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#2 ·
With respect, either you are inexperienced in searching the 'net, or you need to try a bit harder. When the phrase "Zenith Sporto" is entered in a Google search, there are over 13,000 results returned! You will find plenty of information using that simple search.

Also, you will find a good deal of info by searching this very forum for "Sporto"!

Regards,

Tony C.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
perhaps i was not clear. I cant find informations regarding this line as reason of name, period of time in which this line firstly appeared, etc. I can find only details on some Sporto watches, but nothing regarding the whole line.
 
#4 ·
The Sporto line seems to have originated sometime in the late '40s (based on the style of the early dials and cases), though Manfred Rossler's book suggests that the model was introduced in the 1950s. They were powered by hand-wind movements until the '60s, at which point the new "AutoSporto" were powered by automatic movements.

A variety of good quality movements were used in the Sportos, including some 28,800 hi-beat autos in the '70s.

The model was apparently marketed as being particularly resistant to shock, moisture, dust, and magnetic fields. This was similar to marketing used by other brands to promote their "sports" watches (e.g. the IWC Yacht Club, etc.), though Zenith appears to have been one of the earlier proponents of such watches. They were also trumpeted as being 100% manufactured in-house by Zenith.

I only own one, an unusual, and particularly elegant example from the '50s. As you can see in the movement shot, they sometimes featured a plastic cap over the movement, which was designed to help keep dust, moisture and humidity at bay.

Image


Image
 
#6 ·
The Sporto line seems to have originated sometime in the late '40s (based on the style of the early dials and cases), though Manfred Rossler's book suggests that the model was introduced in the 1950s. They were powered by hand-wind movements until the '60s, at which point the new "AutoSporto" were powered by automatic movements.

A variety of good quality movements were used in the Sportos, including some 28,800 hi-beat autos in the '70s.

The model was apparently marketed as being particularly resistant to shock, moisture, dust, and magnetic fields. This was similar to marketing used by other brands to promote their "sports" watches (e.g. the IWC Yacht Club, etc.), though Zenith appears to have been one of the earlier proponents of such watches. They were also trumpeted as being 100% manufactured in-house by Zenith.

I only own one, an unusual, and particularly elegant example from the '50s. As you can see in the movement shot, they sometimes featured a plastic cap over the movement, which was designed to help keep dust, moisture and humidity at bay.

Image
Click to expand...
Interesting question and reply here. (BTW : is that black dial original ?)

So the main era for the Sporto's were the 1950's, then the Sporto lost terrain to the AutoSport's in the 1960's, and ended in the 1970's.

The "autoSport" model being the automatic version of the "Sporto" (though the name of the model is "AutoSport" - not "AutoSporto").

It seems to me that the 'Sporto' line of watches was discontinued altogether in favour of the new "Defy" line in the 1970's.
Certainly both names co-existed for some time, but it seems to me that the Sporto line was phased out around the time when the Defy line began (in 1970).

There are Sporto's perhaps as late as 1975, and some examples which seem to date to around 1945, like this one:

https://www.watchuseek.com/f27/my-12-4-p-6-zenith-sporto-340251.html

An interesting detail is that the inside of the caseback was usually also signed 'Zenith Sporto' (at least in the 1950's).
 
#7 ·
sempervivens said:
Interesting question and reply here. (BTW : is that black dial original ?)
...

The "autoSport" model being the automatic version of the "Sporto" (though the name of the model is "AutoSport" - not "AutoSporto").
...

An interesting detail is that the inside of the caseback was usually also signed 'Zenith Sporto' (at least in the 1950's).
Click to expand...
Yes, the black dial is original. You are correct about the automatic models being called AutoSport, though the case-backs often still had Sporto engraved in them (on the outside). Here's an example...

Image
 
#8 ·
You are correct about the automatic models being called AutoSport, though the case-backs often still had Sporto engraved in them (on the outside). Here's an example...

Image
Click to expand...
Wonderful caseback, thanks for sharing.

I spotted another very old Zenith Sporto with black dial : I'll include pictures in attachment. They look to be sister-watches, one with white and one with black dial. Notice that both have chrome plated cases (perhaps only from the 1950's onwards they usually had steel cases). The serial numbers 3627407 and 376... may date these watches around 1947-1948.

I've seen a Zenith with serial numbers 3579307 (8531661 on the caseback) dated by Zenith archives : 11 February 1948.

To be on the safe side, I would conclude that the old Zenith Sporto with white dial with serial number 3627407 on the movement (8542981 on the back) dates to 1948 (or perhaps 1947).


It has a movement 12-4-P-6. This movement can probably be dated between 1945 and 1947. So that confirms dating this watch to 1947-1948.

Considering this evidence for the existence of a Zenith Sporto as early as 1947-1948, it may be remembered that Omega around that time (1947-1948) also created their first line of wristwatches : the Omega Seamaster.

BTW : Hartmut mentioned in one of his posts, that Zenith cal. 12-4 is very similar to the (later) cal. 126 (which can be dated from 1947 tot 1956).
Hartmut also mentioned that there is some evidence that cal. 12-4 was originally based on a Blancpain movement :
"If you look at the Zenith calibre lists, the 12-4 series has "Rayville" in the comments section as the original maker. In case anyone is not familiar with this maker, the name is a corruption of "Villeret" which is where the company was located. It has now moved to Le Brassus and changed its name back to what it originally was: Blancpain. On the basis of this evidence, I would suspect that Zenith obtained Blancpain wrist watch calibres at a time when they were mainly a pocket watch maker (which is what they were prior to WWII). Later, they acquired the rights to these or copied them when the patent had expired or based their own calibres on them - the most likely option since the movements are not absolutely identical (if you look at the bridge shape).
Hartmut Richter"
Click to expand...
Here are pics of the white dial Sporto from around 1947-1948 :

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Here are pics of a cal. 126 from around 1955-1956 :

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As you can see for this last one, the case was all steel and the Sporto logo and numerals are in relief on the dial.

