Fred's watch

[tortron]

The watch that was removed from George Mallory's frozen corpse on everest

 

My new one

 

Basically a 1920s adventure watch. They are threaded so are "sealed" from moisture and dust, predating the "oyster" watch case by 5 or so years, tho this particular case design was used in the 1870s

 

Surprised this one didn't go for more, the damage to the dial probably did that, but I have seen good ones floating around. I have one that will fit, but it's not got omega on it. Plus the crystal scares people. I don't know why, its not a crystal, it's celluloid and every single one that old is fucked, expecially when coupled with a radium dial, so any with a good one is not original anyways.

The other 2 interesting ones I had my eye on went for just under a thousand nzd, which is more than all mine together. Another rolex and another nicely engraved one given to a guy in invercargill. 

Being an omega and a long used type of movement (1912 to mid 1940s with a couple of different machs along the way) you can buy any part you want for it. 

 

This one is also engraved, To Alex, Christmas 1925 from mother. Would have been fairly high dollar in its day. 

Needs a main spring. Have ordered, a general clean, needs that lug wire remade and soldered (silver case, pretty basic fix) and then cos it will want polishing after that to hide the repair, il drop it in some baking soda and have it looking new

 

This ones a good candidate for daily wear being somewhat sealed, mainly designed for tropical weather so the inside doesn't rust, might leave the crystal as is for now, they get quite brittle (and flammable) when they start looking like that

 

[Positive Ape]

wats the crystal?

 

[tortron]

the glass, nice watches have a sapphire one, old trench watches have an "unbreakable" celluloid one

 

 

 

not to be confused with the jewels, which are ruby with a hole in them to act as bearings, or the quartz crystal in a casio

[tortron]

Really lovely

 

 

 

 

Winding stem is a little bent, can get new ones still so no worries if it doesn't straighten at least.  The lugs are clearly a cheap and unskilled repair at some stage, I think I can see where it originally has some standard wire lugs on it. So I think I will have some of those put back on, silver cases are pretty standard stuff to work on. this gives me the option of bigger lugs (12mm on my others) so I can get a more off the shelf strap, maybe a nato style one, tho I do like that leather one I have already. As you see, the movement is on a hinge rather than having a wee door on the back of the case. 

 

It actually runs really quite well without me cleaning it or anything, the crystal, sure is yellowed and has some scratches, but it's in much better cond than I thought with no crazing. Minute hand has lost a little of its tip, and it's a shame about the dial, there's a small amount of slop in the hinge so I think it probably got caught up. 

[tortron]

And heres a genuine trench watch

 

Belonging to Percy Lloyd, a grocer's assistant of Hokitika

 

Given to him by the invercargill railway shops

 

 

 

There's only 1 Percy Lloyd that shipped out after 1917, and one in 1916.

He went to France as a rifleman. He slipped on some ice on a trench duck board near "la butte" (Which could be several places, I'm trying to decipher 100 year old cursive and shorthand, it says he was taken back to "la butte, so i dont think its the hill full of germans) while carrying rations, and sprained his ankle bad enough to get sent back to London. 

Died 1985

 

 

Very neat, there's plenty of trench watches out there, but having one that you can place in a specific trench at a specific date is a bit special 

[tortron]

[tortron]

interesting, there are portraits of both Fred and Percy in volume 3 of this book

 

must go to the library some time

[waspman]

Great read, it triggered a memory of my late father wearing a watch with an orange face, Mum didn't remember it until I showed her a google pic of what i recalled, caught up with her tonight and she had found it, turns out its a Seiko 6139-6002 from around '73, aka a Seiko Pogue, it seems to work except for the chronograph buttons.

Thanks for posting about your watch efforts, from that I now have something very personal that I can wear to remind me of the grumpy old bastard, while I would love to have the ability to open it up i might leave this one to the experts!

 

 

[tortron]

 

[tortron]

New mainspring in. Can see why it was only running 6 or so hours at a time, the original has not only lost its temper, but has broken into 3 pieces. 

