Hello from South Wales.

[Alastair]

Ive just joined after watching many of Mark's excellent videos on Youtube. They have taught me many things and reminded me of many I had forgotten...

I'm now 55 and slowly getting back into watch-repair. When in school at age 12 or so I used to mess around repairing, and by age 16-17 was OK-ish I thought, even tackling an Omega 861 with complete success. I would never contemplate doing one now however!

I Thought at the time that there was little future in watch-repairs as the Q revolution had taken a big hold so went into electronics repair instead I was pretty wrong!.....

Is the age of 55 too old to get back into this?--I dunno maybe, but with lots of loupes and glasses plus a £5 microscope from ebay I manage--so far!

I'm particularly into Accutron Tuning-Fork types and have a number of 'Vicims' I have four 214, four or five 218's, and a couple of 219's most running well

Recently Ive aquired a couple of ESA 9162 types One of these, a very poor Tissot looked as though it had had a very hard life and was used as a donor for others--Even the bezel is missing from the case, Both coils faulty, missing hour-wheel etc, Very sad condition but does have a nice blue dial.

I managed to fix the coils, (the windings themselves were good, or I wouldnt have stood a chance.) The TR coil had a broken transistor and the RC had a high value resistor (4M8 instead of 3M3) so both the res and cap were replaced (One benefit of being electronics engineer!). bought a new hour-wheel, serviced it now its working good, so the hunt for bezel is on....

This afternoon, I'm going to tackle an ESA 9164 in an Omega, See what sort of mess I can make of that!

 

 

[oldhippy]

Welcome to this friendly forum. There's no age limit in repairing watches all that is needed is good eyesight a steady hand and plenty of patience.

[dadistic]

55 too old?????

Heck no!

I've got you beat by a few years, just need lots and lots and lots of light to make it work.

And I had to give up coffee 

Anyways, Greetings!

 

[Cad101]

Welcome back to a fantastic hobby. Like yourself I returned about a year ago after at leased 25 years away and I'm afraid being over 50 means your sight goes but some good loupes a pair of 3.50 reading glasses and good light work for me.

[clockboy]

Welcome Alastair lots here for everyone. Enjoy & no question to trivial on this friendly forum.

[Alastair]

Ah--Thanks for the warm welcome!

I'm sort of getting used to working on movements, Ive noticed my hand is steadier than it was a few weeks ago--Still took me most of the day to do this ESA 9164 though!

 

[bobm12]

Welcome Alastair, and you'll see that age is irrelevant...at least for watchmaking...and your hand will be getting still steadier with practice!

Cheers,

Bob

[Vich]

Welcome Alastair belatedly, from me in Newcastle upon Tyne,

It is good to have young blood joining the forum and I am sure you have found a good home for your hobby amongst like minded folk.

Cheers,

Vic

[DouglasSkinner]

Welcome Alistair from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia!  I have a classmate who's really into Accutrons and has fixed several.

[IFELL]

Hi there, greetings to you from Cardiff

I am keen on meeting some local watch enthusiasts so drop me a message if you feel like it