Split from the topic "Turquoise '64 500
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=1534.new#new
Thanks for the compliments, gentlemen! It means a lot coming from you guys. I'm wearing my What Would Dennis Do? bracelet right now! ;D
The phone does look bluer in the photos than it actually is. Maybe because I took them in the morning in the shade.
Now, about that watch. I suspect like most people on this forum, I'm drawn to unusual, retro or well-made things, including mechanical watches! I'll take a few shots of that one tomorrow morning and post them here. It's a reproduction of a watch used by the Italian navy in the '40s. A guy in Ohio built it for me. It uses a handwound Swiss pocket watch movement so it's really large. The strap comes from another guy in California who makes them by hand.
In the meantime, here are a few photos of my main watch--the Breitling Super Avenger! I like 'em big and this one is--48.4 millimeters across.
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/My%20Super%20Avenger/1.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/My%20Super%20Avenger/4.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/My%20Super%20Avenger/6.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/My%20Super%20Avenger/5.jpg)
And another of my favorites, a Panerai power reserve:(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/PAM%20027A/DSC03729.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/PAM%20027A/DSC03722.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/PAM%20027A/DSC03724.jpg)
Any other watch nuts out there?
46.4mm-that's a pretty darn big watch.
My daily wear watch is an 18-size, 17 jewel Elgin. An 18-size American watch is 44.86mm, so with the case added it's about 54mm across. I can't imagine wearing something that big on my wrist.
Although I'm definitely a pocket watch guy, I have an immense amount of appreciation for a well-done wrist watch. The two which you show definitely fall into that category.
Anyway, here are a few of my favorites. All are, of course, American made movements. They're basic, but functional. The Elgin is superbly accurate, especially for an unadjusted 17 jewel movement. It loses about 15 seconds a week, which is within railroad time standards, and as well as most mechanical watches will do today.
Here are a few of my favorites:
The above-mentioned Elgin from 1916 in a Star-brand nickel case. I really like the demaskeen on this movement, and the upper balance cap jewel is in a gold setting
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1094.jpg)
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1097.jpg)
Another daily-wear one, that doesn't get used quite as much as the Elgin- a 12-size Waltham 17 jewel model 1896 from about 1915 in a Dueber 20-year GF case
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1100.jpg)
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1103.jpg)
The oldest I own- a "National Watch Company"(would become Elgin) "JT Ryerson" 7 jewel keywind movement from 1874. This one's in a massive Dueber "silverine" case with an extra-thick crystal. The case seems to be to be a fairly popular open-faced case for keywinds, as I see a lot of watches in them, as well as loose cases up for sale.
I'm normally not a fan of gilt-finish movement, but something about this one makes it quite striking in person.
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1089.jpg)
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1093.jpg)
Finally, an Elgin grade 103 15-jewel movement from 1886. At the time, this would have been a highly jeweled movement. It even uses a diamond cap on the balance. It's also one of the earliest I've seen with a demaskeen finish. It's in a Fayh's "Oresilver" case, which probably dates to the Great Depression. Given the quality of the movement, it probably would have originally been housed in a solid gold or gold-filled hunting case. It's currently awaiting a mainspring(which you can see is missing in the photo) but is otherwise an excellent time keeper.
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1105.jpg)
You'll notice that most of these are running. The first two I showed-the Elgin and Waltham-get wound every day. The others get wound at least once every week or two.
WOW! :o What a bevy of beautiful watches!! I love the look of the movement on that Waltham. My Italian navy watch has a display back showing an ETA/Unitas 6497 with Geneva stripes and blued screws. Can't wait to throw some photos up tomorrow!
By and large, I think that American companies made some of the prettiest movements around, even on their low-grade watches.
Here's a little 6s Lady's Waltham model 1890 "Seaside" 7 jewel movement in a Brooklyn "Eagle" 8K gold case
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1062.jpg)
And, another cheapie from my collection-an Illinois 16S 11J
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1025.jpg)
And, here's one final example-a 12S 17J Elgin from the '20s. The balance and cock are missing in the photo, as it needs a needed a new staff and some hairspring work. I installed the new staff, but still need to poise and true it, as well as untangle the hairspring. Anyway, without the balance installed, you can see how much attention there was to detail even on the parts that aren't normally visible
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1088.jpg)
Nice watches gents. My watch these days is a Seiko Kinetic that I bought back in 97'. I have puny little wrists so a big watch would look awkward on me, the Seiko is one and a half inches across. (Don't have any metric tapes)
I think I'm on my 7th or 8th wristband on this watch, lost track over the years. They are leather as I find the metal ones pinch me.
Wow! Ben those are beautiful time pieces! I really like the pocket watches with the chains. You don't see a lot of them these days. Very, very nice.
Greg, your wrist watches are very nice as well. Being an aviator myself, I love the Breitling watches. They are very expensive. I would love to have one some day but never really thought of spending the money it takes to own one. The next time you are in an airport environment, you'll notice most of the airline pilots wearing one of those. I have the cheap version, a Citizen Eco Drive "Sky Hawk" which is an aviator type watch only a fraction of the expense. It uses solar energy for power. It has all the dials and scales on it. I actually knew how to use all that stuff at one time----for navigation but I think it's there for show more than practical use.
Dennis, you're right about the bells and whistles being mostly for show. My Breitling is a chronograph, but do you think I've ever timed anything with it--NOPE...
Hey fin:
I like the Mediterranean Blue color of your watch (WE color code -57) and the fact your watch does not have a single scratch. Did you polish it with Novus 2 by any chance?
Ben:
I am curious to know where do you get the springs missing from your pocket watch collection? Old stock? Is there someone in the US that makes them?
???
Quote from: JorgeAmely on September 24, 2009, 12:37:49 AM
Hey fin:
I like the Mediterranean Blue color of your watch (WE color code -57) and the fact your watch does not have a single scratch. Did you polish it with Novus 2 by any chance?
Gracias, Amigo,
My secret to avoiding scratches is that before I leave the house, I slip a Mahogany Brown paper bag over my hand and secure it with a Rose Beige rubber band. It's very stylish!
Jorge,
There are companies in Switzerland who make mainsprings for all the old American pocketwatches.
Originally, the springs were made of blue steel. Steel isn't that great of a choice, as it will rust easily and then break. It also easily "sets", meaning that it looses some of its spring power.
Here's a photo of the spring removed from the above watch.
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1106.jpg)
You can see that, fully expanded, it's only about twice the size of the barrel, which is also in the photo. For the watch to work properly-meaning keep good time and run for a full 30 hours-the spring should be at least 3 times the size of the barrel. A new spring will actually stretch out almost into a straight line.
Back in the old days(even up through the '80s) it was considered proper to replace the mainspring every time the watch was serviced. As recently as 2 years ago, a new steel spring was no more than $5 for most watches.
Now, you can get alloy springs, which are supposed to be unbreakable and never set, for most American watches. A few years ago, they were about $10 each. Now they're $15-25,.
Most of the time, I just leave a watch be with the spring it has, but when they need one, I use an alloy spring since they give better performance and are much safer for the watch.
I have a spring on hand for the one pictured above-I just haven't take the time to install it yet.
Ben:
Are these watches made in this day and age or have they gone into obsolescence (just like the rotary phone)?
Quote from: foots on September 23, 2009, 12:20:50 PM
I too noticed that watch band. I like watch bands like that. Not to get off subject but do you by any chance have a picture of your watch?
Well here is the watch that's attached to that band. Marina Militare means Navy in Italian apparently. Hope you like it!
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/marina%20militare/1.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/marina%20militare/2.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/marina%20militare/5.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/marina%20militare/3.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/marina%20militare/4.jpg)
(http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp40/finlover59/marina%20militare/7.jpg)
Wow! Shocking neat watch. And huge!
I'm not normally a fan of big watches, but I'd wear that one just because of the killer luminous markings. There's enough radium there to light up a small town!
Thanks, Boys!
Besides looking cool, those large numbers are useful now that I'm in my '40s and starting to need reading glasses! The guy who built it is known for his "lume". My photo doesn't capture it that well but it glows like a torch. Good thing they don't use radium anymore or my wrist might fall off!
I'm in my 50's and I really should contact my relatives in Switzerland.
Finlover,
Absolutely beautiful.
It's not often that you see a Unitas 6497 that's decorated that well. It reminds me of what you see on the later Hamilton 992Bs.
It's not often that you see an open-faced PW movement used in a wristwatch, and most of the ones that do go ahead and put the stem at 12:00. I really like that treatment here.
Jorge,
The American watch industry started to die out in the in the '40s, and was gone by the end of the '60s-the last Hamilton 992B, which the gold standard Railroad pocket watch, was made in 1969. This was about the time that self-winding movements became popular, and I'm not aware of any American-made self winding movement.
Manual wind and automatic wind movements are still made, and are relatively common. They're still made in Switzerland, and, with varying levels of quality, in China and Japan.
The Swatch group owns most of the old American brands, and still sells watches-primarily automatics. Swatch also owns Omega and a couple of other high-end brands. Also, Bulova, which was always been an American company but almost universally used Swiss movements, is still around. The Swiss company ETA makes ebauches(loose movements) which are used by most of the above brands. Finally, there's Rolex, who almost universally use automatic movements of their own design and manufacture.
nice watches you got there guys
Thought I'd add in another one for everyone's viewing pleasure.
This is one I'm repairing for a friend. It's an Illinois 21 jewel "A. Lincoln", circa 1915. This is a railroad grade watch, and was the #3 in quality in the Illinois line-just behind the 23 jewel Bunn Special and 21 jewel Bunn special. Of course, it has all the standard railroad features-16 size, lever set, double roller, and a Montgomery dial. The hands are finished in purple rather than blue, as is typical Illinois watches.
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1214.jpg)
This movement has the very attractive narrow-stripe demaskeen that Illinois is noted for on their high grade movements. It also has raised rose gold jewel settings, a steel escape wheel(a premium option in 1915), and gold balance screws. I'll have to take some pictures of it disassembled, but the finish on everything-even the unseen parts-is top notch.
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_1209-1.jpg)
Wow, what a great watch! The quality of the fit and finish is obvious, no wonder things made well used to be compared to a fine watch.
Beautiful watch Ben! The detail is wonderful. Your photo captured the purple color of the hands. It would be fun to know the stories of the pockets that watch has seen.
This is ironic, I just decided to branch into windup wristwatches.
OK, watch people. I have a Bucherer Automatic Archimedes that my parents-in-law bought for me in Europe in the late 1960's. Very nice watch, but it quit running soon after I got it. Something about the winding mechanism doesn't wind. I've been in touch with the factory, and they want the price of a small car to fix it, so needless to say I haven't done it.
Note that the model name of this watch is Archimedes, and it hasn't been made for at least 40 years. Not exactly an antique, but getting there. Bucherer now has a model called Archimede, which is not the same thing at all.
Any suggestions? Should a local shop be able to repair this?
Bill
Bill,
Any local shop should be able to repair the movement itself and get it running. This is especially true if it uses a Swiss ebauche from ETA or the like, which is what most imports use.
The real issue a local watchmaker can run into is that case parts are going to be specific to the manufacturer. After 40 years, you're going to need a new gaskets, new crowns, and probably a new crystal in order to make the case water resistant again.
These parts will need to come from the factory.
I'm not overly familiar with Bucherer, so I don't know what their parts policy is. You'll find, though, that the policies on who can buy replacement parts are all over the map with the Swiss companies.
Rolex, for example, will allow anyone who can show that can show they have a clean working environment to open a parts account and purchase parts.
Tag Huer will only allow factory-trained repairmen working for authorized dealers to purchase parts.
Patek-Phillipe($$$) won't sell part to anyone.
If nothing else, you should be able to get it running, although you may have to be extremely careful with it to keep it away from water.
finlover:
How about this line of watches? They are supposed to be really accurate. The nylon band is not as elegant as leather or metal, but I am sure one could be found to retrofit any model you buy.
Check here for more details:
http://leapsecond.com/pages/atomic-bill/
;)
That is funny! ;D
Here for your edification is my entire life story of watches. (This probably won't be the next Hollywood blockbuster)
First up is a Westclox Scotty pocket watch, I think they called them Dollar Watches. It's dated 8/73 and I bought it at a Thrifty's when it was new. I carried it until 1980. It still works, but only if it lays on it's back.
Next up is my graduation from 8th grade gift in 1980, a Timex digital wristwatch. I wore it until 1988. It used to be a pretty gold color, and it has all the geek features that gained me entrance to the secret society of uber nerds.
Moved to a Pulsar analog quartz in 1988. It's nice and little as I have tiny girly wrists and big watches look goofy on me. (I can still wear all these, including the 1980 Timex digital) This watch no longer works, sadly. It was made in July of 87'.
Moved to a Seiko Kinetic quartz in 1998. This watch was made in Nov of 98 and was a Christmas gift. Nice watch, I really have enjoyed it.
Lastly is this years Christmas gift, a Seiko 5 Military Automatic. It's modeled after the German B-Uhr watches of WW2, and is my first mechanical automatic watch. The back is see through, also a first for me.
So there you have it, nothing special really, just ordinary watches, but they all have served me well and been fun to own.
One more watch. This was my father's watch, it's a Timex automatic and is dated 1976. Still works well, he liked those stretch metal bands, which is what it has. The band says made in Hong Kong but I don't know where the watch was made. The movement is a Model 32, which was made from 64' up.
I see you're a man who appreciates having the date available on your watch. I am also in that club.
Love that Seiko 5, McHeath! I'm a sucker for the rugged look of military watches.
Greg,
I really like your taste in wrist watches. If I had a watch like either of the ones you've posted here, I'd wear a watch a lot more often. My wrists don't look big to me, but watches tend to look small on me, so I need something larger than average with a nice wide band. Yours are a great size.
Ralph
Thanks, Ralph!
I have a large-ish wrist at a little over 8 inches so small watches look silly on me. Lucky for you and me, watches have been getting larger since Panerai started the trend in the late-'90s. Ten years ago a big watch would have measured 38mm--now 44mm is the norm. Even conservative Rolex has introduced oversized versions of some models. It's a fact that once you own a large watch, there's no going back!
A couple of packet watches I have, I have worn them once or twice.
1925 and 1926.
Speaking of pocket watches, I got these last week. The Illinois is supposedly from around 1912 and the Waltham from 1887.
Larry
I just discovered this area on the forum. That's a nice Bunn Special in 18 size. You are fortunate that it has the correct Gothic lettering dial.
I own a few pocket watches but, only two worth mentioning a 1906 model 1883 Waltham pocket watch 17 jewel, grade 825, size 18, nickel case and runs perfect. Yes I know the photo shows its set to very fast but, it has been cleaned and serviced since then and now is set to where it should be and runs flawlessly. The other is one I just received today from a very very good friend. He sent me his fathers watch from WWII even after I told him not to. This time piece is in near perfect condition with its original box and fob and keeps time perfectly as well. Its a Hamilton Navigation Master G.C.T. 22 jewel, nickel case, from 1941. I am so pleased to have this watch and a friend so kind to gift me it.
Nice watch. Congrats.
Quote from: HarrySmith on December 15, 2022, 04:08:35 PMNice watch. Congrats.
Thank you Harry, I'm very happy to have both of'em.
Quote from: Fabius on July 21, 2014, 08:11:52 PMI just discovered this area on the forum. That's a nice Bunn Special in 18 size. You are fortunate that it has the correct Gothic lettering dial.
Me too . Bunnspecial is also on Youtube ( https://www.youtube.com/@bunnspecial (https://www.youtube.com/@bunnspecial) ) I subscribed a few years ago. The only thing that I find a bit silly is hearing him burp often.
Quote from: McHeath on January 04, 2010, 08:01:17 PMHere for your edification is my entire life story of watches. (This probably won't be the next Hollywood blockbuster)
First up is a Westclox Scotty pocket watch, I think they called them Dollar Watches. It's dated 8/73 and I bought it at a Thrifty's when it was new. I carried it until 1980. It still works, but only if it lays on it's back.
