blomman Mr Blue
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Box Play part #1: Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox E 871
Let’s start small, with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox E 871.
Since I finally got the last detail sorted on my E 871, I thought it would be appropriate to start with this one.
You may read about it here: www.watchprosite.com
We who grow up during the 1970’s will always have a soft spot for these old TV shaped watches…
Growing up in Sweden, there were only two TV channels and only one serious sports program, “Sportspegeln”.
The blur thing to the right was their show logo…
We have seen it from many members here, posting big, bulky, colourful watches from the 1970’s.
We have seen the re-edition train ticking off all the icons from the 1950’s and 1960’s…
We have even started to see re-editions from the 1970’s already, like the Doxa Sub!
You know it, the Funky 70’s is back!
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox E 871 is a typical “child of its time”.
38.5mm x 46mm, but only 12.5mm thick including the plexi crystal which is raised above the bezel.
20mm between the lugs which make the bracelet look bigger and stronger but compared with today’s standard the NSA bracelet feels quite thin and “flimsy”.
Yes, NSA bracelet. This was before all the “inhouse hype” had started.
Many brands used NSA bracelets for their watches and that is why you may find several brands with similar or same looking bracelets.
Just different engraving on the buckle.
The E 871 existed in two dial versions, most well-known, the Orange/Grey which is the version featured in documents.
Example:
1970 – Notice the LeC logo on the alarm disk even on the JLC version...
1971 –
1972 –
But, I found "hard proof" of the Blue/Silver version in a German pricelist from April 1971:
Zone rot oder blau. “Red or blue”. OK, they call it red but all I have seen in real looks more like orange…
595 DM on leather strap, 652 DM on bracelet.
It even existed an LeCoultre version of the E 871.
Strange thing is that instead of having the HPG, High Precision Guarantee on the dial like other LeCoultre Memovox with the Calibre 916 inside, it has the LeC logo on the dial.
What even more strange is that the catalogue has Jaeger-LeCoultre printed on the cover, even if the watches inside have LeCoultre on the dial.
This catalogue must either be a profiling mistake or from the time when the brand started to change to the full name also in North America.
But enough about the watch, let’s see some box play!
Sometime in the end of 1960’s/beginning of 1970’s JLC changed from blue boxes to brown boxes.
My observations lead me to believe it was not a “clean cut”, from the print dates on the papers you can see that for some years both colours were used.
Paper, box, watch holder and of course the E 871:
Different versions of the box exist, either like this one with an arched holder or a thinner box with the watch laying flat inside, we will come to that one later.
Inside the box is pocket for the paper.
A nice and clean box, practical and in a good size.
As I have promised several times we should start to look closer on boxes, this is just a small start.
Best
Blomman
PS. Any boxes or papers included in this series will only be included once together with one watch.
If several of the same, then its because I have several…
Box Play part #1: Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox E 871
Yes, the two different brandings makes things more complicated....
That hits the spot for me ...
Indeed, a lot of brand made these kind of Funky watches during the 1970's!
Killer post, my friend, K-I-L-L-E-R post! :)
Practial and in good size...! :)
There is a charm and class to these vintage pieces.....
As always a high quality post!
Thank you for your kind words, Claes!
Very cool watch and post, mt dear Mr. Blue.
As stated, this is only part #1....! ;)
