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Johnnie

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Hello everyone, my name is Johnnie and I live in Cambridgeshire but I am originally from London. I fell in love with watches at twelve when my grandmother bought me a Nidor Vibraflex!!! Long since lost sadly but will replace it when I find the exact same model. My interest is mainly in mechanical watches but I do have a few quartz watches! and about ten proper watches. I am 63 years young and never intend to grow up. My wife is mystified by my love of watches as I am late for everything! Best regards. Johnnie

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Welcome, Johnnie!

Don't worry about being a late bloomer... I'm 63, too and I've only been messing with watches for a few years.  I've been around them most of my life, as my Dad was a watchmaker.  No one in my family shares my interest in them, so if your wife is mystified by your interest, that's not unusual.  You'll have plenty of friends in this forum who will be happy to talk shop with you.  There's not an unfriendly one in the bunch!   Welcome aboard!

Shirley

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Thank you all for the welcome.  I am so pleased to have found this forum. I have to admit my watch repairing knowledge is very limited (none) now that's what you call limited. I have purchased Donald de Carle's book "practical watch repairing" and some basic tools, will update them when I understand more, and know what is needed. Any tips and advice would be gratefully appreciated. I wouldn't dare touch my own watches so I have been checking eBay for some watches to learn on, again any advice on the ideal types of watch to buy would be gladly taken and acted on. Also I had better buy some watches because my own watches are all huddled together in a corner shaking and screaming don't touch us we don't want to die!!!!!!

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Welcome!

ETA 6497 or 6498 movements are good to learn on, there are a lot of resources out there for them. New ones are expensive, but there are Chinese clones available, and they can also be found in used Swiss pocket watches, such as the Arnex. They are bigger than most watch movements as they were originally made for use in pocket watches, and are relatively easy to work on.

 

Have Fun!

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Thank you Atimegoneby and Dadistic. I will have a look on eBay for watches containing those movements. I do have a few nice watches but wouldn't touch them as I like them working, would also like advice on what tools to buy, rather than get a load of stuff only to find I have bought all the wrong stuff. Atimegoneby, are you a man of Kent or a Kentish man? I usually go beach fishing in Ramsgate. Again many thanks for your advice. Johnnie

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello Johnnie and welcome,

I am in your age group as well along with OH, Shirley and too many others to mention.  I also never intend to grow up and meet some similar disdain from my lovely wife of 41 yrs but as long as it keeps us out of trouble - well nearly !

Cheers,

Vic

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