Hello to all the members. I'm Mike Haig from Walsall in the UK. Aged 68 and retired from engineering. I've been watching this site for a while now and have been full of admiration for all the folks who have answered the many questions in such a friedly and helpful way. So out came my 12$ and here I am. I've been collecting Omega wrist watches for a few years ( nothing special just everyday nice watches and my Son is now hooked as well. To expand my collection I need to spend loads of cash which unfortunately I don't have so I'm calling a halt to Omega's. Never had the confidence to do any any work on them apart from changing crowns,stems crystals and straps. All very easy stuff. On the way I've acquired a couple of very ordinary Walthams and realised that I was more than capable of tackling my own simple repairs. Looking at the watches on this site I am amazed at the beauty of them but at the moment they are out of my budget. Hopefully over a period with lots of patience I will be able to afford the better quality types but in the meantime I will just be content to try to restore the ordinary ones which I already own. I have the standard tools, but am looking out for a suitable staking set and will also require spare part as the need arrises. Sorry for rambling but I thought I would introduce myself. A Merry Christmas to you all and best wishes, Mike
Posts: 575 | Location: Walsall in the United Kingdom | Registered: December 19, 2013
Cheers and Happy Holidays, I have a few wrist watches, Elgins, Walthams, and Roamer but mostly collect pocket watches. This is a diverse group with a great deal of expertise that are willing to share and give insight.
I never had the good fortune to travel in the UK, mostly Germany, Netherlands and France. You won't regret spending the $12.
Posts: 1797 | Location: Michigan in the USA | Registered: September 19, 2009
I recently acquired a Waltham model 1883 shipped over to England as a bare movement in 1890. A silver smith with a makers mark "AB" cased it in a beautiful 3 hinge sterling silver case with Birmingham silver stamps.
I love the craftsman ship and English styling.
Ask questions anytime, we all learn from each others experiences.
Welcome aboard,
Paul
Posts: 2032 | Location: San Diego, California in the USA | Registered: August 30, 2012
Mike, Happy Holidays to you and your family. Frankly, spending the 12 dollars to join this group, was money well spent.I think you'll agree. I just had to chime in on your post, lest be left out of the 'reindeer games'...Here on Buzzards Bay Welcome. Regards Robert Remi Letourneau, esq.
Posts: 29 | Location: Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts in the USA | Registered: November 15, 2013
Paul Trombley, you got a watch with a Birmingham hall mark. Birmingham is the heart of Jewellery making in England and is only 10 mins away from my town of Walsall. We often go to the Jewellery Quarter if we need work doing. There is also a nice museum there which is an old jewellery factory that just closed down and was left with everything inside. It was many years before it was rediscovered and then opened as a museum. Really interesting. Thanks to you all for your good wishes. Mike
Posts: 575 | Location: Walsall in the United Kingdom | Registered: December 19, 2013
Just chiming in, Mike, to say that you will eventually discover, as I have, that you joined a pretty interesting group that includes some very knowledgeable and talented people somehow assembled in one place - a mix of smarts and long experience. A - Z from David Abbe and Chris Abell to Will White and Gerald Zimmermann, with a bunch of soon-to-be-familiar names in between, this is where it's at. Brain power and collective enthusiasm. Sounds like an advert, but it's true.
kh
Posts: 921 | Location: California in the USA | Registered: March 25, 2013
