Who won the race for first automatic chronograph?
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- Today we have Eric's wonderful Hamilton Pan-europ 703 from 1971 on the bench with the legendary caliber 11 inside it. The watch has a few issues, both apparent and hidden, which we will have to identify and fix.
Join me for a full service and repair of this historical watch as we discuss the race to launch the first automatic chronograph in 1969! The story of that race is very fascinating, with lots of turns and twists and it's not at all a clear answer as to who the winner really was. And as usual we'll have a few detours, with an NSFW (not safe for work) moment...
A great article about the race for the automatic chronograph and Project 99 can be found here: www.onthedash.c...
Another nice article here: lifestyle.live...
See our watches and read our blog at www.vintagewatc...
See our current selection at Chrono24: www.chrono24.c...
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Great piece, great video. Once again, the quality of your workmanship coupled with your in-depth historical commentary is unparalleled. More significantly, we now know what a Norwegian mobster sounds like. Much thanks for that revelation, Stian. You're the best.
Thank you very much! 😊
You’re killing me with the great sound effects while cleaning the bezel! Thank you for the great content
I almost okw up my wife laughing at the sound affects. 😂😂😂
Hamilton, once made here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania! Their old factory is now a luxury apartment complex, and they kept all the original clock towers functioning
You never cease to bring enjoyment into my day after watching your videos. I was cracking up watching you clean the case with the peg wood! I was nearly losing it but at the same time bringing myself to tears! Thanks so much making my day, Stian
😁
I have a picture of this movement as my desktop wallpaper. It is my grail watch. Thanks for the video, great as always.
Very cool!
Thank you again Stian. Great video. It’s amazing the thinking of the engineers to adapt the chrono complication on top of the automatic movement Great looking watch.
Enjoyable as always watching this gentleman take apart and reassemble all kind of timepieces. What's also worthy of praise is the lighting, the focus and the depth of field control which is more difficult with magnification. Top Marks !
There are many things that set your channel apart from all the other watch repair channels. But my favorite two are your thoroughness of inspection and repair and your delightful narration. Thank-You for taking the time to make these videos for our entertainment!
Thanks so much 😊
Lovely watch :) Thanks for doing what you do!
Hi Stian that must be the most complicated watch I've ever seen being repaired. It's amazing how you can fix and remember how to reassemble such intricate pieces. Brilliant!!
Thanks! 😊
Absolutely Gorgeous watch Stian! That bezel was rather crusty with many years of DNA. Lovely work!
Your history lessons and comedy are always appreciated. Best watch channel on YT.
Thanks so much, Steve 😊
What a machine! So good to see it running well after your careful work. 👏
Thanks 👍
Excellence work, very satisfying to see vintage watches come back to life👍
Greetings from Switzerland🇨🇭
Many thanks!
Thank you for bringing to us these older and gorgeous watches. This one is particularly beautiful indeed.
Thank you for yet another terrific documentary interlaced with humor and facts! I was looking forward to this one and, as always, I wasn't disappointed!
I have been looking forward to a new video of yours for a long time (or so it seems), but the wait was well rewarded with this splendid video of a beautiful watch and a fascinating history. Thank you very much, Stian!
Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Great restoration as always Stian. Love the history lesson about chronographs as well.
Great video Stian! Love the watch and the movement. As always the comedy is great! How often to you change your cleaning and rinsing fluids? Is it ok to keep them in a garage that is effected by really cold and hot temperatures! I wonder if mine don’t work so well now?
Thanks, Boyd! As with most things it really depends for how often you need to change fluids. If you work on a lot of dirty watches with lots of parts you need to change after maybe ten of them, but if you work on simple watches that aren't very dirty you could do twenty or more. Your liquids should be fine unless you live in Death Valley and frequently move your liquids between the outhouse and the freezer :) You can check the data sheet of them to make sure.
It's always a pleasure to watch your videos....great commentary while you are bringing watches back to life.
Wowsers, what a beautiful amount of vintage cheese under that bezel!! Beautiful movement and you work is beautiful as well. Thanks for sharing with us.
Your best video ever. You definitely have the hang of this now. Thank you.
Wow, thanks!
