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Sunday, October 29, 2023

1953 Lindsay

 My blog has over 816 posts which makes me wonder how many unique models I've detailed.  A quick count shows I've documented 686 wrist watch models and another 34 pocket watch models.  There are about 1,000 unique wrist watch models and the ones that remain to be found are, obviously, more obscure, either rare, solid gold, or just way too expensive for my tastes.

I've posted on my project watch previous but this is a one year wonder, the 1953 Lindsay, so you don't see if very often.  It came in a 10K gold filled case and looks similar to several other models from the time.  Perhaps that was the reason it was only produced for a single year.  It was available on a leather strap or a metal bracelet.


Tucked inside the case is a 17 jewel 12/0 sized 752 movement.

As received, the project watch is in pretty good shape.  The crystal is a bit beat up but the case looks to be in great condition.


The case back is unengraved and exhibits little wear.


With the crystal out of the way you can see the dial is in very good shape.  The butler finish on the dial looks like it could be a refinished dial but I don't see the little notch on the side of the dial by the crown that is usually present when a dial is redone.


The 752 movement looks similar to a 770 movement.  All that's missing are 5 additional jewels and a shock protected balance.  Should this 752 ever fail, a 770 would be a suitable drop in replacement.


The inside of the case back is stamped with the model name.


With the dial removed from the movement, I can see numbers scratched on the back.  That's a clear sign that this dial was refinished.  Refinished dials on Hamilton watches is very common.  It was even done at the factory when a watch was sent to Lancaster for service.  Many people with "original dials" actually have old properly refinished dials.


A new glass cylinder crystal will make a huge improvement to the looks of this watch.


Everything is cleaned and ready to be reassembled.


Unlike my last project watch, this movement came together with no issues.  It's now ticking away with a nice motion.  Time to see what the timer thinks.


It's running a smidgen slow.  The amplitude of 201 is attributable to the fact that I haven't fully wound the mainspring.  


Fully wound with a slight tweak to the regulator, the beat rate is right where is needs to be.  I usually set a freshly serviced watch a little fast, as it will settle in.


With a new crystal and paired with a new genuine lizard strap, this Lindsay is looking fantastic and ready for some wrist time.

1 comment:

  1. This was the watch that my sister found while going thru some of our father's items. We suspect it was our grandmother's and she died in 1957 and we doubt the watch has been seen since. Thank you for the beautiful work that you did to bring this watch into a condition better than when it was new. Fred J

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