Caveman's Watch Forum

Avatar It's a happy day today. The new watch arrived! We may have to add a new wing at Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches if this keeps up.. Post contains photos Post contains linked URL

Ricky Lee
May 02, 2009 12:59AM		 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 3,441 (2009-07)

And if so, we'd have to call it..

PaulGeo

..The PaulGeo Wing. Wink, wink ... Laughing!

Yep, Paul sent a whole tribe of wayward wristwatches my way. I kinda think of them as..

Photo by Ricky Lee

..The SoCal Contingent. I am smiling...

I'm gonna cheat and post individual photos, even though I haven't given most of these any attention other than a cursory inspection. First up is an unidentified Russian with a major problem. Paul warned me that "The Russian is rattling.", and it soon became apparent why..

Photo by Ricky Lee

..the entire rotor assembly fell off! Scary! Laughing! I halfway expected this, and was careful to contain the parts when I opened it up. The screw which holds the rotor in place is MIA, though, and I suspect it has worked it's way deep into the movement. Interesting caseback design and a pretty decent looking movement. The pusher at 2 o'clock advances the date. This one earns a prime spot in the Salvage Yard, and if I ever run short on projects (Riiiight! Laughing!), who knows?

Next up is a Citizen Eco-Drive chrono, alas, also very sickly. I am sad...

Photo by Ricky Lee

Paul noted of this one "Not sure if it's dead or not, you can experiment." Well, I did and, apparently, it is. Scary! Removal of the caseback revealed an 0850A movement, and a note inside the caseback sayin' "Use only 295-29 battery." However, said battery is not easily accessible, so I didn't pursue it any further. A pity, as this one is in very good condition cosmetically. Call it TZ 90%, and it'd be even higher if not for a couple of hairline scratches on the crystal. Almost tempted to ship this one off to Citizen CoServ for repair. But then that pesky integrated bracelet means that, short of duct tape, I'd still have no way to affix it to me wrist. Wink, wink ... So this one gets the penthouse in The Salvage Yard. Laughing!

Then we come to this li'l vintage Timex auto..

Photo by Ricky Lee

..which runs just fine, but is missing the crown. It moves to the top of the Transplant Waiting List, as I'm certain I have a donor crown & stem that'll fit. Look for it to be the subject of a Caveman Watchmaking feature Real Soon. Wink, wink ...

Likewise, this Casio..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo

..will soon receive my thumb-fingered attentions. Laughing! Dr. Paul diagnosed this one as "Needs strap and battery. The minute hand is loose, otherwise should work fine." Hey, resetting a minute hand I can handle! Thumbs Up! I do like this style, so as soon as I verify function (no 370/371 battery on hand, alas) it goes straight into the OR. I am smiling...

I have no suitable battery on hand for this..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo

..Seiko either, but Paul says "New battery and this one will work great. Subdials are too small for my old eyes." Seiko being Seiko, I'm sure the good doctor is right. I'll pick up a 373 cell ASAP, and we'll be in business. Note that while this one has the look of an integrated bracelet, 'tis actually just hooded lugs. So I have options here, either a leather strap, or perhaps thin nylon. The point may be moot, though, as me wife seems to've taken a shine to it... I am confused... Scary! Laughing!

This one, now, fired right up on installation of a fresh 377 cell;

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo

Quite an interesting li'l piece. A generic version of Indiglo, the pusher at 2 operates the backlight function. It's quite similar in design to the ChIndiglo, in that it uses a standard SII PC21 module at the core, with a separate lighting module built around it. But the lighting module here uses a pair of what appear to be 377 cells vs. the single 399 of the ChIndiglo. And I say "appears" because I didn't check for sure - unlike the ChIndiglo, this one not only works, but still had juice in the batteries! Thumbs Up!

And how about this?

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo

Another Timex automatic, this one fully functional and needing nothing at all that I can see, short of a little elbow grease (and, of course, a longer bracelet or strap I am smiling...). I love vintage Timexes, so this one will definitely get a considerable amount of wrist time!

And, yes, I've saved the best for last. Wink, wink ... Paul said of this one "..perfectly fine, but the crystal has a scratch so I can't sell it." Well, I had to look pretty darned close to find it, but sure enough..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..this beautiful li'l Orient 3-Star Day-Date auto does have a wee scratch. See it? Running between 6 and 7, and underlining the '50M' text? Might make it difficult to sell, but it don't bother me none! Indeed, I wasted no time swapping the bracelet (a so-so matte/polished folded link affair, way short for me) for a hunk o' nylon..

Photo by Ricky Lee

..and strapping that rascal on! WIS honeymoon Thumbs Up! WIS honeymoon Thumbs Up! WIS honeymoon

Sorry for the poor quality of the photos. Q & D, obviously, and taken under poor conditions. But my admiration for this one is such that, have no fear, I will take some better photos Real Soon. Wink, wink ...

So there you have it, the SoCal Contingent of Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches. I am smiling...

Please accept my humblest thanks for your generosity, Paul, and rest assured that I'll take good care of them. Thumbs Up!

-Ricky



Messages In This Thread

It's a happy day today. The new watch arrived! We may have to add a new wing at Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches if this keeps up. Post contains photos Post contains linked URL (Views: 109)
Ricky Lee -- May 02, 2009 12:59AM
Great post, Dr. Ricky! Thumbs Up! (n/t) (Views: 17)
Nuvolari -- May 02, 2009 03:17AM
Congrats on that haul, Ricky. Thumbs Up! x8 (n/t) (Views: 6)
Mark C. -- May 02, 2009 02:54AM
Holy cow! That haul will keep Mr. Swift busy for a couple hours at least! Applause! (n/t) (Views: 16)
Dave Murphy -- May 02, 2009 02:47AM
At least! I am smiling... I've already seen to the Casio and Seiko.. (Views: 23)
Ricky Lee -- May 02, 2009 05:39AM
..and both are running fine. Thumbs Up!

The Timex will take a bit more doin', but I may tackle it tomorrow.

-Ricky

< Back to My Watch Collection >