dieselpower Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 As there is a lot of talk at the moment about 1665's I thought I would share with you my experiences with a basic (non-MBW) 1665 ETA that I have had for about 5 years. I do alot of building work and therefore did not want to wear a 'work watch' that was of great value so I opted for a basic 1665 (the type with an adapted sub case). Well I have abused this thing in all manner of ways, it has been immersed in plaster, bashed with hammers, scraped on walls, dropped etc etc. I found that the weak point was the springbars as they are so thin the watch comes away from the strap (NATO) when bashed so I had my step father drill the lugs for 2mm springbars. This done the watch is now solid as a rock, I hasten to add it has always been waterproof (at least good enough to snorkel with anyway). The movement never misses a beat and keeps excellent time. Unfortunately a slight error crept in. I was holidaying recently in Sardinia and I took 'old faithful' with me. A few days into the hols I confidently leapt into the pool for a swim. I wasn't in for long as the pool was not heated and after I got out I noticed - shock horror - that old faithful had let in a little water! Salt water to boot!! I also noticed that the glass of the watch was cracked in about 6 different places, I am talking hair line cracks that at first were not very noticeable. I was thrown into a deep depression as the movement had stopped working also. I couldn't believe it, this watch had been so good to me and I abused it so badly that the final drenching was just too much for the poor soul. I was bored and heartbroken by the pool so decided to persevere with the piece, I felt a little coaxing was the least I could do. I therefore opened the crown and placed the watch face down so gravity might draw the water to the glass rather than the dial/movement. After an hour or so the glass was covered in droplets of water - some quite large! I then manually wound the watch and lo and behold it started again - a miracle! I have now been wearing this watch for two weeks in the hope that the heat from my wrist will evaporate the water inside and I am happy to report that it has nearly all gone, about three more days should do it. But now to the point of this thread, I feel I owe it to 'old faithful' to replace the glass. Does anyone know where to get just the glass? I am no longer in contact with the supplier of the watch as he sent me a few duds and I stopped using him. Also, I have never done any work on a watch and have no specialist tools so was wondering if replacing the glass was practical for a rank amateur. I have of course smashed the bezel off 'old faithful' a few times but have just snapped it back in place and carried on with my work - that is about the extent of my watch repairing skills! Many thanks for taking the time to share my experiences and I hope that someone can help this piece receive the TLC it truly deserves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 OH GOD PLEASE POST PICTURES!!!!!!!! I bet this watch is just beaten and worn... Please show us what it looks like Lonnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Very nice story ! I would suggest that you contact Tribal as you're EU based. But, Ziggy would be a possibility too of course. Replacing the crystal is an easy thing but should be done very properly to save further water problems. And, yes, pls post some pics Cheers Stephane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosnik Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 (edited) I had one similar moding experience with one my 5 years hold DRSD non MBW. I always used on swimming pool and diving on all the see around the world. Two mouths ago I get a lot of mods (just to get my experience): holes fro gen springbars , GEN Crown and tube , gen Tropic , case reshape etc. During the mods I broke the original glass, so I tested to fit one T19 ( the T39 was too high for that light non correct bezel). Here some pictures: To get the T19 tropic, the problem was that the Gen tropic was bigger than the case seat. So I had to glue it with epoxy, and to be safe of the work done, I get one waterproof testing. The DRSD passed 2 ATM test without problem. I used it on my 2007 holidays diving at the sea and swimming without problems. Now I get one MBW and I'm modding it Edited September 20, 2007 by rosnik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Ok chaps. All I have to take photos is a telephone. Pug, please ignore this thread I suspect it will cause you too much pain to look at. I am also erm... how should I put it.... not quite the most computer literate of people. But, you asked for it so here goes.... this may take some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Found the wife's camera and used that. Apologies for lack of photo skills. Battery ran out of camera am recharging it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 wow that looks great. You can really tell its got some wear and abuse Those are good pics for a camera phone! Lemme know if you ever want to sell it.. would make some good parts for projects. Lonnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Lonnie, If I ever want to sell it! You must be joking , would a loving parent sell his children? Would a man sell his loyal dog? Old faithful and I go back a long way and he has not failed me yet, the least I can do is repay that loyalty with a little in return I will send Tribal a PM and see what can be done. My God, its like facing vet bills for an old pet that you just can't face putting to sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Oh well it was worth a try Lonnie, If I ever want to sell it! You