tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855696413978429801.post8349439805869757319..comments2024-03-26T20:09:41.996-07:00Comments on Vintage Hamilton Watch Restoration: 1963 Accumatic A-450HandyDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02083270175066343104noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855696413978429801.post-50593993118363399632017-06-19T10:01:57.542-07:002017-06-19T10:01:57.542-07:00Most collectors I know are happy with a +/- 2 minu...Most collectors I know are happy with a +/- 2 minutes per day performance... mainly because they don't wear the same watch every day. Some folks are more stringent and accept +/- 1 minute per day (I'm in that camp). As long as the watch has oil inside then +/-60 seconds per day is fine by me. A few expect performance of less than 30 seconds per day - which a well maintained watch is certainly capable of.<br /><br />Of course, most vintage watches have not been well maintained over their 60+ year lifetime. A rare few might be "case queens" and have been kept in a drawer for 99% of that time. Most were probably well used until they stopped working and then were put away. Somewhere in between are the few that were used for many years and regularly serviced... like railroad pocket watches, for example. <br /><br />Based on my experience, the middle group is typical... a Hamilton watch was a prized possession and likely the only watch the person owned. They wore it a lot and the Great Depression taught them "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". As a result they brought it to a watchmaker only when it stopped working.<br /><br />The end result is vintage watches are not always capable of the performance they were capable of when new. They might not be too bad, but they're just not perfect anymore.<br /><br />So when it comes to vintage watches, "your mileage may vary".HandyDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02083270175066343104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855696413978429801.post-61487549216649317442017-05-26T20:00:47.687-07:002017-05-26T20:00:47.687-07:00I had this model, that belonged to my father, sitt...I had this model, that belonged to my father, sitting on my shelf of "treasures" for years.<br />My wife, unbeknownst to me, pilfered the watch and took it in to be restored. I just got it back today!<br />We put a brown lizard-leather band on it and it looks amazing!<br />My dad would be thrilled to know his watch has a new life.<br />Researching the watch a bit, it seems it was pricey for a guy like my dad. $95 bucks was a good bit of money for a guy who worked as a brakeman in a railroad yard.<br />Any idea what an acceptable gain or loss would be each day for a watch like this?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17778476786999085202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855696413978429801.post-11124489483248049802017-01-21T15:43:28.692-08:002017-01-21T15:43:28.692-08:00Nah. We can just do an even swap. You keep that on...Nah. We can just do an even swap. You keep that one and send us your '35 Seckron. That seems fair.headcrownyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08401293347705946211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855696413978429801.post-17110051821444945192017-01-21T13:34:03.812-08:002017-01-21T13:34:03.812-08:00I suppose that means I have to send it back...I suppose that means I have to send it back...HandyDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02083270175066343104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5855696413978429801.post-6558160597116588642017-01-21T11:25:54.341-08:002017-01-21T11:25:54.341-08:00"It looks stunning!" That's my wife&..."It looks stunning!" That's my wife's quote upon finishing reading the blog entry. Followed by "I am impressed." Fantastic work, Dan!headcrownyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08401293347705946211noreply@blogger.com