I believe I have a definitive answer. But first on the lugs vs. no lug issue - there is no issue: the leather banded ones had exposed lugs, as you show, the metalbanded ones have the single solid "Tabbed lug". You see the same issue with Witt. "Doctor" models, amoungst others.
I've mentioned this before, since I have actually had the opportunity to try this - I had a great JC glass in a nasty case, and a great Witt with a nasty glass. Oh my, would that be the same if swapped? Oh no - the glass isn't the same. The Witt. glass is dead on
25mm(edited) from lower corner to lower corner. The JCs are 24.5mm over the same. When it comes to glass fit, that is "off by a mile". JC glass would float in a Witt., Witt glass would have to be ground down along both sides to fit in. Obviously, grinding only one side to accomplish the fit would pull the top radius offcenter, making it fit tight at one point, and even a worst fit along the rest.
Here is a picture of JC and Witt, both leather banded in this case, surrounded by some other pretties I have recently photographed for putting up on my site.
The Helbros Dual has been fitted with a solid Sapphire crystal. I thought it worth the $20.
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I totally agree that the
J is just a case maker's mark.
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