TJGladeRaider

It's interesting to read thru the posts, since I spent so much time here so many years ago. It was a hoot ... trying to get an MBW vintage was just crazy. You had to work thru contacts, to find a guy who knew a guy, pay wait and hope. Back then, everything came with a Swiss ETA movement ... I have reps from 20 years ago that work just fine. Once the sources got to know you, you got first crack at things like the Rolex GMT with a 2893 movement, or the Panerai Sopras with the 2892. There were guys (Like The Zigmeister) who seemed to know everything about everything. I dunno how things are now, as I just got started reading thru some of the threads, but I'm sure glad to see some names I know here.

Hey Nanuq ... why am I not surprised to see that you're still here. It's amazing ... remember those Rolex GMTs that Josh had made up with the ETA 2893, mine still run perfectly. I also got that Paneria with the ETA 2892 Sopras and it's still perfect. To tell ya the truth, I have a lot of the old stuff that I cannot even identify. I guess my poor old brain has gotten old! Have they started to rep any of the watches with Tritium tubes? I spend a lot of time on my boat overnight so I really like the ones like Luminox. Bill

I just checked in for the first time in so many years ... I hope all has been well with everyone.

Has anyone had any experience with the Vintage Rollies that Josh and Andrew are currently offering? If so, how are they for mods ... how do they compare to the MBWs of old. They don't seem to be available with Swiss movements, but I have a few of the ETA 2836 lying around. I sure do like the vintages. Thanks, Bill

Nanuq ... Nanuq ... is that you Nanuq? If not, I suggest that you save that watch in a safe secure place til Nanuq dies ... you can easily claim that Nanuq modified that watch specially for you and it may have extraordinary collector's value then! Bill

Hey Nanuq ... I see you are still running around "fixing" things ... at least you're not using your hammer! You ever get down to Kentucky ... or want to. Since we chatted last, I've taken over the family estate here in KY, south of Lexington. It's really quite remarkable ... 150 Acres right on Lake Cumberland that has been in my family since 1916. The property has a little shack in the woods ... LOL Hope all is well with you and yours. Bill

I've had a couple of MBWs [the old guys here are laughing] and I had gen crowns and tubes put on many of them. I don't know about the tubes that came on them ... I was always told to replace crown and tube. The difference was always very dramatic. I see that the cartel is offering vintages that they say are vastly improved. In my wildest dreams, someone produces vintages as good or better than the MBWs. Has anyone had any experience with these new ones offered by Josh and Co.? It looks like they are not available with gen Swiss movements, but I have plenty of those if they are a direct replacement for the Asian clones. Hope all is well with everyone. Bill

Hi Ken, I had no idea ... thanks for letting me know. That's sad ... he was a really decent guy. Bill Are ya doing watch repair stuff. Jack, that Ubi referred me to for my gen can handle it but it looks like a long wait. He doesn't do anything with reps. Bill

Thanks, I sent him an email. Bill

I'm not retired but pretty much so since it takes almost all of my time to deal with everything on my plate here. How has everything been with you. Still haunting the board I see. Any good recommendations as to whom one would send watches to be repaired/modified since Rob retired? I have an O&W Mirage III with a Valjoux movement that needs to be repaired. It's a fabulous watch but too much vibration on the Harley broke the screw holding the rotor on. I have some other things that need repair as well. Thanks, Bill

Hi Freddy, glad to see you're still around. Check the ballistics of a hot loaded 500 grain 45-70 round ... a real shoulder killer. As far as Nanuq "missing," I dunno whether he can shoot worth a flip or not but I do know he is a serious threat to anything that ticks. LOL Bill

I have a wonderfully nice 45-70 you could use ... trajectory like a rainbow but the impact necessary to destroy the evidence. Funny thing about the 45-70. There are so many old rifles out there chambered for it, that most manufacturers sell what amounts to a cowboy load. The ammo intended for modern 45-70's is some pretty extreme stuff. Bill

Ohhhh, that's bad ... very, very bad. How have you been? You still vandalizing watches? Has anyone filled the MBW void ... I sure wish I had all the MBWs I liquidated when I got divorced. Bill

Sorry, couldn't help myself It's been a while since I checked in ... lots of developments in my life. For my old friends, I'm spending most of my time in KY these days. I didn't sell my home in Florida, but I'm heir to our family estate in KY (since 1916) and I have to be here to manage it. Quaint little shack in the woods! I'm disappointed to hear that Rob has retired. Ziggy has been a wonderful resource for many years. He certainly did some fabulous work for me. I just got back from vacation in Jamaica where I ruined a rep Panerai (that I wasn't particularly fond of) leading me to conclude that I needed a new gen dive watch. I ordered http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00725FCMC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00 and Amazon delivered it today. If the government could just be half as efficient as Amazon! I chose the solar option because I wanted a watch I could leave set until I needed it without having to set date/time. My first watch was a Seiko automatic dive watch, a high school grad present in 1975. That thing performed flawlessly for at least 15 years ... maybe 20. I hope this does as well. Anyway, good to see that so many of the old regulars are still around. Bill

I love this place! Bill