Recently we took a close look at a high precision lathe made by Panerai in the last century. This masterpiece of Panerai engineering will be auctioned at Dr. Crott in their 87. auction (May 11th, 2013).

Panerai has produced various types of lathes with different beds, ranging from 200 to 500 mm. The lathe is mounted on a wooden base and comes with additional tools to be used on the lathe, depending on the mechanical work to be done.

A collection of spring collets is part of the auction too. The spring collets bear the famous GPF logo (Guido Panerai & Figlio) on the heads aside the sizes. The drill chuck bears the GPF logo as well and the number 172 (probably a matriculation number, giving the idea of how many of these high precision instruments have been produced).

It has been nice to observe this rare instrument and spot some Panerai DNA on many corners of the high precision lathe.

Additional information about high precision lathes from Panerai can be found here. These instruments are also featured in the book “Panerai Historia” (by Giampiero Negretti / Officine Panerai) on page 28/29 and in the book “La Panerai di Firenze” (by Dino Zei / CLD Libri) on page 74.

Set of Panerai instruments: A 16 meter depth gauge with “Luminor” dial (case: 70×90 mm, height: 43 mm). The depth gauge (right) is calibrated to 16 meters. There exist many other versions for various dephts, depending on their use (attack or defense). The “Luminor” elements (markers and numbers on the dial, tip of the hand) still glow in a strong green color when under influence of direct light

The compass (case: 70×90 mm, height: 34 mm) has on top of the plexiglas dome a bearing line. It is also using “Luminor” luminous material. The instruments use the same 26 mm leather straps as those who were mounted on watches (screwed lugs), specially treated for seawater use. The length of the strap meant that the swimmer was able to wear the gauge over his diving suit. The underside of the instruments are ergonomically shaped and have a brushed surface.

A local Panerai AD in Hesse state’s capital city Wiesbaden, Juwelier Stoess (www.stoess.eu), is having a special Panerai exhibition for two weeks (february 25th to march 10th) with a completely “Panerai corporate designed shop window” which is getting a lot attraction in Wiesbaden’s famous shopping area Wilhelmsstrasse – close to the well known Kurhaus / Casino.

There are special and rare Panerai models in the display, also some Vintage Panerai instruments are placed. Beside a battery powered light gun, a so called Elettrosegnalatore GPF 1/58, two parts of Arillo’s “Trittico” in their wooden storage box are in the spot: a Luminor depth gauge (16 meters) and a Luminor compass.

A late version of a 16 meter depth gauge made by Panerai. The diameter of the case is 70 mm with a height of 45 mm. The lower part of the case is made of black plastic, the upper part is made of black rubber.

Tried to catch some interesting details and design elements of the case of a Luminor depth gauge, which is aimed to 16 meters. On the backside of the depth gauge is a matriculation number engraved (“Matr. No 189”). The membrane (diameter: 23 mm) is placed in the center of the case, surrounded by the company signatures “Officine Panerai · Firenze”. Some types of instruments bear a Panerai reference number (e.g. “Mod. GPF 4/55”, as engraved on a compass caseback) instead of a matriculation number. Other types are totally unsigned without any engravings on their casebacks – a variety of different decorations exists. Some of these unsigned cases bear a matriculation number on the leather strap (hand written).

The stainless steel case is matte grey coated, sized 70 x 90 mm. The instruments use the same 26 mm leather straps as those who were mounted on watches (screwed lugs), specially treated for seawater use. The length of the strap meant that the swimmer was able to wear the gauge over his diving suit. The underside of the instrument is ergonomically shaped and has a brushed surface. It is fixed with 6 screws onto the upper part of the case, same as compasses are constructed. The huge dome (26,5 mm) is made of Plexiglas. The depth gauge has a total height of 43 mm with a weight of nearly 400 gramms.

The meter hand is made of transparent Plexiglas, which has a chamber in its tip, holding the luminous material to point out the actual depth. Gauges with Radiomir usually have a white Plexiglas hand. You can see a group of  Radiomir and Luminor depth gauges here. The center of the dial bears “Luminor Panerai” and below “Metri” is engraved. You can find more details of the tool’s dial here. The luminous material on hands, numbers, markers and dots is still reacting very quickly and bright when a light source is beamed onto the numbers and markers.

More informations about this Panerai instrument can be found in chapter III of our 1st book “Vintage Panerai – Watches with History”.

“ELUX” Panerai inclinometer for tanks, made in 1971. Brevettato No 846567 / october 1968). Powered by two 1.5 V batteries in a separate steel case (with engraved matriculation number), connected with a cable to the device, which can be positioned longitudinally and transversally, rotating 90°.

The case of the inclinometer measures 145 x 55 mm, hinged to the fixing plate to be screwed onto the tank with four screws. Delivered in a grey cardboard box (21 x 21 x 7.5 cm).

A load of Vintage Panerai instruments with “Luminor” and “Radiomir” substance; 10 depth gauges aimed for various depths and 13 compasses produced from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Especially rare are the two small compasses, which have been used in World War 2 (left corner of the photo) by german and italian frogmen. Further details about these two rare instruments can be found here [Italian frogmen’s compass] and [German frogmen’s compass].

[photo by Ralf Ehlers]

Two “Elux Panerai” signal devices for underwater use in their cardboard storing boxes. Creating red or green light, both devices are battery powered.

Large device (red “Elux” light patch = 5 x 10 cm):
Battery pack 18 x 8 cm, 4 x 1.5 V mono batteries.
on/off switch as known from the underwater torches.

Small device (green “Elux” light patch = 2.5 x 5 cm):
Battery pack 21 x 3 cm, 2 x 1.5 V AA mignon batteries.
on/off switch behind a rubber membrane.

[photos by Ralf Ehlers]

Color signal extension (rotating head, made of aluminium) with four colors (red, orange, green and white/clear), mounted on a “VIDOR” torch (made in Britain), which is equipped with Panerai patented mechanism, signed “Brevet IT 563039″.

[photo by Ralf Ehlers]

“Seven in one strike” – a collection of different Officine Panerai depth gauges, gray coated 70×90 mm cases.

7 meters (Radiomir)
15 meters (Luminor)
30 meters (Radiomir)
35 meters (Radiomir)
40 meters (Luminor)
50 meters (Radiomir)
60 meters (Radiomir)

[photo by Ralf Ehlers]