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It's a Happy Day! The new watch arrived! A new Tom Swift Quartz Conversion at Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches It's a Happy Day! The new watch arrived! Image Attachments Post contains linked URL

Ricky Lee
January 09, 2010 08:32PM
Registered: April 2005
Posts: 7,633 (2010-06)

This case was part of the Caveman Cornucopia which Bro. J. Brice Hébert sent along back in November, so it's been languishing on the Transplant List for quite a spell. The donor was a brand-new purchase at Wal-Mart. No real "before" photo, but here are the remains:

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

They only started selling this brand, Allude, within the last week or two, and most feature a sort of 'black chrome' coating like this one. While at first blush it might appear silly to gut a brand-new watch to fix up an old one, when you consider that Wal-Mart sells these things for $8 it actually makes good financial sense. I mean, that's cheaper than a PC21 module and a set of hands from Otto Frei, and I've still got useful parts left over (crystal, crown, caseback, maybe even the bracelet). Win-win!

BTW, while my calibrated eyeballs told me this thing was in the ballpark, I wasn't willing to take an $8 flyer. So I took along my calipers and trusty Swiss Army knife and disassembled and measured it in the store. This earned me some really odd looks from the staff but, before they could call Security, I concluded that it was a Go, and bought the watch.


Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

There was one dimension that was dicey, the stem-to-dial offset - the PC21 module was a massive 1.25mm shorter than the OEM Swissonic! The most elegant solution would have been a spacer between the dial and the case flange, but despite looking through all my spares I couldn't find anything suitable. While I've fabricated such spacers in the past, it's quite a chore, and requires removal of the crystal to do it right. Didn't feel like going there, so I decided to try an advanced (and, up until now, theoretical ) capability of my Movement Spacer In A Tube© system - Instant Dial Spacing©.

To accomplish this I first installed the module, including stem and crown. This meant that the dial lay in the case at a slight angle, with a 1.25mm gap between the dial and flange on the stem side, but touching on the 9 o'clock side. I then placed my four JB Weld 'dots' at the junction of the dial and case and, as the epoxy began to gel, levered the 9 o'clock side of the dial up to achieve an even 1.25mm gap all the way around. WooHOO! Worked a treat! The biggest challenge was the need to work quick. There's about a 30-second to 1-minute 'window' where the epoxy is at the right consistency to make the adjustment feasible. If you look closely at the photo, above, you can just make out the gap...


Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Bloody hard watch to photograph! The hands and chapter markers are mirror-finished silver (chrome?) and hard as hell to capture accurately.

Pretty big for a watch of this vintage (ca. 1972), at 40mm X 45mm X 12.5mm thick, 20mm lug width. Here's the caseback..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..proclaiming the all-Stainless case and manufacture. Why the snapin battery cover has 1-12 'dial markings' is a mystery to me. Anyone care to enlighten this dumb hillbilly?

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

I tried it on a NATO first, but that just seemed wrong. Hence the XL smooth calf strap from Uncle Otto, with generic deployant.

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Wears Grrrrrrrrr8!

Ironically, the HWS is probably the best of them all as far as capturing the chrome-finished hands and chapter markers. This is a pretty much spot-on representation Thumbs up! of how the watch looks to the naked eye, under most lighting conditions.

Thanks for lookin', y'all!



-Ricky




Messages In This Thead

It's a Happy Day! The new watch arrived!  A new Tom Swift Quartz Conversion at Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches It's a Happy Day! The new watch arrived! Post Contains Image Attachments Post contains linked URL (Views: 74)
Ricky Lee -- January 09, 2010 08:32PM
I would have PAID to watch you at the WalMart >>> (Views: 20)
John Lind -- January 10, 2010 10:34AM
popping open the back of that watch . . . with knife and calipers in hand.
Only one thin dime, mind you, no more than that, to observe your chutzpah Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off.

Great job Ricky!
(maybe someone will have to look up "chutzpah" too).

