nicewatchdude Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 This Illinois movement does not use a detent to lock in the stem to the case. It's a 12 size and needed some size adjustments I had figured out a while ago how to get these movements to work for Pilot cases, but thought it would look amazing in a Radiomir if made to fit, wind, and set successfully. I wanted to give it a try and shed some possibilities and plus have an amazing build For this type of conversion I had to make a custom case tube because the stem and sleeve I found (after a lot of searching for one) to use had a very small sleeve and .9mm threads which would fit a crown that came with one of my JTSE auto movements, but not the typical 1.2mm 6497 size crown. Being I don't have a lathe, I managed with a dremel and some Jewelers EZ silver solder to make it. Old case tube on left, new one on right. Okay new one looks kind of funny It took me part of a day to do this and solder/shape the case as well I used brass tubes from a jewelry supply house to start with the basic shape, then refined it on the dremel. Staybright lead free SS solder was used to lock it into the case, same stuff as used on the lugs. Movement in the case along with new reshaped crown. Luckily I got Southy to make me a custom painted 2533 before he stopped making dials. I think it works, what do you think I designed and made the strap and custom for this watch. Special thanks to Blueraddish on HF for threading it! another movement shot with beautiful and extremely well made Athaya (HF) case back. Vintage ring of fire on the bezel under the plexi serves two purposes. It was made with 30 minute epoxy as a medium, so it holds in the plexi to the bezel as well. More movement shots Wristy Hope you enjoyed this, cheers :!: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteM Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 F**k Me mate.... this has to be one of the best threads I have seen in a while.... That was simply fantastic work and great thinking... but with a dremel.... mate thats worthy... I really really like it for so many different reasons.... just the lume alone... let alone the movement... Kudos mate...... Very sweet .... Very Tasty :thumbsupsmileyanim: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 Fantastic build Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickdick Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 Stunning build. Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormTooper4 Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 That is fantastic. That balance wheel is wonderful and the whole watch is brilliant. Great work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adz Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 Wow, that is SO pretty! I love love love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
projectologist Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 Another great build and choice of movement! That particular movement goes beautifully with the pillow-shape case. Lots of good decisions made and executed making it all fit together, both functionally and aesthetically Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicewatchdude Posted June 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 (edited) Thanks for you compliments everyone ! Here's a couple side angle shots I forgot to include Edited June 29, 2011 by nicewatchdude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickdick Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 I was wondering about the crown. Tough totally unsigned exepct from the movemnet, i think a signed crown of some sort would add character and history to the watch. Eitherhow enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted June 29, 2011 Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 I don't know if he has any more of these, but The Zigmeister used to advertise these exact vintage PAM case w/vintage USA watch movements installed, in addition to his normal watch servicing business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicewatchdude Posted June 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2011 (edited) I've thought a lot about this. The typical Brevet crown would be historically inaccurate because one is Swiss and the other American. It would have been nice having the screw down option, but for making this sleeve system work, I luckily had an unmarked crown that has the right stem tube length for all the parts needed to combine. I was wondering about the crown. Tough totally unsigned exepct from the movemnet, i think a signed crown of some sort would add character and history to the watch. Eitherhow enjoy! He had something like this posted a looooong time ago in a Fiddy case set, different movement. He was a bit of inspiration for me to go through the trouble of figuring all this stuff out. It's taken a long time, but I was new to the hobby then. I named this post deliberately in Homage to that post I don't know if he has any more of these, but The Zigmeister used to advertise these exact vintage PAM case w/vintage USA watch movements installed, in addition to his normal watch servicing business. Edited June 29, 2011 by nicewatchdude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Very nice and well done, congrats on such a nice piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mene_menelaou Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 WOW! Nice work. Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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