The Avia Arrived

[Mark]

I purchased this off eBay and it came all the way from Oz.

 

 

So it's completely jammed up. A little rust found so far but the wheels are jammed solid. Hopefully no bent teeth.

 

It's a Landeron149 and i'm looking forward to getting this baby working.

 

[Geo]

Excellent Mark, I was wondering when you would get it. No issues with import tax I hope?

I got one from Oz two weeks ago without any problems.

[Mark]

Excellent Mark, I was wondering when you would get it. No issues with import tax I hope?

I got one from Oz two weeks ago without any problems.

 

No problem - they declared it as a broken watch for spares and put the value at $30

[Mark]

Well - looks like some muppet tried to force the barrel round with a screwdriver:

 

[WillFly]

What a lovely watch - hope the work on it pans out OK.

[Mark]

What a lovely watch - hope the work on it pans out OK.

 

Thanks Will.

 

Cousins have marked it as obsolete so back to eBay ;)

 

Found one in the US http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Landeron-48-248-Main-Spring-Barrel-Repair-Kit-/160372416537?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item2556f0e019

 

Not new but it will do.

[Geo]

That's a bugger, but it will still be good value even allowing for the cost of the barrel.

[autowind]

I would snap up that barrel as there cannot be too many knocking about,  it will be a very nice watch when you have finished.  Don't forget to show us some finished pics.

[No8yogi]

Nice to get that going again I would love to have your skill!

[Mark]

I would snap up that barrel as there cannot be too many knocking about

 

Yup - I ordered one immediately.

 

Just sent the dial to David Bill for restoration as it is too corroded to save. It's a shame as I would prefer it to be factory original.

[mwilkes]

Mr Lovick - hope you don't mind me asking - roughly how much is David Bill likely to charge for a dial restoration for your Avia? I have a sad looking omega which could do with smartening up....

[Lee]

The last one I had done by them was £75 & some pennies including VAT & Delivery.

 

 

 

[Mark]

Mr Lovick - hope you don't mind me asking - roughly how much is David Bill likely to charge for a dial restoration for your Avia? I have a sad looking omega which could do with smartening up....

 

The quote is £85+vat

 

I had my Omega done by them last year and that was around £60 plus Vat. http://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/198-1960s-omega-seamaster-my-little-baby/

[Lee]

I had some hands replated at the same time as the dial, the dial was ok but the hands weren't brilliant. however my customer was over the moon :thumbsu:

[mwilkes]

That seems good value to me! Wonder how they do it...

[Mark]

That seems good value to me! Wonder how they do it...

I haven't got a clue :D

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[Mark]

The barrel came today from the US - good service if you ask me!

 

[WillFly]

That barrel looks very good.

[Mark]

Just got the dial back from David Bill and it looks great. It now has a blue tach. instead of an orange but they explained this beforehand and I agreed. Not identical to original but looks fantastic all the same. They did a Festina for me at the same time:

 

[autowind]

That`s remarkable,  it would be very interesting to know how they do it.  Maybe take a high resolution picture,  clean it up through software and reprint onto dial minus batons.  The other way would be to have a database of every dial ever made,  unlikely. However they do it, it's very clever.

[Mark]

That`s remarkable,  it would be very interesting to know how they do it.  Maybe take a high resolution picture,  clean it up through software and reprint onto dial minus batons.  The other way would be to have a database of every dial ever made,  unlikely. However they do it, it's very clever.

Maybe someone will correct me on this but I am quite sure they have printing plates made up going back decades.

[DJW]

Maybe someone will correct me on this but I am quite sure they have printing plates made up going back decades.

This is what I was told by International Dial in the US. They have over 10,000 printing plates of various styles, names, fonts and about everything else having ever been printed on a dial using the Pad Printing process. And, if they don't have what you need, it's pretty easy for them to create a new plate with the requested design...

[Lee]

They are never Identical! but always impressive! IMO.

 

The only negative feedback I've ever heard was someone whos dial read "Oysterdate" & it came back "Oyster Date"

[Mark]

They are never Identical! but always impressive! IMO.

 

The only negative feedback I've ever heard was someone whos dial read "Oysterdate" & it came back "Oyster Date"

 

I must admit - that would annoy me too :)

[Geo]

Hi Mark, how's progress going with the Avia?