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Posted
On 3/23/2024 at 10:27 AM, steve1811uk said:

Ricoh has a similar pallet fork

Tressa 1970s ETA 2788 Unusual Grey Sunburst Dial all original except for the crystal

Running really well for its age, + 0.5 SPD, 300 degrees amplitude horizontal after 12 hours.

I have another crystal arriving next week with a wider tension ring that I hope can hide the gap between the dial and case (XAC 321.577). Wide tension ring crystals appear to be few and far between so if anyone has any tips for a good source then that's most appreciated.

I did look at ATCB range from Sternkreuz but they seem a bit higher than I would like based on the dimensions.

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I've liked Tressa since i started collecting,  i compare them to the unusual design of Rado, apparently there is some connection between the two makes.

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Posted
On 3/24/2024 at 12:30 PM, Neverenoughwatches said:

I've liked Tressa since i started collecting,  i compare them to the unusual design of Rado, apparently there is some connection between the two makes.

New crystal fitted XAC 321.577 .Tension ring inner diameter of 27.5mm hides the gap nicely.

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  • Like 7
Posted

Heres my watch of today, a Smith 13'" RY . My missus bought me this for this Valentines day a bargain 14.99 with a reduction, the seller has occasional 20% off offers now and then so it was about 15ish with delivery. I love Smiths and i love bulleye dials, this is my first one. The watch arrived non working as stated and i knew what was inside and what would be against me, but i enjoy a challenge, we dont expect a lot if anything from pin pallet movements. A balance pivot was broken and i didnt have another staff but i did have another RY with a battered dial so i robbed the balance and tweaked it around to make it work apart from that mostly just a good clean and relubrication. Keyless works are pretty rough by design and the crown is a bugger to get in and out with the dial on, the setting lever hits the dial before it releases it, so a little mod is needed to help that along. Major problem was the pins on the lever were quite worn which make the old tg have a snow storm fit. Its a similar read for most pin pallets, these were brass as was the escape wheel. But perseverance is me, i didn't change the pins but i did spend some time dressing and polishing the worn areas which improved the trace a lot with some straightish lines 😅 and a beat error of .5 . Not sure what the lift angle should be on these and i Wasn't in the mood to work it out and who believes timegraphers anyway, but at the default 52° it runs with 260ish full 210 after 24 hours dial down , the verticals rates were pretty much all over place. So lets just put it in it's superlight aluminium case and see what happens. Been wearing it now for 3 weeks and it's consistently losing around 1.5  minutes a week winding each morning i think pretty good for an old pin pallet watch. I just love this dial, thanks wifey heres my Valentine's gift for yer sweetie x

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Posted

Less give a damn- more **BLEEP** it!

…nice that it is keeping time I’ve done a couple of these (one with your assistance) and there’s a third that needs work on the tension between what drives the hands and the barrel. Did you have any issue with that?

…and I saw Ranfft make a small comment in a thread re: pin pallets- a couple drops of Tillwich blu, let it run down the pins. It is good for 20 degrees of amplitude…

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I’m using this oil as a cheat code on my unmotivated Venus chrono…

  • Like 3
Posted
17 minutes ago, rehajm said:

Less give a damn- more **BLEEP** it!

…nice that it is keeping time I’ve done a couple of these (one with your assistance) and there’s a third that needs work on the tension between what drives the hands and the barrel. Did you have any issue with that?

…and I saw Ranfft make a small comment in a thread re: pin pallets- a couple drops of Tillwich blu, let it run down the pins. It is good for 20 degrees of amplitude…

IMG_1582.thumb.jpeg.62d5688a41bea9d044aa1b9ba3013fcd.jpeg

I’m using this oil as a cheat code on my unmotivated Venus chrono…

Ive heard about that oil before for the lever pins. I found it easy to work on , it didn't have a whole lot of pivot wear but i bit sloppy on the lever cock, i think you have to live with what you have or bin it. Stiff to wind and set ?  Not a cannon pinion issue that has no friction thats made up further back and if I remember the barrel drives the hour wheel. No problem on this one .Let me know when you start it as i have another that donated to this one, i can work alongside you with it, two heads are better than one. 

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Posted
On 3/28/2024 at 11:21 AM, rehajm said:

 

…and I saw Ranfft make a small comment in a thread re: pin pallets- a couple drops of Tillwich blu, let it run down the pins. It is good for 20 degrees of amplitude…

What makes it so good ? Don i buy some ?

Posted

An unusual one today, i picked this up a few weeks ago at an antiques fair. A Recoh Astromatic with a Baumgartner movement.  It has changing colour dial windows to indicate your luck and mood thoughout the day. Apparently I'm getting my leg over in about half an hour , I think i should go home first 😂

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Posted

In other news, local man ejected from Waitrose Cafe for laughing like an old goat at that last comment. Apparently my guffaws were scaring the tea cakes.

OK that might be a slight exaggeration, but I did get a look that would freezer your coffee from an old lady with a particularly heavy looking handbag sitting a couple of tables away. I felt an explanation might prove long, difficult, and given the size of the handbag,  potentially dangerous.

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Posted
Just now, RichardHarris123 said:

@Neverenoughwatches.Business is also green, are you paying for services rendered? 

