I · The Instrument/II · The Design/III · The Collector's Piece/IV · Acquisition
Room I · The Instrument
Built in Munich for Geneva's own service benches
A rarely seen piece of Patek Philippe workshop history: the MULTICAPT, a professional electronic timing and testing instrument commissioned by Patek Philippe from Neuberger Messinstrumente KG of Munich for use in the maison's own Geneva service centre and its authorised workshop network. Circa 1970–1975. It sits at the intersection of two horological cultures, Swiss high watchmaking and German precision instrumentation, and forms part of a small family of Neuberger-built, Patek-branded workshop tools that very rarely surface.
Josef Neuberger established his Munich workshop in the 1930s, initially producing tube testers, valve check units and precision voltmeters for the radio and telecommunications industries. By the 1960s, Neuberger Messinstrumente KG had become one of the leading independent measuring-instrument manufacturers in West Germany. When Patek Philippe needed workshop equipment capable of testing both their traditional high-grade mechanicals and the Beta 21 quartz calibres of the early 1970s, they turned to Neuberger. The Multicapt series is the result: instruments designed and built in Munich, silkscreened with the Patek Philippe wordmark in Geneva, and distributed only through the maison's own service network.
Josef Neuberger established his Munich workshop in the 1930s, initially producing tube testers, valve check units and precision voltmeters for the radio and telecommunications industries. By the 1960s, Neuberger Messinstrumente KG had become one of the leading independent measuring-instrument manufacturers in West Germany. When Patek Philippe needed workshop equipment capable of testing both their traditional high-grade mechanicals and the Beta 21 quartz calibres of the early 1970s, they turned to Neuberger. The Multicapt series is the result: instruments designed and built in Munich, silkscreened with the Patek Philippe wordmark in Geneva, and distributed only through the maison's own service network.
Room II · The Design
Every function calibrated to a Patek movement
The unit's function is dictated by the era it was built for. Its rate-timing mode carries a <36,000 / >36,000 vibration-per-hour switch, calibrated specifically to accommodate Patek Philippe's Beat 36,000 high-frequency movements alongside conventional 18,000–28,800 bph mechanicals. Its 1.35 V and 1.55 V battery-test buttons were positioned for the earliest quartz calibres, the Beta 21 module Patek Philippe had helped develop, and the electronic pieces that followed through the 1970s.
The analog multimeter, a Neuberger-signed face reading volts, microamps and kilohms, is the hallmark of Neuberger's long tradition of precision measurement. The CAPT / AUXILIARY / CURRENT input selector routes the incoming signal from the appropriate probe or lead, and the RESET button clears readings between watches. A red illuminated ON button confirms the state of the mains supply.
The analog multimeter, a Neuberger-signed face reading volts, microamps and kilohms, is the hallmark of Neuberger's long tradition of precision measurement. The CAPT / AUXILIARY / CURRENT input selector routes the incoming signal from the appropriate probe or lead, and the RESET button clears readings between watches. A red illuminated ON button confirms the state of the mains supply.
Room III · The Collector's Piece
The bench behind the watches
This is a working instrument, not a display object, although it displays beautifully. The blue anodised brushed aluminium fascia is unmarked, its silkscreen labels crisp. The grey-textured coated steel case shows sharp edges throughout. The digital display powers on cleanly to its red segmented readout. The analog meter needle rests correctly at zero.
Patek Philippe's workshop equipment was made not for the wrist but for the benches that kept the maison's watches running. A 1970s electronic instrument carrying the Patek Philippe name alongside the Neuberger signature, still working and still in its original condition, tells the other half of the story: not the watch, but the world that serviced it.
Patek Philippe's workshop equipment was made not for the wrist but for the benches that kept the maison's watches running. A 1970s electronic instrument carrying the Patek Philippe name alongside the Neuberger signature, still working and still in its original condition, tells the other half of the story: not the watch, but the world that serviced it.
Housing
Excellent
Coated steel case with silver-grey textured finish. Sharp edges throughout. No dents, no significant scuffing.
Fascia
Excellent
Blue anodised brushed aluminium. Unmarked. Silkscreen labels crisp and legible.
Displayone honest fault
Very Good
Powers on cleanly. Red segmented readout active.
Meterone honest fault
Very Good
Neuberger-signed face. Needle rests correctly at zero. Responds when powered.
Controlsone honest fault
Very Good
All original switches, buttons and knobs. Firm feel, no dead detents.
Working Stateone honest fault
Very Good
Powers on. Display and meter respond. Timing function not tested without CAPT probe.
Accessoriesone honest fault
Power cable only
No manual, no probe, no original box.
- Type
- Electronic watchmaker's timing and testing instrument
- Model
- MULTICAPT
- Retailer / Brand
- Patek Philippe, Genève
- Manufacturer
- Neuberger Messinstrumente KG, Munich
- Date
- C.1970-1975
- Country of manufacture
- Germany
- Case material
- Coated steel with blue anodised brushed aluminium fascia
- Dimensions
- Approximately 33 by 25 by 11 cm
- Functions
- Mechanical watch rate timing (MECH mode), Battery test (1.35 V / 1.55 V), Analog multimeter (V, μA, kΩ)
- Power
- Mains
- Accessories included
- Power cable only
The Estate Collection
Room IV · Acquisition
€4.500
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Patek Philippe
€4.500
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Patek Multicapt, c.1975
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