Here is a cool beast! J.Auricoste Type 20. Issued for the French air force in the early 1950’s. It features a Lemania calibre 2040! The crown keeps unwinding and the movement could do with a service.
What a great looking movement. It looks to be in very good condition. The calibre 2040 is a modified Lemania calibre 15TL that is modified into a flyback chronograph.
The setting lever spring is broken, but luckily I have a spare one.
Movement cleaned and I got a new mainspring ready. I fit the shock jewels and see that the balance moves freely.
Putting the base movement together it performs very well.
What a cool watch! J.Auricoste has long history of supplying first the French navy and then Air Force with timepieces. This model has rotating bezel with a inner marker arrow coated in radium.