Caveman's Watch Forum
Avatar Is Happy Day! Tom Swift Watch Mk4 (and a request for Please help!). Post contains photos

Ricky Lee

March 13, 2009 03:14AM
Registered: April 2005
Posts: 2,347 (2009-04)

I haven't really finished this one yet, but I'm so pleased with it that I just have to share. Sorry fer bein' such a turd as to post a WIP.. but, weel, you see it, ye'll forgi' me I'm sure. Wink, wink ...

'tis definitely All About The Movement with this one;


Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Total out of left field, this brand / movement. UT caliber 29? Unichron? Never heard of either, but the movement is gorgeous, in a workmanlike way that I find appealing. Strikes me as German, but I honestly don't have a clue. Hence my plea for Help needed!.. Wink, wink ...

I intended to research UT and/or Unichron today on the fat pipe at work but, alas, the real-world prevented it (IOW, I didn't have a spare minute today at work, aside from my reg'lar duties, plus flirtin' wi' dozens o' ladies lookin' for Used Watches. I am confused... Dirty Job Scary!, but summon gotta do it. So tell me, you Horological Historians, wassup with UT / Unichron? Wink, wink ...


Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

ENnyway, no it ain't finished. Mostly 'cause the bloody crystal popped loose in me hand when I was performing step 3 of the TSMoOWR. I can't decide if I should get a crystal that's 1/10th mm bigger, or just cement this one in place. Hmmmmm. How would a Caveman do it... Wink, wink ...

'night, Y'all!

-Ricky


Messages In This Thread

Is Happy Day! Tom Swift Watch Mk4 (and a request for Please help!) Post contains photos (Views: 96)
Ricky Lee -- March 13, 2009 03:14AM
I got no clue, but that movement is Cool!! (n/t) (Views: 9)
Dave Murphy -- March 13, 2009 03:39AM
A caveman would chink that crystal with a mud/dung mix. Rolling on the floor laughing my a$$ off! (Views: 9)
Chris L -- March 13, 2009 03:37AM
Works for log cabins, it has to work for watch crystals. Lauging out loud!
The Dude abides! I'm tryin' t' change me image here. I am angry! Tom Swift wouldn't use dung. No indeed. He'd use Textured Fiber-Reinforced Beast Feces. Crazy! Loco! (Views: 9)
Ricky Lee -- March 13, 2009 04:04AM
Laughing!

-Ricky

UT = Universal Time = Seiko (Views: 22)
bjohnson -- March 13, 2009 03:26AM
Back in the day, "Made in Japan" didn't exactly sound good to North American buyers.

Seiko sold ebauches to other companies under the named Universal Time Co (just to confuse everyone, there is a DIFFERENT Universal which I think was Durowe after the Swiss Ebauche group bought it. Durowe was a German movement maker that the Swiss bought to get easy access to the German market.)

Anyway ... UT 29 = Sportsman = Seiko 66

Side by side comparison Post contains photos (Views: 32)
bjohnson -- March 13, 2009 03:53AM
Seiko 66B photo from Ranfft on right
Unichron Seiko

Looks durned close to me! Cool!! (n/t) (Views: 6)
Ricky Lee -- March 13, 2009 04:31AM
Wow. There's no doubt. Cool! (n/t) (Views: 7)
Dave Murphy -- March 13, 2009 04:25AM
No, no, no... that's not it at all > (Views: 18)
TakesALickin -- March 13, 2009 03:41AM
Unichron, as all watch enthusiasts know, was the short lived venture into watch manufacturing by the Mormon church back in the late sixties/early seventies. The "UT", of course, is their tribute to the land they call home, Utah. The Utah caliber 29 was legendary for its workmanlike finish, and for the fact that you could marry it to parts from other watch movements... lots and lots of other watch movements.

Some say I know too much watch history, but I'm always glad to share. You might even say it's big o' me! R O T F L M A O !!!!

Lunch...slowly rising...here it comes... This makes me puke! This makes me puke! Crazy! Loco! (n/t) (Views: 8)
Chris L -- March 13, 2009 03:47AM
Ah, then my work is done here! R O T F L M A O !!!! (n/t) (Views: 6)
TakesALickin -- March 13, 2009 03:53AM
Always a pleasure to watch a man who knows what his job is, and does it in a journeyman style. Thumbs UP! (Views: 8)
Ricky Lee -- March 13, 2009 03:59AM
Even if the job is "Class Clown"...

Laughing!

-Ricky

Cue rimshot! R O T F L M A O !!!! (n/t) (Views: 7)
TakesALickin -- March 13, 2009 04:04AM
After reading this, that movement's regulator does look decidedly Japanese (n/t) (Views: 8)
Chris L -- March 13, 2009 03:33AM


Avatar Tom Swift Refurb Mk4 v. 1.10. Post contains photos
Ricky Lee
March 16, 2009 12:31AM
Registered: April 2005
Posts: 2,347 (2009-04)

The movement of the little Unichron is so lovely that I just couldn't resist givin' the case and crystal a wee polish today. Wink, wink ...

