Jump to content

Watch of Today


mk3

Recommended Posts

On 6/5/2019 at 2:36 AM, balaton said:

I have two of these things. My blue-dialled one runs faultlessly (touch wood!) whilst this white-dialled one will run for months but does run fast. After re-setting the time, it can be a bit of a bear to get it re-started and I'd always wondered if it wasn't de-hacking properly.

Anyway, I hope your watchmaker can get yours running properly.

Regards.

Balaton...

I don’t know if you’re still having trouble restarting your Luch after setting it, but I may have something to offer. I’m now wearing another 3055 (the watchmaker was unable to diagnose the glitch with the previous one), and this one was also difficult to restart after setting it. I noticed that it would start if I pressed in firmly on the crown, thus applying pressure to the little switch that opens the battery circuit when you pull out the crown. I finally opened the watch, and found that by rotating the battery clip a bit, current would be restored and the watch would start. It’s running dependably now. Hope this helps!

Gryf

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

RIMG0764.thumb.JPG.ebf7bafe78541d66c797ebd1cafef36b.JPG

Today its a Timex Big Q from around 1985. This was a non runner, and when I opened it, the lower battery contact had somehow snapped cleanly near the edge of the cell holder (or possibly more likely been etched cleanly in two by the leaking cell, which was still in the watch when it arrived).

RIMG0765.thumb.JPG.d9ad53c5a2ca4e47d85a7f01847cee04.JPG

This necessitated a very delicate bit of soldering, and the addition of a small strip of Kapton tape to avoid any chance of the slightly raised solder bridge making contact with the cell when fitted.

The mechanism got a light cleaning with the tip of a cotton bud and some lighter fluid, to thin out any original oils, and a little light lubrication to help it on its way, hopefully for another 35 years. It polished up nicely, so I'm going to wear this latest member of the 404 club for a few days to ensure it has suffered no ill effects from the surgery.

Timex+Quartz+movement.png

Here is a shamelessly stolen annotate image of the mechanism, since I forgot to take any myself. Note the date advance switch next to the crown. My version appears to have two jewels, but is otherwise pretty close to identical

Edited by AndyHull
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is an ugly one but it has potential thanks to an ETA 2840 and I've got it for just €36. Not only the case is plastic, also the integrated strap is terrible, making it basically unwearable. Mov't runs poorly around  150° amp. I'll start looking for a suitable case, dial and hands now.

i-img600x450-1581215327mammoc260139.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, jdm said:

This is an ugly one but it has potential thanks to an ETA 2840 and I've got it for just €36. Not only the case is plastic, also the integrated strap is terrible, making it basically unwearable. Mov't runs poorly around  150° amp. I'll start looking for a suitable case, dial and hands now.

i-img600x450-1581215327mammoc260139.jpg

I have a similar swatch in my junk pile (in a much worse condition, no crown, damaged case, no strap).
Keep us posted if you manage to source a suitable case, dial and hands. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, AndyHull said:

I have a similar swatch in my junk pile (in a much worse condition, no crown, damaged case, no strap).

Just PM your address and you will have the chance to restore to the highly sought "full original" state :biggrin:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was going to make a quip along the lines of "I didn't know that they made the Timex 100 in the 1890s", but I suspect from the look of the thing I'm pretty just as ancient, so I'll just keep quiet.

RIMG0767.thumb.JPG.a5f87f1551f390915ef121d6c60db993.JPG

Instead, I bring you the height of early quartz era sophistication, a "British Made" Trafalgar, which not only tells the time, but if it is feeling co-operative will even tell you the date, and possibly even work a bit like a stop watch, of sorts.

RIMG0770.thumb.JPG.b8a8118387afa091f72c79cf46f82f54.JPG

What it lacks in mechanical elegance... OK I'm struggling here to see what it makes it up in... shiny-ness perhaps.

This two and a half button wonder was rescued from the pile of junk which had the Timex LED watch in it, and despite its relatively clean outward appearance, it needed a lot of work. I soldered in a new battery contact, stripped and cleaned the LCD, realigned everything so that the buttons are actually pressable, and the LCD is straight. 

It has no backlight, but it does contain a rather odd looking assembly behind the LCD which may be tritium tubes, (hence the "T British Made T" on the face) and which does kind of sort of glow briefly if you hit it with a black light. About as much use as the proverbial chocolate teapot, but at least they tried. I'll need to test it with a Geiger counter at some stage if I remember. 

I also fixed another Timex Big Q, but I wont spoil you by showing two on the same day, after all you have to have something to look forward to, otherwise cabin fever might engulf you. Tomorrow, I'll show you it tomorrow, I promise now don't get too excited. :P
 

Edited by AndyHull
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As promised, another fine looking Timex Big Q joins the club today.

RIMG0771.thumb.JPG.517cf8d527f8dabab9aed01371fff827.JPG

This one is similar to its sibling in the post above, but without the date. It too needed a good clean to free up the mechanism and a scrub and polish to bring back its youthful good looks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, AndyHull said:

I was going to make a quip along the lines of "I didn't know that they made the Timex 100 in the 1890s", but I suspect from the look of the thing I'm pretty just as ancient, so I'll just keep quiet.

old man jokes?  at 62 I'm just getting started!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As mentioned above, I recently added another Luch 3055 to the fleet... and surprisingly, I didn’t have to do very much to it when it arrived from Ukraine. The date was changing over at around 8:30, so it was off with the hands for a reset. While I was at it, the second hand, which had faded from its original red to a dirty gold, received a lick of paint. And now, after a bit of futzing with the battery clip, it’s running dependably and has become my daily. I was lucky to find one with the original strap, carrying a little “spark” logo on the clasp. With the repainted second hand, it looks quite pristine and wears very nicely.

Gryf

 

91BE937E-4DEC-47DD-8C4D-3E12B7039116.jpeg

AB5D408E-CFFD-4E4C-9A84-08CFD48AB8E9.jpeg

Edited by Gryf
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

41 minutes ago, Gryf said:

As mentioned above, I recently added another Luch 3055 to the fleet... and surprisingly, I didn’t have to do very much to it when it arrived from Ukraine. The date was changing over at around 8:30, so it was off with the hands for a reset. While I was at it, the second hand, which had faded from its original red to a dirty gold, received a lick of paint. And now, after a bit of futzing with the battery clip, it’s running dependably and has become my daily. I was lucky to find one with the original strap, carrying a little “spark” logo on the clasp. With the repainted second hand, it looks quite pristine and wears very nicely.

Gryf

I've had my eye on a blue dial example. Any quirks I should know about before I commit to one?

Edited by FLwatchguy73
Link to comment
Share on other sites

FLwatchguy73 -

By no means am I an authority on the Luch Electromechanical, but if you check out this thread on the WatchUSeek forum, there’s some useful info:

https://forums.watchuseek.com/f10/luch-3055-opinions-discussions-2700305.html

it’s definitely a fascinating model, and I really like the styling. But they can also be stubborn and quirky. If you get a good one, great! Otherwise you’re looking at a project and a learning experience. Fortunately I like learning, and I can be stubborn too. When I was an IT support guy for our local school district, my motto was “Numquam apparatus esse victor...” essentially, “Never let the machine win.” That applies equally to PCs and weird old watches. ;-)

Gryf

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Citizen 0200 21 Jewel manual wind from October 1974 joins the 404 club today.

RIMG0777.thumb.JPG.3a8e7ee951206ee4ad95273709fde07b.JPG

The hammer fell on this one, rather surprisingly at 0.99p +P+P

RIMG0775.thumb.JPG.50fe79571c90c398528d05bd693b8fd5.JPG

The mechanism is virtually indistinguishable from the Citizen 0201 and the HMT 020 These are very easy to work on, and I have a bunch of HMT spares, which would probably drop right in, although this old chap didn't need anything other than a good clean and lube.

It arrived with what appears to be a brand new 20mm leather strap, which looks a little odd as the lugs are only 18mm.

It does need a crystal, and I have nothing suitable in my spares, so it got a good polish, which removed the majority of the major dings and tramlines.

AsPurchased2.jpg.f93474022f401e58030a9d1ff51d156e.jpg

Here is the "before" shot from the ebay auction. Maybe the price wasn't so surprising when you look at that mess.

I would persist with the polishing, but there is a hairline crack in the crystal, so I just went for "good enough to wear" rather than perfect.

Edited by AndyHull
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another day, another basket case. :rolleyes: I'm not even sure what the movement is. The nearest I can find is a Bleno Sonceboz ES 55

RIMG0783.thumb.JPG.eef0bd63ad4390244bfde169b947b780.JPG

It was completely jammed up solid when it arrived, but after a hydrocarbon bath and a little TLC, it looks somewhat better.

