Pilot's watches. Well this was a surprise.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Asia
Posts: 1,376
Have a look on AliExpress for replacement Apple watch bands which go for £1-2. I bought one and can't tell any difference from the original. It's amazing how much you can save when you aren't paying the markup needed to support a fancy shop in a prime location.
Lubricating mechanical watches seems to be done by dropping a tiny amount of oil from the tip of a needle into precise locations rather than a quick spray of WD40.
Traditional pilots watches have a large, triangular shaped crown which enables them to be wound or adjusted whilst wearing gloves.
Lubricating mechanical watches seems to be done by dropping a tiny amount of oil from the tip of a needle into precise locations rather than a quick spray of WD40.
Traditional pilots watches have a large, triangular shaped crown which enables them to be wound or adjusted whilst wearing gloves.
Join Date: Apr 1998
Location: Mesopotamos
Posts: 1
Thanks for the tips bafanguy and Loose. 
For a watch that hadn't ticked over for god knows how many years, after a couple of false starts its been running for 15 hours on a single wind and is still going. I was expecting it to conk out soon after my posting but this was unexpected, mind you it is sitting flat and undisturbed on the bench.
But I do want to lubricate it because I'm also worried about corrosion, so will take the advice provided onboard. Many thanks for helping keep this little gem going, I may even start wearing it (and I had stopped wearing watches 25 years ago), just need to source a black leather band.
For a watch that hadn't ticked over for god knows how many years, after a couple of false starts its been running for 15 hours on a single wind and is still going. I was expecting it to conk out soon after my posting but this was unexpected, mind you it is sitting flat and undisturbed on the bench.
But I do want to lubricate it because I'm also worried about corrosion, so will take the advice provided onboard. Many thanks for helping keep this little gem going, I may even start wearing it (and I had stopped wearing watches 25 years ago), just need to source a black leather band.
Psychophysiological entity
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Tweet Rob_Benham Famous author. Well, slightly famous.
Age: 82
Posts: 3,131
Hmm . . . I found that a Mini or was it an 1100 or both has 159 parts IN ITS GEARBOX. It happens that's the same as a Steinway roller action in the mid range - if you count tape, felt, springs etc., - IN ONE NOTE
I bought several watches for spares, one for $9 in Texas, and I think they were all too good to break. With the stainless it's lovely to get the metal cut back and the right cut on the face case. The sides are polished. The cut is IIRC, 140 or 180 grit. Keeping the lines straight as they go over the curves is an art.
I had to be careful not to bling this case. Too much and it looks new and cheap. Leave a ding or two in rather than cut too much metal away.
$not too bad. Can't find that kind of sale anymore. I'd pay that for the coils and circuit. If I was lucky.
I bought several watches for spares, one for $9 in Texas, and I think they were all too good to break. With the stainless it's lovely to get the metal cut back and the right cut on the face case. The sides are polished. The cut is IIRC, 140 or 180 grit. Keeping the lines straight as they go over the curves is an art.
I had to be careful not to bling this case. Too much and it looks new and cheap. Leave a ding or two in rather than cut too much metal away.
$not too bad. Can't find that kind of sale anymore. I'd pay that for the coils and circuit. If I was lucky.