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Cleaned up fairly well, if'n I do say so meself. WIS honeymoon Cool as it is, this one may find its way to the Seiko/Citizen sales forum. Wink, wink ...

-Ricky


Messages In This Thread

Tom Swift Refurb Mk4 v. 1.10 Post contains photos (Views: 63)
Ricky Lee -- March 16, 2009 12:31AM
It is a little beauty Ricky, such a classic look. Thumbs UP! Is it a Citizen? I am confused! (n/t) (Views: 14)
Thomas -- March 16, 2009 01:36AM
Nope, UT = Universal Time = Seiko export product (n/t) (Views: 11)
Ricky Lee -- March 16, 2009 02:08AM
Beauty! Looks like a bit of work is needed>> (Views: 17)
Dave Murphy -- March 16, 2009 01:32AM
>>resetting the hands, but the you're good to go. How bout a nice padded leather strap for that?

Dave
Ontario NY, USA

Yup. Oops ... my mistake! I just today learned how to accurately synch the... (Views: 15)
Ricky Lee -- March 16, 2009 02:06AM
..hour and minute hands. I am confused... Practice makes perfect! Laughing!

Thing is, I could've sworn I had 'em a lot closer'n that. Crazy, man! They're nearly 30 minutes off! Scary!

-Ricky


Avatar I was itchin' to try out my spiffy new Horotec handsetting tool.. Post contains photos
Ricky Lee
March 27, 2009 10:33PM
Registered: April 2005
Posts: 2,347 (2009-04)

..last night, and the obvious candidate was the poor li'l Unichron 17-jewel on which I'd totally botched Oops! My goof! synching the hands in an earlier attempt. The Horotec tool is the dog's bollocks, and while I still didn't get the hands synched perfectly..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..it's Close Enough For Rock 'N' Roll, I reckon. Wink, wink ... Or close enough for..


Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo

..a Caveman Watchmaker, anyway! Laughing!

Anyway, it's the movement that I love with this one. Pity it doesn't have a display back. Wink, wink ...

-Ricky


Messages In This Thread

I was itchin' to try out my spiffy new Horotec handsetting tool.. Post contains photos (Views: 72)
Ricky Lee -- March 27, 2009 10:33PM
That movement reeks A.Schild (post WWII) 1960's ??? -- somewhere in the 10xx calibers >>> (Views: 14)
John Lind -- March 28, 2009 08:54AM
I was thinking Unitas from the UT . . . but think that it's Unichron giving its own caliber number for the movement with a signed bridge. The clues are the layout of the wheel trains . . . some of the bridge work . . . and a couple visible mounting points. If it is an AS, it should be quite durable and very reliable. AS did a lot of ebauches in their heyday.

John
Apparently it's a Seiko product, based on the 66B movement.. (Views: 12)
Ricky Lee -- March 28, 2009 04:12PM
We discussed it a couple of weeks ago in this thread. (see above)

I haven't tried to independently verify this info, but the side-by-side photos make a powerful argument... Wink, wink ...

-Ricky

You're right... that is a gorgeous movement. Thumbs UP! (n/t) (Views: 12)
kentparks -- March 28, 2009 12:15AM
Thank you Kent! Coming from a man with your broad and deep experience in All Things Horological, that means a lot! Thumbs UP! Post contains linked URL (Views: 12)
Ricky Lee -- March 28, 2009 02:04AM
I've got peanuts in this one, and I'm thinkin' that if I'm ever gonna best the 1082% profit I turned on this Timex, this would be the one to do it.

Thing is, I'm startin' to WIS honeymoon it so much that I'm not sure I could bear to part with it... Crazy, man! Laughing!

-Ricky

The Dude abides! you gotta try again Wink, wink ... Laughing! I am smiling (n/t) (Views: 11)
Adam in NYC -- March 27, 2009 10:37PM
Nah, I did my part. I am smiling The slight error you see.. (Views: 13)
Ricky Lee -- March 27, 2009 10:51PM
..I put down to backlash in the movement.

No! Honest! They were lined up perfect (immobilized with Rodico) when I set the minute hand. But when I buttoned it up, wound it, and set the time I am angry!! there was that pesky 2 or 3 minute error. I am crying!

Ah well. Like I say, close enough for a Caveman. Wink, wink ...

-Ricky

P.s. - mind you, if I can't think of another victim, I might give it another go just to get more practice with the tool. Laughing!


Photo update from May 23, 2009:

Unichron handwind

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Unichron handwind

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Unichron handwind

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Pity the photos show the paint damage around the periphery of the dial so mercilessly.. it really don't look that bad on the wrist. Wink, wink ... (TaL cliche #32? Laughing!)

ENNYway.. thanks for lookin'! I'll drink to that.

-Ricky


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