The silver seconds hand that it came with didn't actually fit, so a little artistic license was applied. Also the crystal that it came with was the wrong size, and glued in place, so that needed to be sorted too. 

AsPurchased.jpg.583e3f9990b35628eb3d32b18bbdb0f9.jpg

RIMG0780.thumb.JPG.9bf4e69456869c5b1bdd88e48a74a216.JPG

The case needs re-finishing, but given the value of the watch I doubt if it is worth the effort. It is now running nicely though, so perhaps if i tun out of other tasks in the next few weeks, I may have a crack at nickel plating it.

It wont win any beauty contests at the moment, but it does have character, and of course.. a blue dial!

 

 

Edited by AndyHull
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its a 1970s gold plated Caravelle "Set-O-Matic" automatic with quick change day today.

RIMG0785.thumb.JPG.0bc72bfa70dea9b95f85bf4ff2f38de3.JPG

It arrived without a crystal, and therefore the hands and dial are not perfect, but they responded well to a little TLC.

I'm slowly working my way through the prospective 404 club candidates I picked up a few months back. This one came in at exactly the magic 404.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, JohnD said:

Early 1970's Talis electronic (ESA9158 cal.) for me today........

 

Talis electronic wrist 3.jpg

Had to change to this one........

e2ivUfo.jpg

as I've been playing with this.......

E8zHbVr.jpg

The Talis stopped dead:( but seems to have recovered now it is away from the 'sculpture' B)

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's today's watch. I just reassembled it after checking the movement and cleaning some parts. I have a corrosion issue on the dial I will probably create a post in the relevant section to get advice about.

(Omega Seamaster, 1960's, calibre 562)

IMG_20200402_125754.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, HardTop said:

I have a corrosion issue on the dial I will probably create a post in the relevant section to get advice about.

You can search "dial reprint" here or on the Internet, since that's what we're talking about. Personally I would leave as it is because is very uniform and not ugly to look at, at least from the picture.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Dell fancy a challenge🤣   https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285785684626?itmmeta=01HT29WVJY21Q94C73GYHGBTFX&hash=item428a277a92:g:15YAAOSwNRVmBAUz&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0DIe4QLQBW66rSyIMiyBuk8GY%2B86pQ%2BQnxGbcNq7egAGe5DIs9YMmiWJIbZtMSxwNJIiJxuojbq523IeUSBQ6pJEIQ0tfz2ChrBR03BksmKINyklg1IK4GAfAcYY9Hta9wVeSZSZN7ZCNAfZTgKs9c4%2BUIUZ3Qjc3QjUXDn2uPRo1FiYOEewMG5A26EXb%2BclBgrqtbOmM6P3bea%2F8ZImOAXNI1HtbmtMk84pIGoM6ISwaM1PKFuADtTFMccS5e3ZjndCbXYXHrW3CecsV0edw3M%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR8q588nQYw
    • A already know the size movement I have the problem is the dial a had purchased has a dimension 20.6mm wide a want to find a watch case that going to fit the dial perfectly 
    • Hi.  I would like to take issue here regarding battery driven , watches, clocks,etc. I will and do repair these clocks in fact I have sever al in my collection as well as the regular mechanical ones. I have one on my mantle piece over 60 years old tha belonged to my wife’s Aunt,  long gone Iam afraid and it has been cleaned etc and never missed a beat and is accurate. Every one has their preduices as regards Electrical /electronic Horology but I regard it as part of the progress time line of the art of Horology and to be treated as such. Like Darwin’s theory of evolution it evolved.  Two cavemen knocking rocks together and a shard broke off , looking at it he worked out if it was stuck on the end of a stick he would have a spear. Likewise his pal seeing what he was up to picked up a piece  and did the same, now that’s evolution. Some clockmaker decided to build a clock that ran with a battery and no spring to wind up and break, progress and both the mechanical and battery driven clocks evolved, the battery ones got better to the point that if it broke you changed the complete unit. Likewise watches did the same but both can be repaired by people who approach Horology with an open mind without preduice.  We all have our likes and dislikes bu I for one would never dismiss any technology because I don’t like it.   The mobile phone is a good example of modern technology at work as is the automotive industry. There buttons and switches in my car I don’t use because to me they are not nesessary but I still drive the car.
    • I haven't gone through all the reading of what it might be or not. The first thing I would do if nothing obvious stands out is replace the mainspring, you have to start at the source of the power. Nine times out of ten that is the problem.  
    • Haha. You're just in a wicked mood today John 😅
×
×
  • Create New...