Let's See Your Watches! The Vintage Watch Thread.

[Biltmore Bob]

When I was a young Marine in the early 80's I bought a Hamilton "Khaki" at the PX, MCRD Parris Island SC. I loved that watch, hand wind, kept great time. I broke it on some drunken night maneuvers. What a shame.

 

[Retro Grouch]

I know it is a bother to wind every day, though I just love the look and the feel of having something mechanical strapped to my wrist.

Vintage Hamilton Boulton wristwatch.

First and only vintage watch I have had. Gold filled and keeps time very well. I wear it daily.

Very nice looking watch, Matt.

I love old watches. Sadley, I am rather hard on watches and nothing seems to last very long. I would think it a shame to break a nice time piece.

As much as I like old watches, I only were a watch eight hours a day, five days a week.

Tom

 

[Quigley Brown]

I've always worn vintage watches. I've found several nice ones very cheap at pawn shops and they keep perfect time.

What I don't like about digitals are when the wearer is asked what time it is he tells them the EXACT time. When someone asks me I just glance down and tell them it's 'about' such-and-such time. (I must tell you, though, that I keep a digital stopwatch in my backpack, but that's only because I found it on the street one day while walking my dog.)

 

[Rigby Reardon]

When you come right down to it, though, our whole timekeeping system is a horrible anachronism (no pun intended). There's nothing "natural" that occurs 24 times in a solar day, and hence nothing "natural" about the division itself- that's just what the ancient clockmakers found convenient. Dividing that 24 by 60, and that by 60 again, is inherently an ugly nightmare of a system that we only accept because we're taught to use it before we're taught to question anything. I'm surprised it survived the 19th century, much less into the 21st.

Old Hat...you might like this timepiece instead, then:

10,000 Year Clock
http://infiniti.msn.com/?id=16


J

 

[Mycroft]

I like it Matt, you will get into the habit of winding...eventially.

 

[Michaelson]

Get in the habit of winding it every morning as a regular practice. They keed the best time when wound at the same time each day.
Heck, you should see all the timepieces I wind up each morning, including an 8 day clock on Friday mornings, and two 31 day clocks at months end! My wife calls it my 'watch winding ceremony'. Regards. Michaelson

 

[Bayern]

Nice watch

Matt .... I have the same watch which belonged to my grandfather (sans his initials JHP, the H stands for Hamilton). Actually I have three of Hamilton’s, one of which I am wearing today. Additionally, I also have a couple of his now vintage hats which I often wear. By the way, this is a great site…….I found this sight while researching some vintage hats I have from some now departed relatives. Having read most of the posts in the hats section I have become some what of an expert and my appreciation for these hats grown.

 

[Michaelson]

If anyone is looking for one of these beauties, or like watches, allow me to recommend the ebay sales of my friend and watchmaker (the man who does ALL my watch work), Mr. Rich Kuhn. He's an expert full time watchmaker, and his auction information speaks for itself. You can find him listed under his title 'watchmakerfinds' at ebay. I highly recommend him, his wares, AND his work. All top drawer and high quality. He stands behind what he sells, and what he works on, all offered with warranty.

watchmakerfinds at ebay

Regards. Michaelson

 

[Mycroft]

Thanks for the tip.

 

[The Wolf]

good timing

I finally had to replace my Hidalgo Trading Co watch when I read this post.
I am surprised at how hard it was to find a nice watch for under $100. I couldn't find a watch you wind. Funny thing is, even though I've been wearing battery-powered watches for some time now I still wind the stem after fixing the time. I also miss the sound of a ticking wristwatch.

As always,
The Wolf

 

[Kilgour Trout]

Thanks for the tips Mark!

This has been absolutely great listening to the discussion on manual winds! I find that the manual wind is the only watch that works for me as I can't see to keep a battery alive for more than a few months!

Mark, thanks for the tip on where to look. :clap . I really need a watch and just can't abide buying more batteries. I had a mid-60's timex manual which just gave up the ghost and I'll definitely check out this fellas site.

