Instruments - Watches, Depth Gauges & Compasses

Watch Type 191 yc

I’m not sure when they were first introduced but the general thought is early 1960’s and unlike a lot of the current new ‘collectable Russian diving watches c1970’, none have any emblem on the watch face or any engraving on the back except for the serial number.

The watches all have a pocket watch movement (which helps to explain the size and weight!) mounted in a watertight case of stainless steel. Case diameter is 60mm, a thickness of 19.8mm and weighs 260 grams.

The first watch I got (on the left) also has the poorest the finish on the dial and the stapling on the strap looks as though it is designed to come apart on its first dive (no doubt to keep the factory in employment!).

The centre watch in the ‘group’ photo comes in an unmarked box but with its certificate of manufacture/operating instructions dated 1963.

The third watch is very similar to the previous watch except this came without a certificate but the box is labelled (with the matching serial number written in) and has been stamped by the factory with its factory number and inspectors number (sadly quite faded now).

                                                                       Figure 50. Diving wristwatch: 1 – watertight body, 2 – cap

‘Diving wristwatch HBy (Fig. 50) is used by a diver to work out how much time he has spent under water. It has the movement of a pocket watch, which is installed in a watertight body (1) made of stainless steel. The body can withstand pressure of up to 4 atmospheres*. There is a rubber gasket between thread ring with glass and body. Another rubber gasket is in between cap (2) and the body coupling where the crown (winder) is placed. The rubber gaskets make the watch watertight. Digits, marks and hands are covered with a fluorescent paint, which makes it possible to use the watch in dark conditions. A diver puts the watch on his hand on top of diving suit. He secures the watch with a strap made of rubberised material. In order to wind up the watch or move hands, you need to unscrew the cap of the crown.’

Russian diving manual 1962

* The 4 atmospheres mentioned here are ‘absolute’ atmospheres, which means that the maximum operating depth is 30 metres.

Depth Gauges

I'm not sure of the exact date (1930/40's) of this numbered depth gauge but it comes with its own case of canvas and leather.

     A later 1950's example also numbered on the dial.

Magnetic wrist compass KHM

The compass (Fig. 51) is used to work out direction under water. It can also be used on the surface during the day or night (this is all translated from a manual).

‘Compass KHM consists of the three main parts: body (4), card (3) and base (7). The compass body is a truncated cone made of transparent plastic. The bottom part of the cone is joined to the base. Scale (8) is engraved on the side surface of the body. There is 10? between marks and 30? between digits. Two hands are engraved on top of the body parallel to the line 0 – 180?. Two trackers are installed there as well: subject tracker (9) and eye tracker (2). In the middle of the base a column with a pin is fixed. The compass card rests on it. The compass card is made of the same plastic as the body. The card has two magnets placed parallel to each other. A hand is engraved on top of the card. Marks, hands, trackers on the compass body and hands on the card are covered with fluorescent paint that make it possible to use compass in darkness.’

Fig. 51. Wrist magnetic compass:
1 – circle to establish compass’ horizontal position;
2 - eye tracker; 3 – card; 4 – body; 5 – bars for the strap; 6 – index;
7 – base; 8 – scale; 9 – object tracker.

‘To minimise card pressure, pin friction and stop it vibrating, the body of the compass is filled with 50% glycol solution or 43% ethanol solution. However, there is still a small air bubble left (diameter 8 –10 mm). The bubble is necessary to stop pressure mounting in the body when the liquid expands. It also shows the horizontal position of the compass. When the compass is in horizontal position, the bubble is inside the circle (1) that is drawn on compass body.’
‘The compass base is a brass ring that encircles the body. There is index (6) on the base and two bars (5) used to attach the strap. The strap is used to secure the compass on a diver’s hand. The body of the compass can be easily turned in the base so that any mark can be aligned with the index. Such alignment is useful so that a diver does not have to remember a set direction under water.'

'To move under water or on land according to the set azimuth, its corresponding mark needs to be aligned with the index on the base. The compass needs to be in horizontal position and needs to be rotated in horizontal plane until the card hands are parallel to the body hands. The direction of the movement is decided from the index on the base.’