I *really* was cleaning some old stuff of my family’s, and…
Look at this little treasure trove. All my Dad’s or Grandad’s…
More info to follow, I know the Trafalgar LED is from about 1974, and the batteries apparently last a few months of use. I cleaned off some corrosion and…
Though, now I have figured out how to set the time, and view the seconds, I have somehow set it to twelve rather than 24 hour display. Which is annoying, as I can’t work out how to set it back.
The Smiths Astral is electronic rather than quartz, and didn’t like any of the batteries I offered it. It has a little mainspring, and now the crown doesn’t like to extend either. I really want to get it working, but don’t fancy my chances. Shame, cos it looks great and was probably my grandads.
The no-brand, small seconds (hand missing) scares me, as it’s probably fifties, radioactive, and the pass-through leather strap is brittle as heck.
The two deluxes, assuming they have the same movement as each other, are single jewel HK made hand-winding movements, again from the sixties or seventies maybe. They show no signs of life, at all. One wound a little and gave up.
The little round Geraldy is Swiss, small, hand winding, and also has no signs of life.
The Bund strap doesn’t really go with any of them, so goodness knows what else is in the box. (Two old Cameras, including a Brownie with some 126 film in. Am unsure what to do about that either, to be honest.)
Any tips on how to bring them to life? In as cheap a way as possible xD
Or how to get 24 hour display back on a seventies LED watch? I might go into my Roger Moore phase now…
Not really curious about value, they’re family, but if there are any I should be really really careful with due to rarity or whathaveyou, a quiet message would be handy.
Fortysomething stay-at-home father. Descendant of tinkerers, engineers, and owner of many pencils, tools, and arcane measuring devices.
What a cool find! I'd have been so excited to discover that lot!
What a cool find! I'd have been so excited to discover that lot!
I was. I didn’t expect to find watches! Apparently I also need to keep an eye out for some newspapers from the JFK assassination, moon landing… have already found a defense review catalogue from the mid seventies. I come from a long line of hoarders, which I always knew, it’s still surprising when you are looking at these things though.
And one actually works! It’s like buying a job lot on eBay, only better, because family and free!
I was. I didn’t expect to find watches! Apparently I also need to keep an eye out for some newspapers from the JFK assassination, moon landing… have already found a defense review catalogue from the mid seventies. I come from a long line of hoarders, which I always knew, it’s still surprising when you are looking at these things though.
And one actually works! It’s like buying a job lot on eBay, only better, because family and free!
That would be amazing if you found those! 🤯
Situation update — one of these is alive! And an Oris with no crown.
Update update: signs of life in all but the Oris. But, no crown, no wind. Also found the end link for an extendable bracelet that was with the others, so may be able to piece that back together. Exciting times in this house. And evidence my Grandad was even more similar to myself than I already thought — why else would there be random bits of watches, like a random crystal, also in the box.
That's a cool trove.
What an exiting find. The Geraldy looks interesting.
What an exiting find. The Geraldy looks interesting.
I’ve had it’s back off, and I fear it is beyond my power (which isn’t much of a surprise) looks like a small hooked piece of wire has wriggled to somewhere it shouldn’t. It wiggles a lot where it is now, which I think is a bad thing. I should probably read a book on it, and actually finish the book.
I think I’m going to be considering the unthinkable, and seeing if there are better homes for them if I can’t find a watchmaker that is in my range and budget.
I really want that astral to work, but it’s crown doesn’t even turn, and it appears to not like any battery.
If we are both at another meet up, I will bring it along if it’s still with me (I am a sentimental muppet, so it likely will be) for you to have a look at it.
Sounds like a good idea. I hope we will meet up.
Situation update — one of these is alive! And an Oris with no crown.
Update update: signs of life in all but the Oris. But, no crown, no wind. Also found the end link for an extendable bracelet that was with the others, so may be able to piece that back together. Exciting times in this house. And evidence my Grandad was even more similar to myself than I already thought — why else would there be random bits of watches, like a random crystal, also in the box.
Is there nothing where the crown and stem would be? Or has the crown gotten knocked off and the stem (probably a small hollow tube) is still there below the case?
Is there nothing where the crown and stem would be? Or has the crown gotten knocked off and the stem (probably a small hollow tube) is still there below the case?
I think it was mid repair when it vanished into the box — one of the (drilled) lugs is basically remade with solder or similar — and it has no stem or crown. I haven’t opened it yet to see if it’s snapped off and still in the movement. Might be lucky, and get one from eBay.
The annoying thing is, I reckon most of these would be fine after a full clean and a little service, but I know it’s beyond my ability — and probably not financially worthwhile. Especially as most of them are plated and losing it.
Fantastic treasure, enjoy perhaps getting them all working….,.🤔
I think it was mid repair when it vanished into the box — one of the (drilled) lugs is basically remade with solder or similar — and it has no stem or crown. I haven’t opened it yet to see if it’s snapped off and still in the movement. Might be lucky, and get one from eBay.
The annoying thing is, I reckon most of these would be fine after a full clean and a little service, but I know it’s beyond my ability — and probably not financially worthwhile. Especially as most of them are plated and losing it.
Well dang. I recently found my grandfather’s watch and while the crown was knocked off, the tube remained so I was able to get it working by inserting a tiny screwdriver and giving it a wind.
It probably wouldn’t take a lot of money to get them going at a good watchmaker… maybe just do one at a time?
Great find, btw!
Well dang. I recently found my grandfather’s watch and while the crown was knocked off, the tube remained so I was able to get it working by inserting a tiny screwdriver and giving it a wind.
It probably wouldn’t take a lot of money to get them going at a good watchmaker… maybe just do one at a time?
Great find, btw!
Yeah, I’m gonna focus on the Astral — electronic but with a sweep, and aside from the stuck crown looks like it’s weeks old rather than decades. That’s one I want to wear.
The mechanicals… I want the silver de luxe to come to life. (The black dial one has, but it’s in terrible shape)
Only watchmakers I know of are unlikely to touch them because of how old and non-branded they are.