Got it wound up now and will see if it's still running this time tomorrow

[tortron]

[tortron]

Still running, il book it in to have the lugs replaced 

Guy that does vintage straps has been taking a break for a while, but next month ish I might get him to sort a replica of Mallory's strap (he's got a good stash of new old stock buckles which are quite different to today's as well) 

Tried to order in some silver stuff from the usual place, but still won't send to nz from the usps covid thing, tbh it doesn't work out cheaper to do the silver work myself buying small amounts of stuff. So paying the 2hrs labour is probably fine

 

Anyway 

[RUNAMUCK]

Time to die?

[tortron]

Over the top then lads

 

 

It's a 1907 British bayonet, made 1918. At some point shortened, quite well, into a clip point. Hard to say by who, could be various government armouries, its nicely shaped tho so maybe by a private individual. 

Got some new old stock wooden scales for it coming, will restore it and cut up veges with it 

[tortron]

This thing keeps perfect time. Actually impressive 

Looked for new dials. 2-400nzd just for the dial. Miss me with that. I have plenty of time tho so I will just look for one that comes up on a not going watch in better cond (possibly the whole thing will be a ballache as tho this watch movement was made for years, the mk1 has different dial mounting feet locations. You can solder new ones on, but wants a dial feet jig to be just right.  Jbweld it probably fine. 

 

Never booked it in for new lugs, just have an old timey bit of twine, which I think fits the patina aesthetics. 

I did however get a new winding stem. 100 year old NOS out of France for $20 to my door. Amazing, has been sitting on a dusty shelf, probably through 2 world wars

 

Have sorted one or two of the other ones, just waiting on a couple of tools to show up to finish of some of the replacement parts 

[tortron]

Taranaki hunting camp

Reg is my great grandad

[BlownCorona]

probably should make my own topic, but thought you might enjoy this little hijack. 

the two restos ive completed so far. 

first up was a 70s (?) bulova quartz john deere watch that i picked up not running and fixed up for my brother who finally got himself into a good career driving big tractors. he was blown away. these were JD employee only and not particularly common. i was stunned at just how many moving parts are still in a quartz watch. it got cleaned and serviced and a new circuit board and crystal. plus i designed and 3d printed a nice box for it with the bulova logo. 

second was my first real project watch, i had been looking for a nice watch that wouldnt be an issue if i damaged it. settled on this 60s soviet era vostok with a really nice dark red sunburst dial, not running for $50 landed. turns out it had a broken balance staff and i ended up picking up 5 mostly complete movements for $20 landed out of ukraine which gave me plenty of spares which i didnt really need in the end but a great saftey net. Cleaned, oiled, reassembled and shes running great now.  

both watches placed on some nice hand made bund straps also out of ukraine. very pleased with both of them. also shown is my quite prized breitling windrider, ive always wanted a breitling and i absolutely adore it. i wear it most days, a wee way of being game enough to service that one though.. however i did relume the hands and replace the crown. 

 

anyway, you and another of my mates whos into watch making really inspired me to give it a go and i love it. so thanks! 

[tortron]

Jumping forward a war

I just picked up an "anzac".

Welsh built between 1947 and 1950, a cheap, reliable, and austere watch for the average man of the commonwealth. 

The Morris Minor of watches, who wouldn't love one. 

This one is a single owner, the gentleman's first watch in fact. 

They have a 5 jewel pin escapement, which is a fairly low cost but serviceable movement. Certainly there are many still running today with next to no maintenance (Morris minors) and still getting within a couple of minutes at the end of the day

 

 

Also

It matches my morrie too

[Jusepy82]

This is a cool thread.

Cheers lads

[tortron]

Wore it all yesterday, quite like it. 

Shows that yea it's about 3min slow in 24 hrs. 

Seller said the ballance movement looked slow, but I don't think so, just based on seeing actually slow gunked up watches. 

Today I gave the adjustor a slight bump and ran it against a timing app on my phone, but the app seems to be hit and miss, probably down to general noise in the house and old watches often being all over the place but averaging out over 24hrs.

Will wear it for another day and check tomorrow, that's a fine way to adjust when time isn't a worry. 

Gave the crystal a quick polish and it came up great 

here's the before