A. LANGE & SÖHNE, GLASHÜTTE | A VERY FINE GOLD HUNTING CASED QUARTER REPEATING KEYLESS LEVER CHRONOGRAPH WATCH WITH REGISTER1917, NO. 81693

• Movement: 1a quality, cal. 43 gilded ¾ plate, gold lever, bi-metallic compensation balance, 42 jewels, ruby endstone, two polished steel hammers repeating on coiled gongs, polished steel chronograph bridge work mounted to a matt finished steel asymmetrical bridge and all visible to the gilded backplate, signed and numbered A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, Dresden, 81693• Dial: white enamel dial with sunken centre, Arabic numerals, twin outer tracks for minutes and chronograph seconds with red Arabic numeral 5-minute divisions, two recessed subsidiary dials for constant seconds and 30-minute register, gold Louis XV style hands, signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte I/SA • Case: "Royal" 18ct gold, plain polished covers, plain polished gold cuvette, setting lever for hand-set beneath bezel below 4 o'clock, front and back covers signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, the covers and cuvette numbered 81693    

Martin Huber, Die Uhren von A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, Sachsen, 1988, p.178, table 48
Martin Huber, Die Lange Liste, 2000, pp. 190-191

Movement: not running at time of cataloguing but the balance is free and the chronograph appears to be in working order although the minute register has not been tested. Repetition is operational. Dial: appears to be in good overall condition with a couple of small scratches. Case: Covers in good overall condition with some light scuffs.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

Accompanied by a certificate of origin from the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum, Glashütte confirming the date of sale on 22nd January 1917 to H. Schrader, Hamburg for 1,738.-M.  The present lot is one of an approximate 43 examples of a quarter repeating chronograph watches with or without a minute counter,  see Martin Huber, Die Lange Liste, 2000, pp. 190-191

Lange replaced the jumping seconds mechanism with a chronograph in their basic quarter repeaters starting in 1880.  They built approximately 65 quarter repeating chronographs until 1941.  These differed from normal chronographs in that the chronograph function was now driven by a transmission wheel geared to the seconds wheel under the dial, as opposed to a wheel on the arbor of the fourth-wheel.  The user could then engage the chronograph by "rocking" the separate transition-wheel.  This construction lowered the amount of chronograph wheels needed from three to two, and neutralized the tendency of chronographs to jump forwards or back.