P.s. Is it just me or does anyone else find they drain batteries?

Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout

 

[android]

P.s. Is it just me or does anyone else find they drain batteries?

You will typically get the best battery life from the factory installed battery. Not because it is better, but because it was installed in a new clean watch in a clean mfg environment.

Each subsequent opening and closing to replace the battery allows more dirt to invade the mechanism resulting in shorter battery life as the watch ages.

It's not economically practical to clean quartz movements, so you either replace the movement or the watch eventually.

 

[Colt]

I went to an automatic watch about 3 yrs ago and have had no regrets! I have been wearing a seiko diver for the last year and sometimes drop a Elgin railroad in the pocket. I just bought a Semaster, but still looking for a nice one like yours Matt!

 

[Michaelson]

That's true. I'm on my 3rd complete movement replacement in my 1988 Caravelle Bulova quartz my daughters gave me for my birthday, all done by Bulova. The price has always been $50 plus shipping.

What's even more odd to me is that your SECOND best source for good batteries outside the factory is....WAL-MART!! or like store, as they're changing out batteries so often that their stock is always fresh. Most jewelery stores battery stock is usually fairly old, and you'll find that unless they do a LOT of changeouts, you'll only get about half as much power time from theirs as one from a discount store.

Problem I have is my Caravelle is a pressure tested screwback/bezel divers type wrist watch, and most discount stores don't have the tool to remove the back...so I HAVE to go to a jeweler or watchmaker for battery replacement.


Regards. Michaelson

 

[Michaelson]

I've had to have my movements replaced so often as I've been told this quartz movement was/is one of the largest that Bulova had (the current models are about 3/4 it's size), and so it's just easier for them to replace the movement than fix the monsters. Remember the old Bulova Accutrons? Heck, you changed THAT movement out once a year, as they literally vibrated themselves to pieces. The quartz version I have replaced the Accutron as their workhorse, and they tended to last longer. It seems to run on a battery for about 2 years or so, depending on how fresh the battery was when purchased. Nothing like your Seiko though....Regards. Michaelson

 

[Michaelson]

No spacer in my Caravelle, so Bulova's were HUGE at that time. Regards. Michaelson

 

[DBLIII]

Schmuck? Here!
Rolex GMT Master II.
Had a Submariner and got my wrist caught in a hydraulic press when a pump failed. It cracked the crystal out of the watch but the case held, which left me with a working wrist. Sold the watch with the broken crystal for very close to what I'd payed for it, and some years later, got to buy the one I have now. I am a big fan. They are very tough watches.

 

[PADDY]

WoW, one kick-ass Rolly you have there!

That's some story, better the watch than your wrist :cheers1:

I like the Rolly's too, but so often these days folk think they are all fakes!! But I guess the well informed aficionados can tell, if you are prepared to take it off your wrist. I was looking at a well priced vintage Air King the other day, and was very tempted to grab it (not literally guys! didn't have the Tommy gun on me that time), as it was a looker!

I'm not big into male jewellery, the thought of guys with a Prince Albert through their crown jewels, or evern Sovereign rings and ear piercings in guys, just does not thrill me!

But I do like a good classic watch and a small family signet ring on the 'wee' finger! and that's it folks.

 

[scotrace]

"No One Will Know - Rolex Here!"

I was thinking recently that the spammers are de-valuing the Rolex brand. And that's pretty stinky.

I've been wearing the same LL Bean Field Watch for around twelve years. (supposedly modeled on the WWII fliers watches - but that's probably just great copy) It has been through a dozen leather bands, and a couple of crystals.
I sure like that Paneri, Paddy. Googling it as soon as I hit "Submit."

 

[android]

I have choice. Either my 1935 Hamilton Seneca

or my 1933 Hamilton railroad pocket watch.

I also have an Omega Seamaster automatic to wear when I plan on getting wet.