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Hello from South Wales.

Alastair

By Alastair
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Alastair WRT Addict

Alastair

Posted
Posted

Ive just joined after watching many of Mark's excellent videos on Youtube. They have taught me many things and reminded me of many I had forgotten...

I'm now 55 and slowly getting back into watch-repair. When in school at age 12 or so I used to mess around repairing, and by age 16-17 was OK-ish I thought, even tackling an Omega 861 with complete success. I would never contemplate doing one now however!

I Thought at the time that there was little future in watch-repairs as the Q revolution had taken a big hold so went into electronics repair instead I was pretty wrong!.....

Is the age of 55 too old to get back into this?--I dunno maybe, but with lots of loupes and glasses plus a £5 microscope from ebay I manage--so far!

I'm particularly into Accutron Tuning-Fork types and have a number of 'Vicims' I have four 214, four or five 218's, and a couple of 219's most running well

Recently Ive aquired a couple of ESA 9162 types One of these, a very poor Tissot looked as though it had had a very hard life and was used as a donor for others--Even the bezel is missing from the case, Both coils faulty, missing hour-wheel etc, Very sad condition but does have a nice blue dial.

I managed to fix the coils, (the windings themselves were good, or I wouldnt have stood a chance.) The TR coil had a broken transistor and the RC had a high value resistor (4M8 instead of 3M3) so both the res and cap were replaced (One benefit of being electronics engineer!). bought a new hour-wheel, serviced it now its working good, so the hunt for bezel is on....

This afternoon, I'm going to tackle an ESA 9164 in an Omega, See what sort of mess I can make of that!

 

 

  • Like 1
oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

Posted
Posted

Welcome to this friendly forum. There's no age limit in repairing watches all that is needed is good eyesight a steady hand and plenty of patience.

dadistic Distinguished Member

dadistic

Posted
Posted

55 too old?????

Heck no!

I've got you beat by a few years, just need lots and lots and lots of light to make it work.

And I had to give up coffee :wacko:

Anyways, Greetings!

 

Cad101 Super WRT Addict

Cad101

Posted
Posted

Welcome back to a fantastic hobby. Like yourself I returned about a year ago after at leased 25 years away and I'm afraid being over 50 means your sight goes but some good loupes a pair of 3.50 reading glasses and good light work for me.

Alastair WRT Addict

Alastair

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ah--Thanks for the warm welcome!

I'm sort of getting used to working on movements, Ive noticed my hand is steadier than it was a few weeks ago--Still took me most of the day to do this ESA 9164 though!:)

 

bobm12 Distinguished Member

bobm12

Posted
Posted

Welcome Alastair, and you'll see that age is irrelevant...at least for watchmaking...and your hand will be getting still steadier with practice!

Cheers,

Bob

Vich Distinguished Member

Vich

Posted
Posted

Welcome Alastair belatedly, from me in Newcastle upon Tyne,

It is good to have young blood joining the forum and I am sure you have found a good home for your hobby amongst like minded folk.

Cheers,

Vic

  • 3 months later...
IFELL Watch Enthusiast

IFELL

Posted
Posted

Hi there, greetings to you from Cardiff :)

I am keen on meeting some local watch enthusiasts so drop me a message if you feel like it :)

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