skyeriding
900
Short answer: no. Long answer: ...
EDIT: I misread the question and thought the intention is to compare the column wheel with the cam chronograph. In that case, they do not really affect the hour recorder, as they mainly manipulate the mechanisms for the seconds and minute counter.
But to directly answer your question, not too complicated an add-on - The hour counter mechanisms can be found on the dialside, with a separate mechanism altogether. If the hour counter is not needed, it can simply be "removed" from the design and the caseback movement view will still be almost identical.
Most chronographs with an hour recorder do a little trick - they are coupled directly to the mainspring barrel with a couple gears and a slipping clutch. When the chrono is stopped, a brake holds the hour recorder still as it continuously "slips" against the mainspring barrel. This works fine because the mainspring turns so slowly, so the part won't wear out too quickly.
Upon start, this brake releases so this hour recorder can gradually inch forward as time elapses. When resetting, it is the force of your finger pushing against the reset button that drives a lever. This lever slams into the heart cam on the hour recorder, resetting it to zero.
This explains why most hour recorder chronographs are continuously recording, not jumping or instantaneous. Even the Lange Triple Split is continuous and uses similar mechanism for the hour recorder! It is also why if your chronograph has an hour recorder, the reset button needs a little force to activate, because of the resetting force needed for the lever.
For further reading on chronographs, Jack Forster once did a very comprehensive teardown review of the Omega 1861 that is well worth a read. He fully explains how it all works, here: www.watchprosite.com
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Regards,
skyeriding
A technical question on chronographs:
