Today I stepped it up a notch. I’m still playing the one man’s trash is another man’s treasure game. The funding for this endeavor is from items I found in the garbage and sold on eBay. 

After my first purchase of a vintage 1966 Seiko automatic ~ I spent $340 on watches. Since then I have recovered all but $54 and still have 2 watches and 3 straps to go. I’ve documented it all in a pending article.

Round 2:

Look what I bought today;
1) eBay: A Hamilton Automatic – my guess, sight unseen, is a 1958-60 K-458. Described as “works and is in great shape except for some scratches…” from the seller trying to open.

2) Ashford: I need a watch to wear and dealnews.com had a coupon for this mil-style SNGZ15 for $79 delivered… figured the reliable 7S36 will make a fun beater. It’s big~!

3) shopgoodwill: None too cheap for a “non-working” unidentified “dirty” old watch but I was still sore for losing on a dreamy Zodiac Glorious this morning. I failed on the Zodiac at $145 based on a 7 word listing with a blurry photo from a sketchy seller. Can anyone relate to the feeling of losing an auction… for an item that strikes a chord in your heart… that you were willing to go higher on… that you know is worth double.. but you ran out of time to think clearly in the final seconds ~ it’s brutal~!
I think this one is a 1958-60 Accumatic III. We’ll see soon enough.

That’s two vintage Hamilton’s and a new Seiko in one day. Somehow, I have to stop thinking about watches. How much did I spend on all three? $227. (the price of 4 hearing aids I found in the bottom of a bag of bathroom garbage that, even though I wore gloves, was gross. …was it worth it? lol… would you like to find a brand new Seiko SNZG15 in the trash with two vintage Hamilton automatics next to it?)

I’ll let you know how it goes when I write ‘flipping time; part 2′. I intend to learn about crystal replacement with these old Hamiltons. I will clean the non-functional one and sell one or the other when it looks pristine. I hope to fetch $200 for the one with the sweet deco lugs… an Accumatic?

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After selling my 1966 Seiko 5 Sportsmatic Deluxe, I chose a Tourneau-branded watch for daily wear.  The simple but sophisticated design is complimented by a new lizard band and I’m pleased with my $33 investment.

Find out what’s inside: 

Inside the caseback we can see a number, my guess is model/movement: T watch corp. 3050-0012. Today, Google says “Your search - tourneau 3050-0012 - did not match any documents.”

Finally, the movement… signed: T watch corp. unadjusted seventeen 17 jewels, Japan 0012

When was this Tourneau watch sold?
Was this 0012 movement made specifically for Tourneau?

wkp.us - ...my personal blog

It’s been a while since I’ve posted the hellish and discouraging price of petrol.

As you can see, we are being manipulated, controlled and punished by the United States Government and their pals, the petroleum corporations.

wkp.us - ...my personal blog

Our annual visit to Colebrook on Easter Weekend is never less than amazing, thanks to my incredible Aunt. When the Easter bunny shows up and the kids gather round it brings meaning to tradition and value to family gathering. I am so lucky to have been born of these beautiful folks.

I always have a favorite photo I’m willing to share. I do like this one of Debra messing with her steer:

Winner was somewhat on-the-fence regarding the calm white beast.

Lana slowly wades the brook with calm pleasure. She really is a dear creature:

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It began with the requirement; “analog watch with a second hand” – A watch for school, to record patient’s vitals. A $25 Timex would have been perfect, but, of course, I have to be difficult.

I queued dozens of watches in my Amazon wishlist. Querying the members of watchuseek.com was all it took for me to become hooked on horology. Since then I’ve begun to create a list of my watches here on wkp.us, buying vintage pieces online and delving into the world of watchmaking.

Had I known I’d take this turn I might not have sold three old Seiko’s and my broken Luminox.

watchuseek.com will have you ‘hooked’ on watches no time. There are Seiko ‘fanatics’ on that site that changed my desire for a T-Classic Tissot Tradition to a Seiko Automatic in hours. Set on wearing a classic 60′s style watch, I hastily ordered an Asian-market diver (Seiko SNZF25K1) that doesn’t resemble the watch I wanted at all~!

I’ve always been very much a seller on eBay and not much of a buyer. Now I’m watching as many items as I’m selling. I’ve already purchased three watches that predate my birth.

My first win was a Seiko 5 Sportsmatic Deluxe, a 25 jewel automatic manufactured in May of 1966.

This watch had some identifiable issues. One never is sure what “As-Is” means until you get your hands on it however, the crystal is ok, the case and caseback are fine and the watch runs smoothly.

I’m very pleased with my first purchase.

My idea here was not to win something I could wear tomorrow. (though that would be a bit more practical.) Watchmaking is perfect for my perfectionist eye and my penchant for mechanics. I’ve spent some eBay profits on a few new tools to compliment my existing array of small tools. My first buy was a Digital Caliper.

Look at this 25 jewel automatic movement made in Japan in 1966.

I did my first watch repair after taking some dilaudid with red wine. I questioned my timing but everything went smoothly. Time disappeared while engrossed in the microscopic world of being hyper-vigilant under 10x magnification. I reset the hands and cleaned up the dial and inside of the crystal. I gave the watch a few shakes and went to bed. 12 hours later, the watch was right on time~!

Since then, I’ve been wearing this 1966 Seiko every day. It’s has kept time perfectly and, amazingly, held it’s “charge” for 30 hours when I set it down over Easter weekend. I believe I will sell it to raise money for that darn Sea-Gull that’s pestering me but honestly I will hate to see this one go. After wearing it about a month, I am certain this is the perfect watch for me~!

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I’ve started Volunteer work while I am still disabled. It’s been great and not at all difficult or uncomfortable. For some reason I am able to get under the skin of the difficult and depressed… but I stay well away from the bitchy.

Tomorrow I find out my scores on the mid-term and hopefully will pass my skills evaluation.

PS: I get a shot in the neck on the 29th. Keep your fingers crossed they don’t pith me. (see pithing)

–

Update: 3/27 – I know it’s the 27th because FedEx is supposed to deliver a package that has been sitting in Stamford for 48 hours and will take them two more days to deliver. I’m really glad Tom Hanks lost Wilson. Serves him right for getting paid to promote such a crock.

I got a 94 on my mid-term, serves me right for not thoroughly reading the chapter on “Senses”.

The shot in the neck is called a Cervical Transforaminal Injection. …day after tomorrow.

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I ordered a watch … by sending a lump sum via Paypal to a random email address answered by an entomologist by the name of Wayne on Tuesday, March 13th. I can only wait and see. Today Fed Ex shows “my” parcel in… Bayan Lepas, a town in Penang, Malaysia.

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New England saw no evidence of winter this year. February 23rd the flowers are blooming. There’s little more depressing.

Not sure I mentioned I’m in school, studying Nursing. If I wasn’t sitting at a wooden desk I wouldn’t tell you I’m completely enthralled and hopefully not fooling myself when I say I’m doing quite well. In a way it’s better to be an adult with an interest… than a kid fulfilling requirements.

I got insurance in the middle of this cervical radiculopathy. I don’t know why that word’s not in the dictionary. P.T. is/isn’t comforting.

I miss something but I won’t tell you about it.

btw: Those flowers are called snowdrops… so Where’s the SNOW?

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Kohl’s must have known I would be shopping…

wkp.us - ...my personal blog

Happy Birthday Winnie.

You’re a true champ.

wkp.us - ...my personal blog