Wow, now that is a movement…geez lots of parts. Great video!
Stian, you actually made me laugh out loud with your reaction to the arm cheese lol, great stuff as always buddy, really enjoyed this one, puking aside 😄
Amazing restoration--so many parts! A pleasure watching you work.
The guts of the movement were very clean, especially considering the Sahara Desert around the bezel.
I had not seen a minirotor before. I don't know if it's related, but it seemed that the pallet fork was smaller than usual?
Thanks again, Stian.
Pity that there was no display case for the movement.. what a pretty watch with beautiful chrono. great work Stian and looks great at the end..
Yeah, display cases only started showing up when sapphire crystals became affordable
You are hilarious. You’re a great watch maker. Nothing but respect.
Great overhaul video, Stian! You provide such wonderful historical information about the watch company players involved with your watches! Trying to find all that info would be a real hassle, yet you share it in context with your restorations. It's so good! Don't be so hard on Rolex. They are a good company, blessed with wonderful success. They had luck, but they also worked hard and smart! I am still holding out for you to do a complicated Breguet on your bench! I feel the big three Swiss brands Patek, Audemars, and Vacheron keep Breguet out of their snooty club because Breguet is French!!
Thanks! I like Rolex a lot for the quality of their watches and how nice they are to work on, it's more the market image they have that I don't like. And yeah, the holy trinity is a bit outdated, a brand like Lange is for instance probably at a higher level nowadays...
I was under the impression that Seiko released the first automatic chronograph. I know the waters are muddied, but it's what I was taught.
I believe Seiko 6139 was the first mass production automatic chrono. The 2 others were kind of limited editions, I've been told...
@@carloscarvalhido2424 exactly what I learned. Also Seiko was the first to the open market.
Thanks Stian this one is a real treat. Great work as always and no trouble in paradise. Keep well from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Thanks Bruce!
In addition to the content, I love your sense of humor!
Thanks Stian for proving me right. Your description about the race for being the first automatic chronograph is actually 100% in line with what I have told Norwegian watchmakers during vintage/classic watch value estimate trainings, in my book as well as in the Norwegian Watchmaker periodical På Sekundet. I was scolded back them by (name withheld) for false information. By the way: did you know that one of the cash cows for Ollech & Waijs was the inventory they bought from the liquidation of Breitling (Helmut Sinn and Patek Philippe bought the rest) that was sold under the O&W name - caliber 11 being one of them - re-branded as Avation and Aviator.
Hei Kjell, veldig hyggelig å se kommentaren din! Informasjon fra langt tilbake er mye mer tilgjengelig nå for tiden, så det tar ikke mange minuttene å finne dette, men jeg kan forestille meg at det gikk varmt for seg noen år siden med ihuga fans av bestemte klokkemerker i diskusjon av hvem var først :) Og jeg visste at O&W kjøpte opp masse Navitimere men ikke cal 11?
Hva heter boken din? Jeg flyttet fra Norge i 2003 og tok opp urmaking først etterpå, så jeg kjenner ikke alle tekniske ord etc. Jeg har sett noen av artiklene dine på briljantwatches.com, god lesing.
again fun to watch with great whit i love this channel cant wait for the next watch thanks Stian
Thanks Theo for the tear down and history lessons.
Thanks! And the name is actually Stian 😉
Very cool movement, beautiful to look at and in pretty good condition. I had heard of the 1st automatic chronograph dispute stories before but your technical explanation made it more clear. Not so sure about your price guess on the contemporary commemorative Hamilton though… Thx for the video
Great job Stian and thanks for uploading this video. I really like the story of the first automatic chronograph to market and although I knew it all already it's great to hear someone else tell it. And as luck would have it I'm in the process of buying a 6139 in what looks like rather good condition, it's the white dialled Storm Trooper, never seen one in the flesh down here in S.A. Which is luck for me as I'll never afford either of the other two!
might be able to stump for a used modern Intramatic in a few years though
Sounds very cool, Alan! Best of luck with it :)
Really looking forward to the BHI review Stian! In in London tomorrow and going to the Science museum to check out the watch and clock exhibition!
*The imitations of Bob Dylan and of the American mobster, plus the vomiting sounds, all 3 were GREAT, plus another fantastic service & restoration job.* *_Thank you, Stian for this excellent video._* For every new chapter you publish, I think it cannot get any better but then a new video appears and I’m wrong!.
I have the feeling that there are going to be a lot of vomit-covered keyboards in need of a good clean after this! Ugh! :-/
I treasure my 1972 Heuer Autavia that I have owned since new. I wore it everyday for over 35 years to time TV commercials as a director. I now wear it for special occasions. I smile every time I put it on.
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Masterfully done and filmed.
Thanks! I'm subscribed to your channel also btw :)
Stian that was a technical master class with so much humour.
Thank you sir 😂🇬🇧🍀
There’s just too much to comment on. I laughed, I cried, I threw up. It moved me. Ought to send the cells you scraped off, to one of those ancestory services and see what kind of results you get lol. Thanks for an amazing video.
Glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Wow, you are a master. It's a great video . Really interesting. Enjoyed watching. Thank you
what a lovely piece Stian, never seen this one before....two competitors, the Seiko 6139 and Zenith El Primero. I read it was developed by Buren, aquired by Hamilton in '66. Code 99, involving Heuer, Buren, Breitling, Hamilton and Dubois-Depraz
be aware scammers trying to get your money.
Cool watch and cool restoration 👌
One of the funniest video about a watchmaking! Your puking standup comedy made me laughing to the tears!
Your always good fun. An antidote to the frustrations of life. Keep doing your thing.
That chronograph ain't no joke lot of parts. I've learned about this watch as I've gotten into watch collecting and now seeing this first hand repaired I want one of these in my collection I have a boliva quartz Chrono I use for work. Being a contractor mechanical watches aren't really keen on the power tools I use 😁 But I'm really big into 70 style era watches which they've made full circle now. My main piece is the PRX powermatic 80. Absolutely love the watch. Maybe you'll find another and put it up on your website ☺️👍
Maybe 😊
Stain, honestly…I’m sitting at my bench listening to you while replacing the hands on a Walkman chronograph, and you got to the part where you were cleaning the DNA from the bezel and started making vomiting noises. Now usually something like this doesn’t bother me, but I’ve had a sour stomach all day, and the minute you started making noise my stomach decided to play havoc with my day and I had to bolt for the bathroom. Thankfully everything came out and I actually feel better now. Unfortunately, while making my hasty exit to the VOMITORIUM, I ended up losing the sub minute hand. I can’t find it anywhere.
Luckily, I know where there’s a spare set, so it’s just a matter of waiting while I have them sent to me.
Anyway, keep up the great videos. I learn a lot from them, and enjoy them greatly….Thank you.
Sorry about that, Paul! 😆
@@VintageWatchServices It’s all good Stian, stuff happens, especially when manipulating tiny watch parts. It’s what makes the hobby so challenging and cool. No matter how well we prepare, a sneeze, a cough, or somebody asking a question at just that right moment can set us back weeks while we wait for a replacement part. Luckily I’ll have the replacement hands it a few days.
That was a long and satisfying video, and it looked like a lot of work.
Your daughter is right. Watchmender? Watchman?
I will take issue with the “luxury” idea. There are lots of very good inexpensive mechanicals now, so the blue-collar sophisticated magpie ape can scratch that deep itch without being a showoff, and watches will keep being made.
Thanks as always.
If I didn’t know better, I was sure that you had joined the “r-a-l-p-h” club when cleaning the case. Thanks for the minute of levity, as well as the excellent repair.
@user-fm8es9ol8x You are a TOTAL SCAMMER.
Great watch and movement and just the right amount of restoration.
I'd have to describe the bezel action as "crunchy"!
Awsome video...I'm still in the camp that Zenith was first.
great vid many thanks, i am a pipe fitter welder but i love this hobby.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have the same caliber 11 in a 1973 Bulova Bullhead or Parking Meter watch. Recently serviced and running well. Great video by the way.
Very nice!
100% Exactly the arrangement of my Breitling from 1972, except that the rotating ring was a slide ring.
