Eppler 16

 
Eppler 16 | 17jewels.info - The Movement Archive

Eppler 16

Description

One of the most common wrist watch movements from (Western) Germany is the Eppler 16, a simple 10 1/2 ligne pin lever movement with optional decentral seconds indication at 6 o’clock.

Eppler 16: later version with edged gear train bridge

later version with edged gear train bridge

It was made from the 1960s until the late 1980s and got several changes over the long production run, like modified gear train bridges or the use of plastic gears.

Eppler 16: even later version with plastic spacer

even later version with plastic spacer

Regarding the plastic spacers, which attach the movement quite immobile to the back, there were several variants during the years.

Eppler 16: even later version with plastic spacer on the lever cock

even later version with plastic spacer on the lever cock

There were even experiments with plastic shock protecting bearings:

Eppler 16: version with plastic "shock proection"

version with plastic "shock proection"

The Eppler 16 corresponds to the Eppler 17 with the sole difference, that here, the balance wheel has got a pointed staff.

Eppler 16: base plate

base plate

The base plate of this pillar movement is as simple made as possible, there are no bearing jewels, on the later version, the brass bushings were replaced by simple drillings into the (brass) plate.

Eppler 16: gear train

gear train

The gear train is as classical constructed, as it can be on a 10 1/2 ligne pin lever movement: Mainspring barrel, central minute wheel, third wheel, decentral seconds wheel at 6 o’clock and escape wheel.

Eppler 16: side view of the gear train

side view of the gear train

As escapement, a pin lever is used.

Eppler 16: pin lever

pin lever

The balance wheel has got a pointed staff and hence needs no further shock protection. It beatsl slowly with 18000 A/h can be adjusted at the hairspring key only.

Unlike on its relative, the Eppler 6, the hairspring stud is moveable on the Eppler 16, which allows easy zeroing the beat error.

The height play of the balance cock, which is important on a pointed staff, can be adjusted shirt-sleeved with a third screw on the balance cock, which bends it more or less upwards.

Eppler 16: Aufschrift

Aufschrift

A few rare versions even had an engraving on the gear train bridge:

W.Eppler
West-Germany
1 (one) Jewel
unadjusted

There existed versions with zero and versions with one jewel. When one jewel was used, it was the ellipse of the balance.

Eppler 16: Eppler 16: Dial side, older version

Eppler 16: Dial side, older version

On the dial side, you see the rocking bar winding system and the ratchet, which is well executed for such a simple movement.

Eppler 16: dial side, later version

dial side, later version

During the long construction years, there were rationalizations on the dial side, too, like the riveting of the ratchet, or the use of plastic gears for the cannon pinion and the changer wheel.

Eppler 16: Eppler 16: Dial side, even never version with plastic parts

Eppler 16: Dial side, even never version with plastic parts

As the mostly bad condition of these movement tells, they were used as so called “strain watches”, cheap watches, which could or should not be protected, but had to be used a few years.

Often, these watches were sold under the label “Anker 100” in all kind of designs, but always with the same case shape.

Technical data

Manufacturer:Eppler
Caliber:16
Caliber base:Eppler 16
Size:10 1/2''' (measured: 23,4mm)
A/h:18000
Number of jewels:0/1
Escapement:Pin lever
Balance types: Nickel anular balance
Shock protection(s): none
Balance bearing / direction hairspring:Clockwise
Moveable stud:yes
Adjust mechanism:Hairspring key
Construction:
  • lever
  • escape wheel, seconds wheel, third wheel, center minute wheel, mainspring barrel
Winding mechanism:rocking bar winding system
Setting lever spring:3 hole(s)
Features:
  • s (decentral seconds) (optional)
References: Flume: K3 67
Mentioning in literature (years): 1965 - 1970
Inventory number:22059

Usage gallery

Eppler 16: Anker 100 learning watch

Anker 100 learning watch

Eppler 16: Ancre Goupilles ladies' watch

Ancre Goupilles ladies' watch

Eppler 16: Anker 100 ladies' watch

Anker 100 ladies' watch

Eppler 16: Anker 100 ladies' watch

Anker 100 ladies' watch

Eppler 16: Anker 100 ladies' watch from the 1980s

Anker 100 ladies' watch from the 1980s

Eppler 16: Anker 100 Teddy learning watch

Anker 100 Teddy learning watch

Eppler 16: Character watch "Pumuckl"

Character watch "Pumuckl"

Eppler 16: Character watch "Pumuckl"

Character watch "Pumuckl"

Eppler 16: Anker 100 "Shockproof" ladies' watch

Anker 100 "Shockproof" ladies' watch

Eppler 16: Anker 100 "Shockproof" ladies' watch

Anker 100 "Shockproof" ladies' watch

Eppler 16: Character watch "Heidi" (1987)

Character watch "Heidi" (1987)

Eppler 16: Character watch "Donald Duck"

Character watch "Donald Duck"

Eppler 16: Character watch "Die Maus" (orange)

Character watch "Die Maus" (orange)

Eppler 16: Character watch "Die Maus" (blue)

Character watch "Die Maus" (blue)

Eppler 16: Character watch "Bugs Bunny"

Character watch "Bugs Bunny"

This movement and watch in the golden toned “Anker 100”-version is a kind donation from Lars Schröder to the movement archive. Thank you very much for your great support!

Caliber Family
Eppler 16