must be joking , would a loving parent sell his children? Would a man sell his loyal dog? Old faithful and I go back a long way and he has not failed me yet, the least I can do is repay that loyalty with a little in return I will send Tribal a PM and see what can be done. My God, its like facing vet bills for an old pet that you just can't face putting to sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmg Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Great story DP, thanks for sharing -now those are battle scars, great looking! I hope you Old Faithful gives you another fives years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Did the red writing actually fade to a pink like i ngenuine Mark I dials?? Sure did! Pretty cool huh ! To Nanuq: Sorry to be stupid but don't know what you mean by using a roll of tape to get the back off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Nice when it fades to pink !!! Very poetic how you feel about it. Don't ever sell it indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Repaustria, If you think that is a lot of water you should have seen it when I was in Sardinia! Believe me the thing was swimming. I could turn the watch over and move the water around the glass by shaking it left to right, in fact after day one I could not even read the time because the glass was so covered in water droplets the time was illegible! I have just looked at the old boy and the water is now nearly gone so I think I will just leave him alone and take some more photos when he is completely dry and see if I can get one of you experts to replace the glass. Otherwise I will just carry on wearing him and see how long he lasts. This whole saga is reminding me of those old RLX adverts where somebody is digging in his garden and unearths a 40 year old watch and finds that it is still working - well all I can say is that it is a great testament to our far eastern friends that they can produce an item of such durability at a fraction of the cost of their European counterparts. It's funny how we all become so obsessed with accuracy and closeness to the gen piece and yet this (relatively) cheap rep with all its flaws and shortcomings can command such a place in my watch loving heart that I would not part with it for all the reps in China. Excuse me I am welling up........... Well, as always the saga continues. Thanks for all your interest, Old faithful and i are really touched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Old faithful is now resting in a bed of table salt. Lets see what tomorrow brings. We are both grateful for your advice and help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 Pug, please ignore this thread I suspect it will cause you too much pain to look at. Too late. Nice pics, especially considering they're from a phone. I see a watch with a lot of personality. True Wabi-Sabi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 i am concerned that the movement will be toast from the flooding of salt water when it first leaked... i wonder how long it would take to rust? Usually water of any kind is bad, but salt water will kill is much faster... Lonnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted September 20, 2007 Report Share Posted September 20, 2007 You and your crazy vintage gens!!You've always got a new pic for us. i assume its the UV light that fades it. Do you ever wear your DRSD outside? Toss it under a UV light for a bit and see what happens Would it be better to maybe lightly 'flush' the watch out with clean water then let it dry again??... you know.. to get any salt water out of the case and movement. Lonnie I wish mine would turn pink... 33 years and still waiting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted September 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 Pug, Damn! You noticed this thread and my photos. I actually took the pictures with my wifes camera which was lurking around when I was going to use my phone so that explains the amazing quality helped in no small part by my Baileyesque skills behind the lens . Repaustria, I have now retrieved the watch from its little bed of salt and I can confirm that all the water has vanished - you are a genius! Many thanks. I will post pics when I get a spare minute (and some daylight). Lonnie, I was thinking of 'flushing' the watch somehow but the idea of drenching the thing again fills me with dread. Does anybody have any experience of this? (The flushing I mean). All, Thanks again for your help but just to bug you all again I am still no closer to getting the glass replaced! Anyone got ant bright ideas? Regards Dieselpower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted September 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 Repaustria, I have put the watch on my wrist and it is streaming up again. I will continue to wear it today and give it the salt treatment again tonight. Thanks again for help. Will take better photos so you can see the dial when the glass clears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieselpower Posted October 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Now dry as a bone here is a photo especially for Repaustria so they can see the pink lettering, maybe I should call Old Faithfull a DPSD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Now dry as a bone here is a photo especially for Repaustria so they can see the pink lettering, maybe I should call Old Faithfull a DPSD? Damn, that's a cool watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephane Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Wow, if that is not a daily beater !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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