To conclude this contribution, here is a link to a post about a Zenith Sporto with cal 2572, which may be dated around 1975. The last one ?
https://www.watchuseek.com/f27/zenith-sporto-1709.html

(And in attachment, as already mentioned : a black dial Zenith Sporto, probably from around 1948 ?)
 

Attachments

#11 · (Edited)
Thank you guys.

BTW Tony that beautiful caseback made me curious to see the front.

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Click to expand...
Here are some more additions for the thread :

First some pictures of a Zenith Sporto with cal. 40 T :

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Image


Hartmut mentions that cal. 40 is very similar to cal. 126. I suppose it can be considered its successor, considering that production of cal. 40 began when production of cal. 126 ended (1955-56).

The Cals. 40/40T are structurally very similar to the Cal. 126 series. The main difference is that the escapement wheel is capped in the Cal. 40, giving two extra jewels in the movement. The difference between the Cal. 40 and the Cal. 40T (as is the case in any "T" and "non-T" version of Zenith movements) is that the end of the hairspring is in a mobile studholder, making it easier to regulate. There are, however, also other differences between the Cal. 40 and Cal. 126 - mainly in the exact structure of the keyless works.
Click to expand...
(Hartmut's words)

The serial number of the Zenith Sporto with cal. 40 T shown above (5197275), dates it probably to 1961. Note that the logo is painted again (but there are raised markers on the hours).

In this catalog page we can see a Sporto which probably dates to 1964 (production year) or 1965 (catalog year) :

Image


Note that the chronometer just below it features a Zenith cal. 40 T (it is mentioned on the dial) but I don't know which movement this Sporto has (possibly also a cal. 40 T).

Then towards the second half of the '60s there are different models equipped with 25x2 movements (there is an example with cal. 2552C from 1968 on this page : Vintage ZENITH movements: Sporto).

These new movements seem to have originated in the Martel company (taken over by Zenith around 1960).

Around 1970 Zenith made a Sporto with cal. 2562. It proudly sports on its dial it's frequency of 28800 bph. By 1975 Zenith made a Sporto with cal. 2572, but 28800 bph had in the meantime become the standard in fine watchmaking, perhaps the reason why the high frequency was not mentioned anymore on the dial. Was this the last Zenith Sporto ?
In attachment two small pics of these last two mentioned Zenith Sporto's (resp. ca. 1970 and 1975, both have a frequency of 28800 bph)
 

Attachments

#13 ·
spotted another of the first Zenith Sporto's

it's the same one with black dial

I mention it because it has a serial number which is a little older than the ones previously posted here :

this one has number 3569846 (8486428 on the back)

That is very close to a Zenith with serial numbers 3579307 (8531661 on the caseback) which was dated by Zenith archives : 11 February 1948.

The result is more or less the same.

The first Zenith Sporto's (if these are the first) were produced around beginning of 1948, with black or white dial, with luminous (painted) numerals (as was the style in that era). They had a caliber 12-4-P-6 movement.
They had a chrome plated case. Diameter ca. 33 mm without crown. The caseback is signed on the inside Zenith Sporto fond acier inoxydable.

In attachment pictures of the last found one. Observe that the case obviously got a new plating (nickel or chrome ?).
 

Attachments

#15 · (Edited)
two very nice Sporto's ! thanks for sharing

2562 Sporto:
Image


40T Sporto, 38mm case:
Image
Click to expand...
Do you have serial numbers and/or can you date them otherwise ? I would guess they are from around 1959 (the one with cal. 40T) and the other 1969 ? Really nice steel watches! the old one with cal. 40 T in a 38 mm case could really steal my heart but the 2562C with a black dial is also very attractive. Two excellent Sporto's !

Ed. : the black Sporto "28800" may date to 1970.
The one below, if it has cal. 40 T, may date to 1958.
I just noticed how the case style and hands still look the same as in 1954 (the dial is a little different, but the logo's are very similar or the same), as can be seen in this catalog ca. 1954 (the first watch is a Sporto):

Image
 
#17 ·
the pictures are a bit small, could you post bigger pictures ?

what is the size of the case (without crown) ?

do you know the movement caliber (written under the balance) ?

can you read the serial numbers on the movement and the back ?

do you have a picture of the inside of the caseback ?

Your watch is an original Sporto from the late 1950's or ca. 1960.

Probably the dial was painted black and the amateur who did the restoration forgot to paint the star.

Maybe the hands were replaced as well.

Originally your watch seems to have been like this one :
40T Sporto, 38mm case:
Image
 
#20 ·
Maybe Lou can oblige us with a bigger scan of the Sporto in his catalog (the first watch here below).

Your watch looks very much like it, except your dial also has a partial "6".

For that reason the dial of your watch seems a transition between this one from ca. 1954 and the Zenith cal. 40T seen in a previous post from ca. 1960.

Image


What is the diameter of ur watch ?

Is the case signed on the inside "Sporto"?

According to Ranfft, Zenith cal. 40 was only made between 1955 and 1960 (156000 pieces).

For more precise dating, pls clarify the serial numbers on case and movement.
 
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