French gold watch with tachy- and pulsometer scales Circa 1920

Gold chronograph attributed to Louis G. Tribaudeau
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A fine French 18 carat gold open faced keyless chronograph pocket watch, circa 1920. This watch features a 1/5 second chronograph activated through the winding crown, telemetric scale graduated for 6 kilometres, pulsometer scale graduated for 30 pulsations and a half instantaneous 30 minute counter. The polished case with a taille douce engraved back and the monogram SL, the pendant is based on Swiss patent No. 4 646 delivered to Louis G. Tribaudeau in Besançon, France, on February 15th, 1892, for a pendant perfectionné pour montres de tous genres (pendant perfected for watches of all kinds).
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White enamel dial with bold Arabic hours, an outer minute and fifth of a second track with five minute numerals, subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock, a 30 minute counter at 12, tachymeter and pulsometer scales and gold spade hands. The gilded brass movement with a straight line lever escapement, going barrel, compensated balance and palladium hairspring with a terminal curve.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: No name
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Fabriques G. Tribaudeau, Besançon
The house was founded in 1876 in Besançon, France. The manufactory was 4, rue des Fontenottes, next to the funicular station, in the Bregille district, an old village absorbed by the development of the city in the 19th century, on the right bank of the Doubs, at the foot of the hill overlooking the Mouillière station and bordering the historic centre of the capital of Franche-Comté. In 1927, this manufacturer had already won more than 125 awards at the Besançon National Astronomical Observatory’s chronometry competitions: six First Prizes, three Second Prizes, 35 Gold Medals and 54 Silver Medals.
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The Tribaudeau manufactory made watches, jewellery and goldsmith’s art, hence the name “Fabriques” in the plural. It registered the trademark “Trib”. The company specialised in direct sales to the public by mail order with illustrated catalogues published every year. The Tribaudeau family continued the company’s activities until 1984; it had its most prosperous period in the inter-war period. The company still exists and markets advertising watches.