A Heuer manual wind rally timer set retailed by Türler. This is a very rare stop watch and clock on its original bracket. Most will be very aware of Heuer, or TAG Heuer as they are known today, as industry giants in the world of watch making. However, they were also very active in the world of sport's timing. Numerous handheld stop watches were made for boxing, rowing, yachting, even chess by Heuer. Not to mention John Glen wore a Heuer stopwatch on the wrist of his space suit in 1962 when he became the first American to orbit the earth.
It is perhaps in motor sport timing that they are best known. For both wrist and on-board timers. Heuer introduced its first dashboard timer as early 1933. The Autavia–named for “automotives” and “aviation,” which were the two main fields these timers were being deployed, at the time. It was a dual-register chronograph, with hours recorded on the lower of the two registers, minutes on the top, and seconds by the center hand.
The first Autavia chronograph used a Valjoux 59 movement. Over time, Heuer phased out the Valjoux 59, replacing it with a Valjoux 340 for later versions of the Autavia. The newer version has its pusher to the right of the crown, while the older model has a left-side pusher.
Heuer produced the Autavia dashboard timer from 1933 until 1958, when it was replaced by with the Monte Carlo.This was, of course, not the end of the Autavia for Heuer. Four years later it would be launched as the wrist chronograph that is still making waves today. It is also worth noting that a number of design cues were taken from the design of these early dash timers for the wristwatch. With good reason. They are exceptionally handsome!
Alongside the 1933 Autavia, Heuer released a pair of timers called the “Hervue” pair. This pair of timers included a time-of-day clock called the "Hervue Junior" mounted on the same backplate as a 12-hour Autavia timer.
In and amongst the Autavia changes in the 1950's, in 1958, the Hervue was also renamed the "Master Time", so this now sat alongside the newly cornwed Monte Carlo. This is exactly what we have here; the Master Time clock, paired with the Monte Carlo timer. The Monte Carloone is an early example with 'Patent Applied FOR' on the dial, its unusual “Decimal” outer track showing 1/100th of a second and the jump window just above the six o'clock position. The Master Time is also an early example. It has the thicker center sweep hand, and is powered by theRevue Thommen 63 movement; double-barrel with hack feature.
As can be seen on the dials of both the Master Time and the Monte Carlo they are dual signed for Swiss retail giant; Türler. Founded in 1883 in Bielle, Switzerland by brothers César Alexander and Jean Henri Türler, they opened their first store in 1907. Throughout the following decades, Türler would expand and open stores around Europe. By mid-century, they sold co-branded watches from a vast number of top-tier maisions including Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Blancpain, International Watch Co., Universal Geneve and Omega. These stamps appeared on watches all the way from the early 1910s to the mid-1970s.
Famous people passed through the Turler stores; two in particular: English Army General, Montgomery who had the Longines technicians overhaul his Longines. With a signed letter dated; February 24, 1946, the general thanks Franz Turner for perfectly revising his beloved wrist Longines. On August 25, another VIP wrote a nice letter to Franz, also from the same year. Sir Winston Churchill thanked, in writing, for his Atmos clock: "I placed it in my room in Chartwell where I will check it every day with the utmost care.”
In 1954, Ethiopian Emperor Hailé Selassié visited the Turler store at Zurich Kloten. Other notable clients included Dwight D. Eisenhower and Humphrey Bogart!
The dials are in excellent condition overall. Totally original and untouched. The radium luminous material has aged to a stunning rich, milky coffee colour. They are both screwed into an original Heuer double bracket.
A very rare opportunity to purchase a dual signed pair of timers. We have had these timers signed by Abercrombie & Fitch, Bayer and a number plain, but never Türler stamped. This would lead us to believe that of all the cobranded examples the fewest were ordered by this Swiss retail giant.
Many of these are now, finally, being appreciated by vintage car and watch collectors and finding themselves back in period correct cars. We cannot think of a better home for this special and rare set.
