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45 years in construction, first post and grandad-era silver

WatchBreaker
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Eddie here, retired after 45 years in the field - boilermaker, pile driver, carpenter. Spent my working life on things measured in tons; retirement got me fascinated by machines that fit under a thumbnail, and vintage Omega is where I landed - the automatics and calendar movements of the 50s and 60s mostly.


By way of introduction, here's the oldest Omega in the house: a silver pocket watch, case marked 0.800 with Swiss hallmarks, "OMEGA - GRAND PRIX PARIS 1900" with the medal row engraved inside the cover, case number 433387. Movement is signed, runs, sets. I make it 1900s–1910s from the medal engraving but I'd welcome sharper eyes on the movement serial when I get a cleaner photo of it.


The reference threads here taught me plenty before I signed up - the Seamaster De Ville guide especially. Glad to be aboard.

s-l500.webp
 
JimInOz
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Welcome aboard matey. Yarrrrrr.

Similar to you, I was in the military for a decent period and then into ship building with BAE. Lots of heavy stuff involved, but like you, I wanted to be able to work on something I could hold in my hand, not having to use a crane.

I think one of your first tasks should be to show us more of the contents in that Spare Parts Catalogue 😉.

Cheers
Jim
 
WatchBreaker
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JimInOz JimInOz
Welcome aboard matey. Yarrrrrr.

Similar to you, I was in the military for a decent period and then into ship building with BAE. Lots of heavy stuff involved, but like you, I wanted to be able to work on something I could hold in my hand, not having to use a crane.

I think one of your first tasks should be to show us more of the contents in that Spare Parts Catalogue 😉.

Cheers
Jim
Thanks I just order the full omega microfish set it was on eBay for 2 years just acquired it and have the 620,3,5,1,6 The 620 4 is hard to find if anyone has a copy I would be interested
 
WatchBreaker
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JimInOz JimInOz
Welcome aboard matey. Yarrrrrr.

Similar to you, I was in the military for a decent period and then into ship building with BAE. Lots of heavy stuff involved, but like you, I wanted to be able to work on something I could hold in my hand, not having to use a crane.

I think one of your first tasks should be to show us more of the contents in that Spare Parts Catalogue 😉.

Cheers
Jim
Ha - sharp eyes, Jim. That's the GF 620-6, the early-70s volume, the one where quartz first sneaks in alongside the 1010s. I've been slowly gathering the series; factory paper beats any website.


BAE shipbuilding - then we're cut from the same plate. I put in five years at Todd Shipyards as a shipfitter before the boilermaker years. You know the disease exactly: a life spent on tonnage and weld seams, and the hands end up asking for something with jewels in it. Same fits and tolerances, just three decimal places over.


I won't flood the thread with page scans, but happy to do one better - if you or anyone ever needs a part number checked against the volumes I've got, sing out and I'll look it up. The books should earn their shelf space.
 
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