French yellow gold complicated pocket chronograph Circa 1920

Gold watch attributed to Louis G. Tribaudeau
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A French 18 carat gold minute repeating keyless chronometer watch with chronograph, circa 1920. This watch has two horological complications: 1/5 second chronograph, activated by the winding crown, with a telemetric scale graduated for 6 kilometres, Half-instantaneous 30 minute recorder, and a subsidiary dial at 12 o’clock. A polished case with an engraved back in taille douce (fine cut) with the cypher L A. Enamel white dial with Arabic numerals, outer minutes/seconds track, subsidiary dial for the constant seconds at 6, subsidiary dial for 30 minute recorder at 12, tachymeter, and Breguet hands. A gilded brass movement, going barrel, straight line lever escapement, gold escape wheel counter pivot plate, cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel hairspring with terminal curve, polished steel index regulator; viper’s head stamp of the Besançon Observatory for a Second Class Bulletin de marche. Signature on the cuvette.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 120 g
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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.