Re: ..popping open the back of that watch . . . with knife and calipers in hand. (Views: 30)
Ricky Lee -- January 10, 2010 05:22PM
And I was working without a net, ye'll note! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off
Quote
John Lind
Great job Ricky!
Thanks Professor! Blushing
Quote
John Lind
(maybe someone will have to look up "chutzpah" too).
Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off

-Ricky

Re: ..And I was working without a net, ye'll note! Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off (Views: 17)
John Lind -- January 11, 2010 05:12AM
Quote
Ricky Lee
And I was working without a net, ye'll note! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off
-Ricky
Maybe YOU were working without a net, but . . . WalMart store security DOES work with a net, and . . . they were undoubtedly getting ready to use it on you Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off

Re: WalMart store security DOES work with a net, and . . . (Views: 21)
Ricky Lee -- January 11, 2010 01:27PM
Quote
John Lind
they were undoubtedly getting ready to use it on you Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off
Eek! Laughing Eek! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off Eek!

I can see the headline now: MISSISSIPPI MAN KNOWN ONLY AS 'THE MAD WATCHMAKER' TASERED WHILE DISASSEMBLING WRISTWATCHES AT WAL-MART

And, of course, the interview with Security: "Yup, I Tasered the pee-pee out of 'im. Had no choice! Big brute, he was, and that weapon he was holding (he called it a 'caliper'! Eek!) looked like it coulda pinched yer nose right off!"

More on this breaking story at 11!

Laughing

-Ricky


Handy work RL! Thumbs up! It would've been funny if the module not worked & you walked -w/ parts askew! (n/t) (Views: 16)
Nuvolari -- January 10, 2010 05:13AM
Oh, I'd have buttoned 'er back up & left it like I found it. Then.. (Views: 22)
Ricky Lee -- January 10, 2010 04:31PM
..I'd have field-stripped another candidate. Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off

Just pure luck I hit it on the first try.. and "perfect fit" barely does it justice! The I.D. of the case measures 31.6mm, and the dial of the Allude checks in at 31.45mm. That's a mere 6-thousandths, for you inch types.. almost too close a fit! Smile

-Ricky


Well . . . I was going to suggest either month of battery change . . . OR >>> (Views: 20)
John Lind -- January 10, 2010 04:04AM
Could also be markings to line up the hatch if it's "keyed" in some manner. However . . . the usual markings for keyed hatches are simply pairs of index marks (e.g. arrows or pointers) . . . this would be a more unusual approach. From the pix, it appears the hatch may not be completely seated?
Re: Could also be markings to line up the hatch if it's "keyed" in some manner. (Views: 23)
Ricky Lee -- January 10, 2010 02:58PM
No, it's not keyed, and will snap in at any angular position. 'Battery change tracker' makes perfect sense to me, so I'm thinkin' that has to be it. Smile
Quote
John Lind
From the pix, it appears the hatch may not be completely seated?
No, it's fully seated, it just has a rather thick flange.. I make it .95mm. In fact, I initially wondered if the thickness of that battery hatch might not cause a comfort / wearability issue, as the edges are square and quite sharp. But as it turns out, it's not a problem. Thumbs up!

BTW, by happy coincidence the battery hatch lines up almost perfectly with the battery of the li'l PC21 module. So one could conceivably change the battery by popping off the small battery hatch cover. However, since the main caseback is a snapin, I'll probably just remove the whole shebang for battery changes. Just as easy, and you get a lot more working room that way.

-Ricky


Nice work in the store, Ricky. LOL Thumbs up! (n/t) (Views: 17)
Mark C. -- January 10, 2010 12:17AM
Thank you! Mark. Hey, "The customer is always right", right? Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off (n/t) (Views: 23)
Ricky Lee -- January 10, 2010 02:43PM
You could set the battery cover to the month of the new battery Smile Nice job RL! (n/t) (Views: 25)
itschris -- January 09, 2010 09:53PM
That was my thought too Chris (Views: 266)
Chris L -- January 10, 2010 03:17AM
I know a typical 214 Accutron movement goes a year plus on a battery change, so that battery cover would be a good reminder on how close you are to a battery change.
I'm sold! Battery Life Tracker 'tis. But answer me this (and I'm a bit surprised no one commented on this).. (Views: 36)
Ricky Lee -- January 10, 2010 02:41PM
..see how the minute hash marks are in 1-minute increments from 0 to 30? Then, from 30 to 60 they change over to 1/3rd-minute (!) increments.

WTH is up with that, you reckon? I am confused

I mean, it's a subtle enough design cue not to bother me. Indeed, I think it looks kinda cool. Thumbs up! But I can't see any logical reason behind it... Wink

-Ricky
Perhaps the $6 version is all 1-minute marks, and the $10 version is all 1/3 minute marks. LOL (Views: 22)
Chris L -- January 10, 2010 02:51PM
I'm going to guess there were less people wearing ties involved in the design inspection and approval process for this maker of watches than there is for most brands. Possibly went straight from somebody's computer after he spent a whopping 45 minutes whipping it up into the dial printing shop for a production run that afternoon.
Hey, that might well be! Smile Oddly enough.. (Views: 21)
Ricky Lee -- January 10, 2010 03:08PM
..the thing does sport at least one design feature that's generally considered to be the hallmark of a 'high end' watch in that not only does the bracelet have solid links, but solid endlinks. Cool

Didn't notice the SELs at first, until I went to remove them and discovered they're held in place not by springbars, but with split pins. Kind of a bummer, actually, since it means I'll not be likely to find any further use for the bracelet.

-Ricky


Nice try.. but Murphy beat ye by 18 minutes. Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off (Views: 22)
Ricky Lee -- January 09, 2010 10:21PM
FWIW, I'm thinking you're exactly right, though! Thumbs up!
Quote
itschris
Nice job RL!
Thank you! Chris!

-Ricky


Looks cool, RL! You need to get a >> (Views: 21)
Dave Murphy -- January 09, 2010 08:42PM
>> magic sponge or scratch brush to touch up those brushed finishes. Or maybe a scotchbrite pad.

But don't you just love when you find an all-steel case, so you need not worry about the plating?

So, do you suppose that the battery cover is marked so that it provides a record of when last the battery was changed? If it is as old as you think, I bet battery life was not much more than 1 year.
.

Dave
Somewhere on the South Shore of Lake Ontario

Re: ..magic sponge or scratch brush to touch up those brushed finishes. Post Contains Image Attachments Post contains linked URL (Views: 35)
Ricky Lee -- January 09, 2010 10:12PM

I really should. I am confused I'll add it to me Uncle Otto list right now! Smile
Quote
Dave Murphy
Or maybe a scotchbrite pad.
I'm well-stocked with Scotchbrites, and have used them to touch up matte finishes. Never thought of trying the same with a brushed finish. Does it match pretty well? I am confused
Quote
Dave Murphy
But don't you just love when you find an all-steel case, so you need not worry about the plating?
Oh, aye! WIS Honeymoon Any full-SS case that crosses my path is almost certain to receive further attention.
Quote
Dave Murphy
So, do you suppose that the battery cover is marked so that it provides a record of when last the battery was changed? If it is as old as you think, I bet battery life was not much more than 1 year.
Doh! Oops!

Sure, makes sense. Just pop the cover back in so the month of replacement is aligned with the arrow. You could probably even narrow it down to the week, if you were really anal-retentive. Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off

Thanks Dave! You ARE the Man!

-Ricky


P.s. - look what my modest Googling skills turned up:

Stock photo

Never mind the Avia brand name, this watch appears to use the identical same case. However, the size is listed as "40mm lug-to-lug x 40mm width incl. crown", and that's definitely not a match. I am confused DoM is given as slightly later than I estimated, 1975.


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