When I got my Heuer Autavia serviced a few years ago I heard a story that Heuer UK (I assume Tag Heuer at that point) had lost their box of Cal 11 parts in an office move. No idea if that was true but apparently parts were as hard to find as rocking horse droppings even 10 years ago.
As usual a very great video you might consider giving your sound man and speacial effects guy a raise.
😂👍
Cool watch with a gorgeous movement. I really enjoy your content, Stian. You're equal first with Nekkid Watchmaker for watch restoration content - both of you are brilliant, informative and entertaining in equal measure. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much, John :)
Glad you got your voice back
Another intresting and entertaining project here. How the heck do you only have 36.6k subcribers? Fantastic work, wonderful histories on the projects as well. Unmatched on any other channel presenting this type of content. I do have one question on this one. How is water tightness achived on the pushers? I would assume the crown has a gasket, so do the pushers as well?
Thanks again for the video. Keep em" coming please!!
Thanks David! Pushers have gaskets as well, indeed. But as with all old watches these gaskets become hard and inefficient and they're not easy to replace. Given that the watch overall will also have received a lot of dings and bumps that it won't be very water resistant anyway, I don't focus too much on improving water resistance and rather warn the wearer that they need to be cautious with getting the watches wet.
Nerdy??? If that’s the case as someone suggested, I must be the biggest nerd around. I could watch and listen to you all day long. As a fairly recent subscriber I am enjoying going back over your previous video’s also. Thank you to for the scam alert. I have recently had a couple on the other artisan channels that I watch. Fortunately I ignored them. All the very best. Mick
Nerdy isn't a bad thing when you're a grown-up 😁 Thanks for subbing, Mick!
Thanks again Stian 😀
What a beautiful amount of dirt, your so lucky to find that!
Yes i'm a dirt wierdo.
Nice watch and good work on it.
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I think the name El Primero comes from the Esperanto, just like the brand Movado. Movado and Zenith also had close collaboration.
You should get an Oscar for your acting while cleaning the crud off.
I have a Heuer with a caliber 12, inherited it from my father, circa 1974. Also has a GMT/24hr hand. Autavia GMT. Very nice looking piece. Semi-speed set on the date. I only wear it on special occasions as resale prices have gone crazy. Great work, and you sir are a master of your craft.
Very nice and thanks!
Hello, you are so lucky!
Gallow's Humour! That is one dirty little chrono. Joking aside it is a very sweet watch. Thanks for the history lesson again
Great video Stian, a lot of information there, both historical and technical. I’ve never seen a pivot straightened before.
Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much about the gray hair, just be glad you’ve got hair!
Later. …
I support the Seiko claim. Because I have several 6138s 😂😂. Great video Stian.
Wonderful watch , wonderful job done. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Hello, automatic? after 5 minutes I was thinking that you have a fever! Great voice of De Niro! glad that you are healthy ! Some very nice story and what a surprising movement ! I learned some history today ! So no minutes waste! It's a brilliant mixture! so you had two meals from the same lunch? thank you for the advice that alum powder at 40 C degrees solve the issue! very, very nice video ! Still waiting to hit your 100K subscribers! learned some tricks again !Excellent! Thank you
Thanks Tiberiu, good to hear the alum heating worked :)
Very cool watch. Excellent video. Some very nice close-ups, back of your head excepted. I guess the watch was a few grams lighter after cleaning. Luckily, I hadn't had food before watching.
Engaging, interesting and informative commentary. Thank-you.
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What were those big jewels, I've never seen that before. BTW allways an interesting video.
Great sound effect
Last weekend my 11yo son asked me how a watch works? How does it show hour , minutes and second? I pulled up this video to show him how many parts a nice watch has and how you take them apart to clean them. I couldn't think of a layman's way to explain the functions to him of gear ratios etc. I just told him " all you need to know is the clock/watch only needs to count 60 seconds. If the mechanism knows how long a second is it can track time. " 60 seconds on one gear advances one tooth on another gear, that gear has 59-60 teeth and a pin that turns an hour gear one tooth. Etc. He shrugged and walked away....my brain reels at the way a watch works? There was a story about a POW who designed a clock in his head while he was locked up during whichever war. When he was finally released he built the movement and it worked exactly as he had thought it would? Crazy?
