I was into a local shop today, a watch maker who has been in business for years. I saw an old Rolex/Tudor catalogue in his showcase which closer examination showed to be about the same vintage as my '47 Tudor. I won't admit to what it cost to get, but its like new and its one of those rare things that are nice to have. It shows my Tudor Oyster was originally a $75 watch not including the 25% luxury tax noted inside the front cover. Wish I'd paid that for it! This was about when Tudor became its own mark and I was surprised to see how close the Rolex and Tudor makes where in the late forties. The caliber 59 in my watch and its oyster case shows up in multiple Canadian market models with either mark on the face and movement. Often I think the name on the face and the price were the only differences. I'll try and get it scanned and post it on the forum in the near future.
The caliber 59 (a Font calibre 30 as I recall), was never used in Rolex branded watches, to the best of my knowledge. http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&Rolex_59 Courtesy Dr. Roland Ranfft's movement archive.
I did run into a caliber 59 with Rolex proudly announced on its plates,although I can't find a picture of it now. I think they pasted together every variation they could during the forties and dumped them all on the Canadian market. Princess Pats returning from Europe must have loved the damn things. Maybe Eaton's had a sale or something.......
If the movement was marked ROLEX, it was likely marked on the ratchet wheel. But I have never seen a Rolex dial in front of a caliber 59. That said, because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it has never happened!
Not very exciting, I wanted the watch I bought a few weeks ago to have something nice and original to keep it in.
A salesman's display case! I had an 1884 Rockford movement housed in a damaged case, so I got a display case for the movement and stuffed it in! It now sits in the case with the rest of my pocket watches, movement side up and looking great. One day the Rockford will rise to the pile of work to be done and get its needed repairs and a new case, till then it looks good. In the "old" days movements and cases were inventoried separately. You went to your jeweler, chose your movement and your case and paid the jeweler to put them together, these cases were used to safely display the running movements in the shop.
Just arrived at the weekend. Early historic Nivada Antarctic, with iced dial and icicle markers. One of the few timepieces with true history behind as beeing part of the US Navy “Operation Deep Freeze” mission in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year. Nice stainless steel case (around 35mm), the lugs have a beautiful design. ETA movement.
Another UG Chronograph. Compax cal 285. Serial dates it to 1942. In need of TLC, but I hope it may come out well. And those lugs. And from the same seller a Movado triple calendar.... To be continued.....
Thx! The mirror track is near impossible to capture in photos. I can share inside case back and movement pix....don't have many shots of this one and not presently with me. I'll try to get an angle later to show the mirror track.