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

Merry Christmas and welcome, Mike!

Steve

Welcome Mike,
You've joined the right group! You'll find a lot of friendly folks here who are very knowledgeable and helpful.

Welcome aboard IHC185 Mike! I'm a railroad grade pocket watch guy for the most part, but I do like Omega Seamasters, especially in solid gold.

Hi Mike, Merry Christmas and welcome to 185.

Welcome, Mike. I've been to England several times and loved it.

Welcome Mike have a Merry Christmas.

Mike - Welcome and Merry Christmas!

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.

Welcome Mike

Merry Christmas

It is fine to have another member from this side of the ocean joining the group.

Regards
Gerald

Welcome Mike, from central Florida.

Welcome Mike,

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

Welcome aboard Mike...Glad you joined the group...

Hi Mike. Greetings from the Midwest.

Hello Mike, Welcome to a great club and Happy Holidays from San Francisco!

William

Welcome Mike and Merry Christmas.
Gary

Hello and welcome Mike: During working days spent considerable time in Scotland and England. Good Day's!

Sam

Welcome Mike! Best $12 Christmas gift you ever gave yourself!

Welcome Mike!

Belonging to IHC is like sitting around your living room discussing a hobby you love with a bunch of like minded friends.

Welcome to the club. Merry Christmas to you too

Hello Mike, from one newbie to another...

Merry Christmas ...

Merry Christmas and welcome aboard Mike!You landed in the right place....Ted.

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.

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

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