Memosail

Memosail

In 1926 Ebauches SA was created by three major watch companies (A. Schild AG, Fabrique d’Horlogerie de Fontainemelon and A. Michel AG), as a holding company for Swiss watch movement manufacturers. The purpose of this merger was to bring order in this chaotic industry, and to keep the prices of watch movements from falling any further. By 1951 Ebauches SA had bought as many as 75 movement manufacturers! Eventually in 1985 most of the companies that became part of Ebauches SA were bought into the Swatch Group under the ETA division.

In 1970 daughter company Ebauches Electroniques SA was founded, and that company filed in 1972 for the trademark name Memosail. Apparently the idea had risen to make a new regatta watch to compete with the Aquastar company and the Felsa regatta movement (caliber 4000N). For that reason the Swiss manufacturer of mechanical movements Valjoux SA (also a daughter company of the Ebauches group) developed their caliber Valjoux 7737, derived from the base caliber 7733, with a slightly different approach to count the remaining time to the start of a regatta. When at zero the indicator disk shows START in a cut-out section in the dial.

On February 25th, 1972 Valjoux SA filed their patent for a ‘Pièce d’horlogerie à mécanisme de chronographe’.

The first version (around 1972) of the Memosail regatta watch was housed in a chrome plated brass round case, later versions (as of 1975) came in an almost square case. At first also made of chrome plated brass, later on made of stainless steel. All three versions have a stainless steel caseback, as this material is very strong and resistant to corrosive human sweat.

Memosail, with round or square case

• Reference: unknown.
• Caliber: manual wound Valjoux 7737 movement.
• Round case size: Ø 45,6 mm / H 13,5 mm.
• Square case size: 38,0 x 42,1 mm / H 14,0 mm.
• Year: beginning 1970’s.

How It Works

Unlike the Lemania 1345 movement the Memosail has two pushers for the countdown function. One pusher at 2 o’clock for start/stop, and one pusher at 4 o’clock for reset. Under the dial is a plastic indicator disk divided in 15 segments for 15 minutes, of which 5 segments are shown through a large aperture in the dial from 12 to 4 o’clock to follow the countdown. After a reset it shows 10-9-8-7-6 in black figures on a yellow background. When the chrono is activated the countdown starts and the orange sweep hand is set in motion counting the seconds backwards from 60 to zero. After 30 seconds the indicator disk moves half a minute, and again after 60 seconds, now showing 9-8-7-6-5. So, after the first 5 minutes of the countdown the disk is showing 5-4-3-2-1 in white figures on a red background. The process repeats and after another 5 minutes it reads START in green capitals on a white base.

V.I.P Memosail

At some point in the mid 1970’s the Memosail regatta watch is sold as ‘V.I.P Memosail’ (also registered as a trademark name by Ebauches Electroniques SA). The addition of the name V.I.P is put on the dial and on the case back (it says ‘chrono V.I.P’ instead of just ‘chrono’). The V.I.P Memosail is available in a bigger barrel shaped case, and a cushion case. The movements are identical, the same Valjoux 7737.

Credits - http://www.regatta-yachttimers.com/brands/memosail/

Links

• Regatta Watches