Really interesting stuff. Coincidentally I was just working on getting a Wyler automatic back in motion last night. I looked at the balance wheel and thought, man, no screw-in weights around the edges, seems cheap! Apparently I was dead wrong.
The most fascinating thing about watches to me is the "losers" of history.. the numerous brands and inventors that were cutting-edge in their day but for whatever reason are all but forgotten now. Gruen is one of my favorite examples.
A bit ago I stumbled on this excellent article about two early Fortis automatics designed by John Harwood, whom Rolex eventually had to give credit to in its advertising of the perpetual rotor design. One is a bumper auto in a waterproof case with no crown, time being set by turning the bezel, all in the 1920s mind you. The second is even more weird, a dress watch similar to the Wyler above but using a pivoting lug to translate strap flexion to a mechanical pushrod. The designs, broken down well in the article, are really incredible.