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Object Overview
This Swiss Traveler’s set from around 1960 was released under the Cantador brand, created by the Swiss watch company Heno Watch Co. Three instruments indispensable on a journey—a clock with alarm, a barometer, and a thermometer—are mounted together in a sturdy case covered in supple pigskin. The case folds open on hinges, transforming into a desk compendium for convenient use of all instruments.
A distinctive feature of this set is its integrated layout: all instruments are mounted on a single base, framed by a gleaming brass surround. The silvered brass dial also serves all three instruments simultaneously: on the left is the time display, in the center the thermometer scale, and to the right the barometric scale.
The clock dial is marked with a strict, graphic design: instead of numerals, elongated gilt strokes radiate from the center. The hour and minute hands are broad, with faceted surfaces filled with luminous material, allowing the time to be read in the dark. The alarm hand is thin and elongated, offering a restrained contrast to the massive main hands. The movement is a 15-jewel, anti-magnetic caliber with an 8-day power reserve, characteristic of high-quality mid-20th-century travel clocks.
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aneroid capsule tensioned on a C-spring
brass, glass, jewels, leather, nickel silver, plastic, silvered brass, steel
The mercury thermometer scale is dual-calibrated in both Celsius (to the left) and Fahrenheit (to the right). The glass capillary, fitted with a magnifying lens on the front surface, is filled with mercury, while a blue indicator column on the back allows easy reading of the current temperature.
The barometer scale is laid out in a square format: the inner track is graduated in millimeters of mercury from 700 to 820, while the outer track is in inches of mercury from 27 to 32. The two scales are separated by a golden reflective frame designed to reduce parallax when reading measurements. Standard weather indications are given simultaneously in three languages—German, French, and English—written in uppercase around the edges of the dial. The indicator hand, made of blued steel, is slender and elegant, with a crescent-shaped tail.
Overall, this instrument is a fine example of Swiss design of the 1960s: minimalist, functional, yet unmistakably elegant. It unites three essential tools for the traveler—time, temperature, and atmospheric pressure—within a single portable case, making it both a prestigious and practical companion on the road.