Here we have an early 1940s example of a Mido Multifort ‘Super’ automatic, in a 29mm full Stainless steel Borgel case. It has the silver satin dial, with the railroad track, luminous arabic hour markers and the in-set sub-second dial. The hands are thermally blued with the aged luminous in-fill. The sub-second hand has the tapered design. It is signed Mido Multifort with the Super-Automatic marking. The Steel case has the notched bezel with the straight drilled lugs. The screw back has the 10 sides, with the Mido signing and particulars of the model. Inside the case is fully signed. The movement is a Mido calibre 816 which is a bumper automatic movement. It has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time. The watch comes on a 1950s Empire green label expanding steel bracelet.
 
Mido was founded by Georges Schaeren in Switzerland in 1918. His first watches were shaped like a car radiator and were advertised as early motorist's watches. In 1927 a special example was made from Platinum was given to the King of Spain. In 1934 the Multifort line was introduced and sought to be one of the most reliable and advanced companions on the wrist. It was one of the early antimagnetic watches to also have water resistant and anti-magnetic properties, with an automatic movement AND shock protection. 
Due to this impressive host of features, the Multifort was the best-selling MIDO watch from the 1930s into the 1950s. In 1954 Mido introduced the Powerwind Automatic, which saw the company’s focus switch to a bi-directional automatic movement, with increased technical capabilities.
 
François Borgel is famous for patenting one of the earliest examples of a water resistant case design. It was used by a number of brands during the WW1 period including IWC and Longines. In 1924, the company was sold, creating Taubert & Fils. This examples case was designed in the 1940s by Taubert Frères SA. Mido was an early adopter of the Decagonal case with the ten flats to the screw back. 
 
The dial on this piece is clean, clear and classic in its layout. Legibility is key with a tool watch and this is provided by the large Arabic numerals with the aged radium luminous in-fill. The stick style hour and minute hands are thermally blued and have the matching radium luminous in-fill in the aged pumpkin tone. The railroad track surrounds the outside of the dial, indicating the minutes. The hour markers have a black highlighted marker which adds a roulette wheel look to the dial. The sub-second dial is in-set to the dial at 6 O’clock. It has the grained concentric circles which shine in the light, with a 5 second graduation railroad track. The dial is signed in the classic font with the ‘Mido’ name with the ‘Multifort’ signing below. It is also signed ‘Super-Automatic’ above the sub-second dial. The dial is marked with the full ‘Made In Switzerland’ signing at the base of the dial.
 
The case is compact in its proportions, measuring 29mm x 29mm, with a depth of 10.5mm. It has a lug-to-lug measurement of 36mm, which increases the presence somewhat. It has the notched bezel with the bevelled edge, falling towards to polished case. The tapered lugs are straight, with the drilled lugs for each of strap or bracelet change. It is marked between the lugs at 6 o’clock with the serial number 3984. The sides of the case are flat with the brushed finish. From the side profile, the intriguing, hooked design of the lugs is clearly visible. The screw back is of the Decagonal design with the ten sides. It is signed with the Mido name and the many impressive features of the watch. Inside it is signed with the Mido name and the British patent 385509. 
 
Inside is the Mido calibre 816, which is an AS 1171 base calibre. It is a bumper automatic movement which has a jewel count of 17. It has a frequency of 18,000 BPH and a 46 hour power reserve. It also benefits from Incabloc shock protection. The movement has been recently serviced. It’s keeping time to within -40 seconds a day.
 
This Mido Multifort is a clean, classic, feature packed watch for the era, which is becoming increasingly collectable.
 
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
A further condition report is below.
Watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.
 
Dial: 
The dial is original and is in strong condition. It has a silver satin finish which has speckled ageing. The railroad track signing is good and clear. The Arabic numerals are original and clear with original lume. There is more marking around the centre where the hands meet the dial.
 
Hands: 
The hands are of luminous stick style and are original. They are in good condition with original aged lume in-fill and bright thermally blued finish. The sub-second hand is also good and original.
 
Glass: 
The acrylic crystal is a replacement which is in very good condition with no marking. 
 
Crown: 
The Steel crown is stainless steel and is original. It has some marking to the polished finish.
 
Case:
The case is Stainless Steel and is in good condition. The case has polished finishing to the top which has light surface scratching. The sides of the case have the original brushed finish. There are some nicks to the case as expected. The serial number visible between the lugs.
 
Caseback:
The screw on case back is in good condition for the age. It has the brushed finish which has naturally worn with age. The Mido signing is good and clear. There is light surface scratching associated with age and some deeper marks from poor opening.
 
Strap: 
The watch comes on an Empire Green label stainless steel expanding bracelet which is in good condition. 
 
Movement: 
The movement is a Mido calibre 816, which is an AS 1171 base calibre. It is a bumper automatic movement which has a jewel count of 17. It has a frequency of 18,000 BPH and a 46 hour power reserve. It also benefits from Incabloc shock protection.
 
The movement has been recently serviced. It’s keeping time to within -40 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 295 degrees and a beat error of 0.3m/s.
 
Case Dimensions:
Case width: 28.5mm
Case width with crown: 30.8mm 
Case length: 28.5mm 
Case length lug to lug: 36mm
Case Depth: 10.6mm
Lug width: 16mm