What made you smile recently (2023)?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Maybe Dick.jpg
 
TLDR- Got an old watch, took it to be repaired, it’s nearly ready.

Not a jokey one but it’s made me smile so much!

I bought a rather battered looking Hamilton Boulton watch from the US unseen. The photo’s were not good and there were no guarantees given. Returning an item to the US with all the taxes, duties and customs hassles you incur wasn’t going to happen.

I risked it because after reading the interesting history of Hamilton I wanted the original Boulton mechanical 14k gold fill from the original factory in Lancaster Pennsylvania. If it wasn’t what I thought it was I’d just chalk it up to a gamble that didn’t pay off.

It arrived in better condition than expected. The awful cheap strap didn’t help the aesthetics so I was thrilled to discover Hamilton (in it’s present day form) still make the correct strap. I also managed to get not one but two old Hamilton buckles in keeping with the watches of that era AND the scratch across the face wasn‘t as deep as pictured, so far so good.
I wound it up and off the hands went.. and went fast. Six hours ahead in just 12 hours actual time 😑

Birthday time came around so rather than any gifts I requested a contribution to getting the watch restored. Not completely like new, I’d like it to look its age but you know good for its age, like me 😉 😆

I trotted to the ‘Horological Underground’ in Bristol who are lovely and left it there in September expecting a very very long wait and a very large bill.
They just emailed. It’s currently on test but looking like it‘s working well. The service and rest of the work is only £300 (that’s excellent value in watch restoring world) and they sent pics of it’s innards so I can use the serial numbers to find it’s date of manufacture!

Time for a cup of tea and some serial number date research. Might even break out some chocolate 😁

Can’t wait!!! 😊

When I pick it up I’ll post some pics.
 
SandwichShortOfAPicnic said:
TLDR- Got an old watch, took it to be repaired, it’s nearly ready.

Not a jokey one but it’s made me smile so much!

I bought a rather battered looking Hamilton Boulton watch from the US unseen. The photo’s were not good and there were no guarantees given. Returning an item to the US with all the taxes, duties and customs hassles you incur wasn’t going to happen.

I risked it because after reading the interesting history of Hamilton I wanted the original Boulton mechanical 14k gold fill from the original factory in Lancaster Pennsylvania. If it wasn’t what I thought it was I’d just chalk it up to a gamble that didn’t pay off.

It arrived in better condition than expected. The awful cheap strap didn’t help the aesthetics so I was thrilled to discover Hamilton (in it’s present day form) still make the correct strap. I also managed to get not one but two old Hamilton buckles in keeping with the watches of that era AND the scratch across the face wasn‘t as deep as pictured, so far so good.
I wound it up and off the hands went.. and went fast. Six hours ahead in just 12 hours actual time 😑

Birthday time came around so rather than any gifts I requested a contribution to getting the watch restored. Not completely like new, I’d like it to look its age but you know good for its age, like me 😉 😆

I trotted to the ‘Horological Underground’ in Bristol who are lovely and left it there in September expecting a very very long wait and a very large bill.
They just emailed. It’s currently on test but looking like it‘s working well. The service and rest of the work is only £300 (that’s excellent value in watch restoring world) and they sent pics of it’s innards so I can use the serial numbers to find it’s date of manufacture!

Time for a cup of tea and some serial number date research. Might even break out some chocolate 😁

Can’t wait!!! 😊

When I pick it up I’ll post some pics.
Click to expand...

My maternal Grandfather was a watchmaker. I wish I had learned to fix old watches and clocks from him. I could make A LOT of money with those skills today.

I never had a Hamilton watch, but they were always held in high regard. Very tasteful designs.

CD
 
caseydog said:
My maternal Grandfather was a watchmaker. I wish I had learned to fix old watches and clocks from him. I could make A LOT of money with those skills today.

I never had a Hamilton watch, but they were always held in high regard. Very tasteful designs.

CD
Click to expand...

Thanks CD.
So far I’ve not found a comprehensive enough catalogue to date the watch.
I have narrowed it down based on the movement in the watch first being used in 1934 and the crown not having an H on it making it pre-war.
As they stopped manufacturing civilian watches in 1942 to focus on supplying the war effort it has to be somewhere between 1934-1942

I shall keep searching to see if I can narrow it down further.

Honestly just because it’s Saturday all of my family are out socialising, what are they thinking when they could be tucked up indoors geeking out over serial numbers, fools 😆
 
The Velvet Curtain said:
View attachment 107203
Click to expand...

Does eating the tacos and pizza while watching the building burn to the ground count as a "rescue?"

CD

BTW, I recently heard that you Brits put punctuation outside of the closed quotes mark? I've never noticed, but we put punctuation inside the quotes, so if you noticed my punctuation, it's not a mistake, that's how we do it here.
 
caseydog said:
Does eating the tacos and pizza while watching the building burn to the ground count as a "rescue?"

CD

BTW, I recently heard that you Brits put punctuation outside of the closed quotes mark? I've never noticed, but we put punctuation inside the quotes, so if you noticed my punctuation, it's not a mistake, that's how we do it here.
Click to expand...

Kinda. It's inside the quote marks if the quote is or was originally a question and outside if you're questioning the quote.
Hmm clear as mud 😂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom