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@Bradders recently posted, looking for information about the venerable Baumgartner BFG866, and as a result I had a trawl through my spares to see if I had the makings of a complete movement. I wasn't quite there, however today while tidying up and organising things I came across this Buler 17 jewel 866(CLD) sweep second, date version.

It had a smashed crystal and the balance was loose, but surprisingly when I inspected it, far from being damaged, the only issue with the balance was a loose balance cock screw, and a slight kink in the hairspring, no doubt due to be balance rattling about loose over the years.

So unable to resist a challenge I cleaned lubricated and polished the thing, and off it went.

There is some obvious damage to the dial, and it originally had a Cyclops date magnifier crystal, which I didn't have, so I substituted a standard high dome.

It is also sporting rather annoying 17mm lugs. I had 17mm pins, but the only strap I had that wasn't glaringly obviously the wrong size was this slightly scruffy looking number. 

It wont win any beauty contests, but it does have a certain late fifties looking charm.

 

Edited by AndyHull
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Thanks in no small part to you. It looks pretty good considering it was just lying around as scrap. I still need to regulate it, but its not miles out, maybe 80 sec/day and slightly out of beat, but it is running pretty nicely. I may have the making of another BFG 866 17 jewel date mechaism, as I appear to have one more good balance staff with wrecked hairspring, and one wrecked balance with good hairspring. I'm not sure if I can graft the good bits together without wrecking them. I'll have a go some day. 

Edited by AndyHull
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On 11/26/2020 at 2:57 PM, AndyHull said:

Nope. I stuck with the one that is in it. From memory, Cousins have a suitable crystal. It was a pretty common size as I recall. I would go with a sapphire one if you want it to really enhance the look.

Thanks  really kind of  you, will definitely check it.

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Initially I had it on a fairly boring tan leather strap, which sort of worked with the red, but then I grabbed this midnight blue one with red stitching.

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It actually echoes my ThinkPad laptop's styling pretty closely too. I'll leave you to decide if Timex were ahead of their time, or Lenovo are harking back to a different era.

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Edited by AndyHull
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Today’s watch is my longtime owned Timex Sprite. I have no idea where I got it but it’s been in my dresser drawer of treasures since I was a boy. The original plastic strap hardened and cracked into pieces years ago so it was just a case until I recently decided to bring it back from the dead. I put on this lovely black leather Bulova strap I had from another watch and think it looks sharp.  The movement was bound likely from overzealous winding and would only run for a few minutes at a time. Thanks to eBay I was able to find a trashed but running case to serve as a movement donor. 

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That Timex has a cool dial!

I put the old 1680 away again and dug out this gem. It has to be one of the nicest dive watches available today, regardless of cost. Polishing that puts the Swiss to shame; stainless case WITH hard coating to avoid scratches; sapphire crystal; silky and precise bezel “action”; retro 62MAS inspired styling; bomb-proof Seiko movement and construction. I highly recommend it. 

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I wear it on an Isofrane dive strap (navy blue) that looks so right on this watch. 

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4 hours ago, fishytuxedo said:

Today’s watch is my longtime owned Timex Sprite. I have no idea where I got it but it’s been in my dresser drawer of treasures since I was a boy. The original plastic strap hardened and cracked into pieces years ago so it was just a case until I recently decided to bring it back from the dead. I put on this lovely black leather Bulova strap I had from another watch and think it looks sharp.  The movement was bound likely from overzealous winding and would only run for a few minutes at a time. Thanks to eBay I was able to find a trashed but running case to serve as a movement donor. 

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unless the original movement was damaged, getting to run again would be rather quick.

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5 hours ago, fishytuxedo said:

Today’s watch is my longtime owned Timex Sprite. I have no idea where I got it but it’s been in my dresser drawer of treasures since I was a boy. The original plastic strap hardened and cracked into pieces years ago so it was just a case until I recently decided to bring it back from the dead. I put on this lovely black leather Bulova strap I had from another watch and think it looks sharp.  The movement was bound likely from overzealous winding and would only run for a few minutes at a time. Thanks to eBay I was able to find a trashed but running case to serve as a movement donor. 

B8DA2F4F-BE91-4D91-8028-78C2D275FE97.jpeg

d

This Accutron has a similar vibe (well, not literally) and I think the same fake crocodile pattern on the strap.

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Timex Electric 1967...

Most uncomfortable watch to wear ? and it's very loud!

Serviced it almost two years ago after purchasing it from local flea-market. Keeps excellent time ever since. Last month decided to replace the crystal. It's in the mail stuck somewhere.

 

 

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Edited by Poljot
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1 hour ago, fishytuxedo said:

you know, I read that they weren't intended to be serviced so I figured replacement was the easiest route. I've still got it so one day I'll dive in for a repair

 They may not have been designed to be serviced. but that does not meant they can not be repaired.

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On 12/1/2020 at 9:35 AM, AndyHull said:

Initially I had it on a fairly boring tan leather strap, which sort of worked with the red, but then I grabbed this midnight blue one with red stitching.

 

It actually echoes my ThinkPad laptop's styling pretty closely too. I'll leave you to decide if Timex were ahead of their time, or Lenovo are harking back to a different era.

 

The strap is absolutely perfect for this watch. And yes, my two ThinkPad  laptops and their bags are very similar in style :-).

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    • Getting back to the issue which is us guys repairing or just enjoying horological exploits. The big worry now is how sound is Cousins as company going forward. The of cost if this 8 year legal battle will be astronomical. Cut backs will happen noticed already how the Cousins catalogue is half its size this year. The main supplier going out of business will hit the UK horological community in a big way.    On the Brexit issue it was about a sovereign country being able to make its own laws and trade with any country in the world. I cannot see what was wrong with this. For those who wish to re join the cost would be very high indeed.
    • Yes, it's the same (old) song and it's getting worse & worse;  
    • 🤔 leaving the EU meant that UK was no longer part of the convention and have already been turned down an independent reapplication. I'm pretty sure courts have to be held in Switzerland in this case. There will be a lot more watches stashed away in draws  tbh, folk wont be able to afford to maintain them. Cheap watches will be bought and top end watches by folk with plenty of cash that can pay for service and repair. The expensive once in a lifetime gifts and everything else inbetween will be at the forgotton when they stop working. I know i was being a numpty, get used to it 😄 Anybody that knows will boycott them, but besides repairers who will know. Nope will never buy one, i made that decision as soon as i learnt about this. 
    • although not in this case.  It was the Lugano Convention and its deficiencies that allowed a Swiss court decision in the first place.  This isnt really a Brexit issue at all.  A decision that affects both the EU and the UK should never have been heard in Switzerland. I bet the authorised service centres in the UK are pretty pleased.  It's a massive shame, though; I believe watch owners should be able to choose to have their watch serviced by whoever they trust.
    • Hi guys I think that old hippy is correct, it opens the gates for china to manufacture aftermarket spare parts. considering that they already do work on behalf of the Swiss I guess this decision gives the a little more legitimacy to tool up and I am sure they will take advantage of the situation either with or without the blessing of the Swiss watch industry  Having read about the protectionist machinations of the Swiss in the history of Europe they were the only ones to get fat at everybody else’s expense. I think the outcome could have been guessed at but ,  fair play to Cousins UK for standing up to them.  Now the question,  will everybody boycott Swiss watches and Swatch, no way they will still fill their coffers.  Me I stick with the Japanese once renowned for cheap shitty watches who came good through industrial effort and don’t for get the Russians that most dismiss as low grade crap. Wouldn’t buy a swatch product ever how about you all.? a
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