Caveman's Watch Forum


Travel Report Update! - Better late than never (Swiss trip 2011)

June 10, 2011 12:26AM

Today is my last day at Monnier-Zahner AG, and I've been meaning to show you some photos all week. What can I say? Busy, busy, busy! But I've got a half-hour to kill this morning, so here ye go.

MZ was founded in 1964, but has it's roots in a much older company which catered almost exclusively to the watchmaking industry. This automatic lathe was built in 1902:

Photo by Ricky Lee


Photo by Ricky Lee


Photo by Ricky Lee


On the left is my traveling companion Mr. Chandranayan Baxi, and on the right is our host, Herr Roland Wälti.

Photo by Ricky Lee


Here are a couple of modern MZ CNC machines "in progress"...

Photo by Ricky Lee


Photo by Ricky Lee


And here are some typical workpieces for their machines. Seiko 6309 included for scale. Wink

Photo by Ricky Lee


Photo by Ricky Lee


Here's the clock in their cafeteria:

Photo by Ricky Lee


Note that the strap is rigged The Ricky Way (aka the Right Way Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off) with buckle-at-6.

Photo by Ricky Lee


These "Paul Bunyan Swatches" are a dime a dozen in Switzerland. I've noticed.. oh, maybe a couple of dozen of the things in my travels.

And I thought y'all like to see Herr Wälti's beater watch. Sorry for the crappy photos. Oops! These are very much Q&D, taken in a restaurant. Rest assured the watch looks a lot better in person. Laughing

Photo by Ricky Lee


Photo by Ricky Lee


Just your average everyday Triple-date Moonphase Power Reserve Automatic. Wink

Photo by Ricky Lee


And it's not really a beater, in fact it's the centerpiece of his collection.

Photo by Ricky Lee


Some centerpiece! It was an honor to run me grubby PMW fingers over it. Envious

Well, time to put the nose back to the ol' grindstone. Have a Grrrrrrrrrrrrr8! day me brothers!

Cheers!

-Ricky

Ricky Lee McBroom
"A man, like a watch, is to be valued for his manner of going." - William Penn
Messages In This Thread

Travel Report Update! - Better late than never (Swiss trip 2011) Image Attachments

 Ricky Lee 325 June 09, 2011 11:26PM

Re: Travel Report Update! - Better late than never
Lots of nice tooling and watches. Have a safe trip back.

 MCS 145 June 10, 2011 12:36AM

Re: Have a safe trip back.
Oh, I ain't headin' home just yet. I am confused Weekend is free, so I'm off to the Italian Alps.

Then Trossingen, Germany next week, and home on the 17th.

With apologies to Bob Frost, I've Miles To Go Before I Sleep.

Cheers!

 Ricky Lee 127 June 10, 2011 12:13PM

Hello Ricky! SmileThumbs up! (n/t)

 IF 131 June 10, 2011 02:05AM

Hmmm, belt-driven from the (ceiling-mounted) countershaft? (n/t)

 Dave Murphy 144 June 10, 2011 05:35AM

Ah - Lineshafting! (n/t)

 Flasharry 154 June 10, 2011 11:44AM

You got it! Thumbs up! 'twas the only viable option in 1902, really... (n/t)

 Ricky Lee 121 June 10, 2011 02:34PM

Looks like a great trip, Ricky.Thumbs up! (n/t)

 Mark C. 113 June 10, 2011 06:04AM

Thanks for the pics!Clapping! (n/t)

 itschris 128 June 10, 2011 07:04AM

That Patek is SMOKIN!!!! Drooling (n/t)

 dano0 129 June 10, 2011 10:51AM

Stunning movement on the Patek! Thanks for the pics! Thumbs up!Thumbs up! (n/t)

 Need_Omega 125 June 10, 2011 02:22PM

Hey RL, that Swatch in the cafeteria just MIGHT >>>
fit your manly, oversized wrist. laughing laughing laughing

 DJM 129 June 10, 2011 02:33PM

And then some. Oops! However..
..I'm thinkin' that I could wear it as a belt, without too much "tail" left over...

Laughing

 Ricky Lee 113 June 10, 2011 02:39PM

Re: I'm thinkin' that I could wear it as a belt, without too much "tail" left over
laughing

 DJM 122 June 10, 2011 05:24PM

damn upside down bass akward strapping people....should be beaten with a sack of horse shoes.....
seriously, great post, but how can people wear such a contraption? Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off

 greg honeycutt 124 June 10, 2011 09:32PM

Thanks for the update Ricky. I find your journey fascinating. (n/t)

 Timemiser 119 June 10, 2011 10:15PM

Where's the cows? Laughing Better thread here Thumbs Up (n/t)

 wodo 118 June 11, 2011 06:54AM

Stunning 5036 Thumbs up! (n/t)

 Adam in NYC 126 June 11, 2011 08:35AM

Part One - Prequel Part Ten - Travel Day, Giant Swiss Knife
Part Two - Arrival / Fribourg Part Eleven - More Window Shopping
Part Three - Biel / Bienne Part Twelve - Swiss vehicles
Part Four - Window Shopping Part Thirteen - Homeward Bound
Part Five - Neuchatel, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, Jura mountains Part Fourteen - Bumotec and Hysek tours
Part Six - Swiss Cows, Misc. Part Fifteen - Musée Omega
Part Seven - Starting Gun Part Sixteen - Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle
Part Eight - Side trip Part Seventeen - Martin and Ueli do Memphis
Part Nine - M-Z factory, Patek < Return to Watch Blog Index >

< Next installment is HERE >