I have a few Westclox pocket watches . They don't all work. Anyway, these are watches that are not supposed to be serviceable, but many do when some have screws, but not those that have the riveted movement. But they are called (dollar watch).
Quote from: Contempra on February 02, 2023, 09:43:48 AMI have a few Westclox pocket watches . They don't all work. Anyway, these are watches that are not supposed to be serviceable, but many do when some have screws, but not those that have the riveted movement. But they are called (dollar watch).
I too have a Westclox pocket watch but, it's fairly early I believe with a glass crystal and its in bad need of a cleaning because it'll only run for a short time. Maybe one of these days when I get the nerve up to pull it from its case I'll clean it.
Quote from: RDPipes on February 02, 2023, 10:30:05 AMI too have a Westclox pocket watch but, it's fairly early I believe with a glass crystal and its in bad need of a cleaning because it'll only run for a short time. Maybe one of these days when I get the nerve up to pull it from its case I'll clean it.
Good luck because, even this kind of pocket watch is not as easy as one thinks to replace the parts between the two plates, and, the day when you will remove the paetite 'pine' from the balance spring, take care ! and get yourself a good jeweler's loupe. It's my advice because this 'pine' that holds the spring is small... but you'll see that it's not as easy as it looks. I tried it so I could tell you, Ron. But once that's done, it'll run for decades without a hitch. However , these are not watches that keep time because there is no ' jewel ' .
That's why we call it 'dollar watches' ;) finally, they are collectible because I have at least 6 of them. BE CAREFUL of those which are luminescent (RADIUM) it is very dangerous to open them carelessly! Those I don't buy. the radium radiates. Some do it anyway, but at their own risk... There's a story about it on the web (Women who didn't care about this kind of paint on their teeth or lips, I don't remember too much, they got sick and eventually died.
Quote from: Contempra on February 02, 2023, 10:54:54 AM...There's a story about it on the web (Women who didn't care about this kind of paint on their teeth or lips, I don't remember too much, they got sick and eventually died.
Radium Girls. I read about this a while back. There were several factories who followed this practice. At the time Radium was not considered a dangerous product. The painting lines were encouraged (told) to place their paintbrush between their lips as this helped paint the fine lines required on the faces of their pieces.
Women would dip their brushes into radium, then lick the tip of their brush to give them a fine point. Radium was ingested, got in their hair and on their clothing.
https://watchintyme.com/index.php?threads/the-radium-paint-girls-some-doomed-to-death-in-factory.12247/
https://allthatsinteresting.com/radium-girls
Quote from: Contempra on February 02, 2023, 10:54:54 AM...BE CAREFUL of those which are luminescent (RADIUM) it is very dangerous to open them carelessly! Those I don't buy. the radium radiates. Some do it anyway, but at their own risk... There's a story about it on the web (Women who didn't care about this kind of paint on their teeth or lips, I don't remember too much, they got sick and eventually died.
I'm not too scared of the radium, its not going to hurt you unless you did as they did and that was pointing their brushes with their lips which ended up after time giving them radiation poisoning. With a lot of things out there they've banned because people did stupid things ending in harming themselves. If people would only handle things with common sense half the things that have been banned would be still available. Just like lead paint, who on earth eats paint? If they had just kept an eye on their children as they should no harm would have befell them. Nowadays they all want the government to raise their children but, don't dare touch them.
I wish I had some radium paint to redo my two Westclox Moonbeam alarm clocks, and I promise not to drink it.LOL!
There's just not enough radiation in it to harm you unless you ingest it or use it as makeup.
I have had a few Westclox small alarm clocks that I could not keep running. I decided to try a magnetic tape bulk eraser on them to see if degaussing them would do anything for them. That was 2 years ago. They are still reliable enough for me to use when the power is out.
Here's one that will fit both categories. Pocket watches AND telephones. I don't know how old it is but it still works too!
Quote from: Gary Z on February 10, 2023, 07:42:42 PMHere's one that will fit both categories. Pocket watches AND telephones. I don't know how old it is but it still works too!
Probably made by Westclox at the time(back in the days ), but I could also be wrong.