Thanks for watching, Chris! This watch is probably a bit of overload for an 11 year old 😂 I have a nice video here that explains how a watch works: czcams.com/video/hkK6e4tb5Qk/video.html
Indeed, if you understand gear ratios, depthing ratios etc you can build a watch in your head, and if you have years to ponder it I'm sure you would have a good blueprint :)
Beautiful watch. Pretty tough job getting the case and bezel clean again.
Very!
:)))))))) @ 11:50 great history lesson and very interesting movement construction
I have one and love it.
I..... Snort laughed at the dirt cleanup lol
Beautiful watch... thanks for sharing Stian.
Q: Did you exchange the crystal or polish it?
I replaced it
Fantastic 😀Thank you.
I liked your commentary about the future of mechanical watches, talking about how they're now expensive luxury items that we humans covet as markers of achievement and success. I have to confess, I've found myself pottering around your web-store looking for Rolex's, because everyone believes that Rolex is somehow superior and I could relish in showing off.
Stian, another fantastic video, what a beautiful watch and movement. I am amazed at your knowledge of the history of watch making and the companies involved. Did you amass it from research or are there books on the subject?
Thanks! I am a watch nerd and like to gain knowledge on a general basis, but I certainly read up on a subject before making a video :) Google is your friend!
Wonderful. A great American watch brand (That unfortunately has fallen away)
First automatic chronograph was made by lemania in 1947.
It was a bumper automatic,but didn't go into production.
Thanks for the insight, Lee!
I can't believe that was 54mins. You have a talent for holding my attention.
Thanks so much 😊
There are watches good for beginners to learn how to do this on. This is not one of them. I don't know that I've seen a watch with the automatic works in the middle before like this one. Cool watch and great video as always.
As I am just deciding which short course to take before I really try to work on a working movement, this one is more than I ever expect to get to in the time I may have left. A great "watch" , thank you. Can I visit?
Hello Chris, once you learn the basics you might find yourself wanting to go further :) Where are you located then? You can contact me at stian@vintagewatchservices.eu if you are in Switzerland
@@VintageWatchServices Thanks for getting back to me. I am in Gingins or over the border in Premanon. Just beginning to get settled after 17 years in France with my late Partner. As I was born in 1942 and quite fit, there probably a limit to the time I have in which to develop my skills, but I will give it a go! Thanks for your great videos and commentary. Regards, Chris
I too come from the corporate world. Industry in my case. Electronic engineer, 30 years doing industrial automation. Very used to tiny components, the difference is that they are usually soldered to the board. And when they fail there’s sometimes smoke associated.
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You really do an amazing job. Thank you. But for the love you bear to all your subscribers, please update the ultrasonic montage to one where you use the metal lid jar instead of the Nutella jar. Please!!!
😂👍
You're too funny! Great job with the watch.
Thank you! 😁
This is my ideal watch format: chronograph with tachymeter, rotating bezel with additional hour markings and a date complication.
A fascinating movement with you deft skills at work. I am still offering my 9L Longines should you ever decide to work on one here on the channel. Though I am certain you may have one in your possession.
As for the "watchmaker" designation.
It is largely true that a majority are truly watch "fixers". Mechanics if you like (I was a Benz mechanic for years). But certainly "watchmaker" has a far better ring and is also mostly true. Even though I myself was not a "Benz" maker. LOL.
Always educational to see a master at work brother.
Who knew barf bags were a necessary tool during watch restorations?
THANKS,,,,GREAT VIDEO
Excellent video: my personal opinion is that people that own mechanical watches like to be in control. :) I'm sure there's other reasons.
Thank you again for a very good video and I don't have any issues except for the pronounciation of this exact word (i.e. issues) :) Maybe my English is bad, but I would rather pronounciate it like "ish-shoes". Looking forward for your next wonderful video!
Thank you for another great video, could I ask which breaking grease you use on the barrel wall.
Thanks! I use Klueber P-125
THEO GREAT JOB, TELL ALL HELLO AND GREAT VIDEO...SEE YOU WHEN...
you are a master even with the little mistake. lol But you have the history and the awesome stories . you're the best !!!! Don't let it get to you lolllllll
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