A legendary chronograph with history

Exactly 80 years ago, in 1939, Hanhart’s engineers developed a new pilot’s chronograph that made history: the PIONEER TachyTele with its 15½-line (35mm diameter) caliber 42. The name of this watch stems from the two scales present on its face: the tachymeter used for measuring speeds and the telemeter scale for determining distances. The tachymeter scale is found on the inside of the dial, while the telemeter scale lies on the outside.
Launched in 1939, the TachyTele became popular with professional pilots and the navy due to its reliability and precision. Even in those days, the watches already featured shock protection, waterproof screw housing with stainless steel or brass bottoms and large pilot crowns. In the past, the lugs were fixed and the straps were riveted.

Use in visual flights
The PIONEER TachyTele was and remains a useful companion for visual flights. In the past, pilots had to be able to rely upon technical instruments such as the chronograph, especially in demanding conditions such as bad weather or at night.

Our trademark – or the legend of the red button

He placed a kiss lovingly on her brow as she slept before quietly leaving the apartment. As he looked at his Hanhart watch in the hangar, a smile flitted over his lips: she had painted the button with her red nail varnish so that he would think of her always and return safe and sound …

This is the legend behind the red button – the distinctive trademark that has characterized Hanhart since the company first introduced its chronographs in 1938. The button has been painted, in particular to prevent pilots from unintentionally zeroing the stop time.

 

Historically, some PIONEER TachyTele models were produced with a red lacquered pusher to prevent the stop time being unintentionally reset. As wet lacquer coatings can wear away, Hanhart now uses a ceramic/plastic mixture to manufacture the red pushers.

THE ICONIC PREDECESSOR

Movement

  • Automatic chronograph movement HAN3703
  • Basis: ETA7753
  • Asymmetrical button arrangement
  • 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz, 27 jewels
  • Power reserve of min. 42 hours

Functions

  • Small second
  • 30-minute counter
  • Tachymeter & telemeter-scale

Case

  • Stainless steel
  • Diameter 40 mm, height 15 mm
  • Large crown and red button
  • Fluted rotating bezel
  • Anti-reflective convex sapphire glass
  • Screwed-down case back
  • Water-resistant to 10 bar/10 ATM

Dial

  • Off-white or black
  • Super-LumiNova® coated numerals and hands

Strap

  • Calfskin or stainless steel

One model – spanning 80 years

Vintage TachyTele from 1940

In an excellent, fully-functional condition. Featuring our historical Hanhart logo and a smooth bezel.

Do you already have a Christmas present?

Current PIONEER TachyTele

With a black dial, available in our online shop as part of the PIONEER Collection for 1,940 € incl. VAT.

How about this unique PIONEER TachyTele?

Give a piece of history.