My Father's Watch

[Marswolf]

I was rummaging through my personal safe the other day and spotted my father's old watch. When I was a kid, he bought a third interest in a Piper Tri-pacer.

We flew everywhere. Even went on vacation in Daytona in it. I was in about first or second grade at that point.

We were VFR (Visual Flight Rules) only and if you wanted to calculate your ground speed, you flew over some point on the ground and timed how long it took to get to another point. So my father, being a techie of that day, spent the enormous sum of about $200 for an Omega Seamaster Tachymetre Chronograph watch. This was around 1956. I'm not sure what the current price of an equivalent is. I'm still researching. Looks like a MSRP of maybe $3000 give or take a thousand or so.

Well, my father died almost 29 years ago. I probably wound it a couple of times since 1979. So I decided to get it out of the safe and see if it would run. Kinda stiff at first and it only ran about six hours. But I've I've continued to wind it, it is now running more than a day and the accuracy is really amazing. It's within a couple of seconds a day. Who knows where it could be with a cleaning?

So, I've decided to use it as my dress watch, at least for a while. Much more elegant than my Tritium dial military watch.

Oh yeah...Omega is the watch that Bond, James Bond wears.

[fury2neon]

Beautiful! It is hard to find a good quality watch anymore. Without spending enough to buy a good rifle anyway.

[R1100R]

Nice watch. You should have it cleaned and jewels oiled. The is a company Kirk Dial service that can refinish the face. My Grandfather was a watch maker. It is dying art so be careful who you let work on it. Most people that claim to don't have a clue. I have a couple of hundred old watches he left me. It is my second hobby next to firearms.

[Marswolf]

Nice watch. You should have it cleaned and jewels oiled.

I don't think I can afford it.

My Grandfather was a watch maker. It is dying art so be careful who you let work on it. Most people that claim to don't have a clue.

Yeah, that's the problem around here. The closest dealers are 100 miles away in Knoxville and that doesn't mean they have a clue about who is competent to work on a watch like this. I may send it back to Omega.

I thought I'd check with watchmaker, one of our members out of the New York area. He's into expensive flashlights these days - very nice ones. I'm doing a review of a couple of his lights in the next few days.

[towerclimber37]

that's an awesome watch and it has a nifty history too!

It makes a snazzy dress watch

[Fallguy]

Very cool Mars!!

[Mike.357]

Here is a pic of my Mom's Father's watch. It is a 10k gold filled Bulova. I have no idea if it is worth 5 dollars or 500 dollars. Probably somewhere in between.

Engraved on the backside it says, "Naomi 12-25-64" Grandma gave it to him for Christmas that year. I was only 6 years old then but I remember him showing it off Chrsitmas day. The second hand is tiny and sits where the # 6 would be.

I could wear it but I never do, the band is way too small. I suppose I could have it changed out. The face on it is very small too about 3/4 inch square.

it keeps very good time still

[et45]

Is that the original band?.

[Marswolf]

I have no idea if it is worth 5 dollars or 500 dollars. Probably somewhere in between.

Engraved on the backside it says, "Naomi 12-25-64" Grandma gave it to him for Christmas that year. I was only 6 years old then but I remember him showing it off Chrsitmas day.[/img]

It's priceless.

Is that the original band?.

If you are talking about my watch, no it isn't. It's a Spidel Twistoflex. I suspect the original was leather. Probably around here somewhere.

As I said, my father (as I) was a techie. Twistoflex was the high-tech of the age.

BTW, I had to take out one link for it to fit me. Small wrist. Yes...of course I did it myself.

[Mike.357]

if you meant mine, yes it is the original band

[Guest GUTTERbOY]

Very cool.

BTW, did anyone else think of Pulp Fiction when they read the thread title?

[Guest CrazyLincoln]

That sir, is a fine watch.

[Marswolf]

Very cool.

BTW, did anyone else think of Pulp Fiction when they read the thread title?

I never saw Pulp Fiction, or any other Travolta, movies. Care to explain the reference?

edit:

I take that back. I saw Michael. Not sure why.

Edited April 5, 2008 by Marswolf

[Guest Jason F.]

I have an acquaintance that is a high end watch collector and watch photographer here in Nashville. If you are interested in getting it cleaned, oiled, or otherwise serviced let me know and I will ask him who he would recommend.

[Fallguy]

I never saw Pulp Fiction, or any other Travolta, movies. Care to explain the reference?

edit:

I take that back. I saw Michael. Not sure why.

[ame]

[/ame]

[Mike.357]

Mar's you ought to watch Pulp Fiction, it is a great movie.

bruce Willis is trying to get out of town and his girlfriend forgets to pack his Dad's watch. willis goes back to get it and it sorts of goes downhill from there.

[Guest Medic908]

Very nice Mars - what a great sentimental possession.

Very cool.

BTW, did anyone else think of Pulp Fiction when they read the thread title?

Yes - If Mars can find him a wooden kangaroo to hang it on, he's golden:D

[Marswolf]

But can I trade it for an Xbox 360?