #302xxxx (0552/924-3306 4198/75). I also happened to find ONE Lemania 818 that was said to be issued to the Isreali Army that also had movement prefix 305xxxx (M1612).

As there is only evidence of one of these, I would like to find more in order to draw a proper conclusion regarding whether this was actually issued to them (thank you Bruce for your contribution).

Identical dials but different cases: Royal Navy 818 case (left) vs. South African Air Force 817 case (right).

THE HANDS

Lemania 1872 SAAF hands.

The Lemania 1872 SAAF shares a minute and hour hand with the Omega 861 (essentially the same movement), but has the sweep second hand of an Omega 1045, which is a modified Lemania 5100.

Sub register hands are also the same as the Omega Speedmaster Professional 861 movement produced from 1969 to the early 80’s.

All hands are white and tend to go a slight cream colour with age. Lume tends to darken with age.

I have actually come across a few that have had their sweep second hands replaced with Speedmaster 861 hands (AF 10344 is an example of this). In chatting to the SAAF watchmaker, he remembers these hands being ordered locally as replacement hands. I would assume they would have been ordered from Omega in South Africa at the time.

THE MOVEMENT

The calibre 1872 used is a signed and numbered Lemania movement. It is a 17 jewels 21’600 bpm movement with a 40 hr power reserve. The only difference between the 1872 (Omega 860) and the 861 is the 12 hour counter of the 861. It is a manual wind movement with a cam switched sub second. SAAF Lemania 1872 movements were stamped and had a serial number prefix of 265xxxx. The Swedish Air Force (see more details later on in this article) serial number prefix is 279xxxx. I came across 2 anomalies that stood out from the rest, and this was prefix 305xxxx (see Table 1). One of these has appeared on a known issued SAAF watch AF 10762 and the other on a Viggen #291. My theory to this puzzle is that Lemania had a specific prefix for “Service Movements” and think that both of these were swapped or replaced during a service.

THE CASEBACK

The stainless steel caseback has the words “FAB. SUISSE”, “SWISS MADE”, “ACIER INOXYDABLE”, 817 stamped on the inside, positioned centrally below the half way point. Most case back engravings are done in one line and consist of AF followed by 5 numbers. I have seen examples where it has been engraved with a cutting head panto graph system and others where the engraving is done by means of a vibrating head that leaves its engraving made up of thousands of very small dots.

I did however come across one example that is slightly different. As well as having a completely different layout, it also has an out of sequence movement number: 305xxxx.

SWEDISH AIR FORCE LEMANIA 1872 (VIGGEN)

As mentioned in the beginning, the Lemania 1872 was also issued in the same year to the Swedish Air Force.

It is unclear of numbers of these issued, but from issue numbers from caseback stampings (assuming they started at 1) I have found one stamped #302. It isn’t really a conclusive way of establishing numbers, but gives us a possible scenario.

If I work on movement numbers only and take the lowest and highest, I come up with a number of 180 units.

I think it would be fair to assume they made between 180 and 302+.

The Viggen movement prefix is 279 vs. SAAF of 265.

The Viggen also carries a Bakelite outer bezel vs SAAF’s aluminium bezel.

NON MILITARY LEMANIA 1872 VARIATIONS

There were however a few civilian versions of this watch branded Tissot, Rodania, Chronograph Swiss, Pontiac…

I suspect, due to their exact matching details, that these were manufactured by Lemania and then sold and branded by various other companies.

Pontiac chronograph with Lemania 1872 movement.

Pontiac was a brand mainly intended for the Belgian market and Pontiac delivered other models to the Belgian Air Force. This watch was probably civilian and is more or less identical to the Tissot Navigator, Rotary, Selectron, Rodania…

Selectron Chronograph Swiss chronograph with 1872 movement.

Ref. 817 case. Movement prefix #305xxxx. It must not be confused with Chronograph Suisse or O&W Selectron. It has a Lemania signed movement as per the military versions. This is fully a civilian model made by a Swiss company that doesn’t seem to have produced many watches or lasted long. They must have purchased the watches from Lemania and just branded the dial. 

Rhodania chronograph with 1872 movement.

Ref. 817 case. Movement prefix #302xxxx.The applied Rodania signature appears to be an oval sticker above the original “Lemania” signature. It seems that the Rodania is a civilian version, as there are no military engravings on the caseback. Rodania provided tool chronographs to the Canadian military.

Tissot Navigator Military chronograph with Lemania 1872 movement.

Movement prefix #250xxxx.

SUMMARY OF PREFIXES

• Does this mean that Tissot received the first 1872s?
• Was last run of movements 305xxxx and then supplied as spare movements?
• 302xxxx and 305xxxx movements were supplied by Lemania in the 818 case in 1975/1976.

Once again may I reiterate that the information in this article is from my own research. There is very little detail on these due to their limited numbers and the time since they were procured. Should you have any comments or wish to add anything at all, it would be most welcome

EXAMPLE OF A CLEAN UP OPERATION

“We will fight them on the beaches”.

The Lemania 1872 below was found on beach in the Cape in South Africa. It was bought home in this state and then left in a cupboard for years. So glad to have had the privilege to breathe life into this piece of South African history!

A South Africa Airforce Pilot wearing his Lemania 1872 in what looks like a Mirage F1AZ

SAAF pilots in front of a South African Air Force Buccaneer S50 at Ysterplaat in 1970. At least one of these aircraft was modified to carry a nuclear weapon.

Flight engineers posing for a picture in of S50 Buccaneer circa late 1960’s. The flight engineers played an important role in the maintenance of the Air Fleet.

As with the other articles I have written on South African Military watches, I have thoroughly enjoyed this journey. I have met and chatted to the most amazing people, made friends, and enriched my knowledge in the field through the willingness of others to share. I have always encouraged people to share their knowledge freely to allow others to learn…. especially in the field of military watches as there is very little documented. The information I received went far beyond just the watches, and on many occasions, I had to “reel in” and remember this was a watch article. I am however inspired by what I have learned and endeavor to put it all down on paper sometime…. possibly in a book or website, where I can share individual stories of the owners of these as other South African military issued watches and all they had to tell.

As with any research, this is NOT a definitive source of information on the subject and is merely a consolidation of information I have gathered from the best sources I could possibly find. Together with the information I have first-hand with the watches in my own collection, and those of other collectors, this should be a good reference for information. If you have any information that you think may be of value, and questions about the subject, or feel I have given any incorrect information……please feel free to contact me…I would love to hear from you.

Matthew Taylor 0027 (0) 82 9261534 (Whats App)

mstt@me.com or matt@MTV24.co.uk

Instagram @matthewtaylorvintage