I kind of figured that green on all 3 of the windows meant i would be doing the business and considering i was at a mates house i better go home as she might be getting more than she bargained for during my visit.

32 minutes ago, AndyHull said:

In other news, local man ejected from Waitrose Cafe for laughing like an old goat at that last comment. Apparently my guffaws were scaring the tea cakes.

OK that might be a slight exaggeration, but I did get a look that would freezer your coffee from an old lady with a particularly heavy looking handbag sitting a couple of tables away. I felt an explanation might prove long, difficult, and given the size of the handbag,  potentially dangerous.

Maybe give her a break Its probably been a while since her husband has had 3 green lights come up on his watch.

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Posted (edited)

image.thumb.png.0c81cc9f309d847e3540e3a53607375c.png

Judging by this, you could get them with whichever sign of the Zodiac seemed appropriate. History does not relate whether the "water signs" were waterproof, but I suspect not.

I'm intrigued to see how the "love, luck and business" mechanism works. We have to assume it uses some very advanced gravity sensors to detect the positions of all of the planets and a very intricate arrangement of cams and levers to align those coloured flags (or alternatively it is driven by the hour wheel). 
 

Edited by AndyHull
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Posted
2 hours ago, AndyHull said:

image.thumb.png.0c81cc9f309d847e3540e3a53607375c.png

Judging by this, you could get them with whichever sign of the Zodiac seemed appropriate. History does not relate whether the "water signs" were waterproof, but I suspect not.

I'm intrigued to see how the "love, luck and business" mechanism works. We have to assume it uses some very advanced gravity sensors to detect the positions of all of the planets and a very intricate arrangement of cams and levers to align those coloured flags (or alternatively it is driven by the hour wheel). 
 

I love it, amazing condition!

Posted
2 hours ago, AndyHull said:

image.thumb.png.0c81cc9f309d847e3540e3a53607375c.png

Judging by this, you could get them with whichever sign of the Zodiac seemed appropriate. History does not relate whether the "water signs" were waterproof, but I suspect not.

I'm intrigued to see how the "love, luck and business" mechanism works. We have to assume it uses some very advanced gravity sensors to detect the positions of all of the planets and a very intricate arrangement of cams and levers to align those coloured flags (or alternatively it is driven by the hour wheel). 
 

Haha i like mech explanation 1 but explanation 2 is just a bit more plausible . I'll pul the back off shortly to have a look 

20 minutes ago, GuyMontag said:

I love it, amazing condition!

The seller had 5 zodiac signs all bought as nos last year,  mine does have a slight scratch at the bottom of the crystal but yes very good condition 

  • Like 1
Posted
10 hours ago, AndyHull said:

I found a very good article about these, so if you don't want to peek behind the curtain to see how the magic works, don't click the link.

Those gravity sensors are pretty slick.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/tbt-first-astr

10 hours ago, AndyHull said:

I found a very good article about these, so if you don't want to peek behind the curtain to see how the magic works, don't click the link.

Those gravity sensors are pretty slick.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/tbt-first-astrological-watch-astromatic-x/

ological-watch-astromatic-x/

Interesting find Andy, the seller in the link Miklos, i contacted a couple of years ago, he specialises in buying huge joblots of nos from around the world mostly retro style but some other obscure stuff as well for repair, moisture damaged due to long storage. When i came across him on ebay at the time he had a massive inventory of spaceman watches, leds and funky Tressa that caught my eye. Some really nice retro gear and not overpriced for what would be old unused watches of good quality. I wasn't shy in coming forward like the chap that did the write up, i dared to ask Miklos how come he had so much nos , if you dont ask questions then you dont find out 😅

3 hours ago, Razz said:

Tough act to follow. I will have to go with my early 1970s  "TV" Constellation.20240103_2210373.thumb.jpg.3af937545f402343e7e4798fd598be0f.jpg

No thats pretty cool as well, although i could sell it and buy all 12 of the Astromatic zodiac signs 😉

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

Here is my NOS example that I just finished. A 1971 Bulova with a 30 Jewel 10COAC movement. It has a deep red dial that fades to black at the edges. I swapped out the original strap for a custom made one that matches well with the dial color.

 

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Edited by GuyMontag
  • Like 11
Posted
1 hour ago, RichardHarris123 said:

The case and dial look in excellent condition, did you do anything but a clean and polish? 

I serviced it and cleaned the case, it didn't need much.

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Posted

1969 Buova Sea King. Nice non-complicated clean dial with period font numbering that is pretty nostalgic, at least for me.DSCN57552.thumb.JPG.231f5a42f6049e07499c07bf3332e663.JPG

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I finally got around to replacing the clasp on my 1972 Seiko 6139B chronograph. One of the ears on the old one had completely worn away so it would randomly pop off my wrist, which is less than convenient.

It did need a little percussive persuasion to get together, but I'm pleased to have it back on my wrist. I really love this watch.

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  • Like 4
Posted (edited)
12 hours ago, ManSkirtBrew said:

It did need a little percussive persuasion to get together

Yes, as watch repairers we never ever use force, we use percussive persuasion! 🤣 

Edited by VWatchie
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