t skills before you felt that you were competent?
Out of interest how long did it take from the time you started before you felt you were competent? How much training is involved v self learning?
I postec a coment awhile back.
Guther, put it like this: "Hope you don't have anything to do with the next 5 years!"
In all honesty, that is about right. But, I came into this world backwards, & everthing I have done is backwards....
I started taking everthing apart, Mom said they had to hide the butter knives as I would take the screws out of the chairs....
First real job serviced bicycles.
Took a course in Photographic Equipment Repair, 1974
Tinkered with camras, about 5 plus years.
Economy was in a down turn, 2 year Associates Degree.
Back out in CA, got a job through a connection with Airlines.
Repaired aircraft instruments. One day, Supervisor said, " AOG, service it!"
Put a 3" dial choronograph [ Wakman ] on my bench.
Serviced it, off it went. Gunther came back from vacation.
Said, "Good some else to do the clocks!"
I said the basic train not a problem, but the balance wheel, setting the ....
We sat down @ the bench & he walked me through, setting the beat, replacing balance staff.... & I was off & running.
Wound up in Denver, had a watch & clock school there & caught the last class taught.
Wes Van Every retired. Got the last certificate from him, with recomendation for WOSTEP & from supervisor at airlines. January 1995 WOSTEP, worked a couple of storefronts one Denver, one in Fairlawn Ohio.
I just don't like dealing with the general public. Got spoiled at the airlines, "Club Med!"
As the old tymers called it.
Most of the big Jewlery stores are owned by that guy in Omaha's firm Bershire ....
Not being married at the time in LA, they would not hire me.
So, like I said evertyhing in my life has been backwards.
Jules Borel is good supply house to know about Kansas City. They just moved after 100 yrs or so.
Old Hamilton Aircraft Clocks, Oto Frie in San Francisco,
Cas-Ker, Cincinatti Ohio, (Twin City Supplies [ .net as I recall ])
Picked up tools from NAWCC meets across the country when with the airlines.
Bought a watchmakers remaining stock, which he said came down the line from a few generations.
Hardest thing is aquiring parts. The Swiss in a way do not want indepenent watch repairers. That is my perspective. They had a great thing going as they sold cabinets & assortments for their units. Now, click spring for AP 1 to 1.5k $.
Before the owner of SMH died, he told the industry needed to start manufacturing in house movements. There was nothing other than a dozen or so in house, AP, GP, ROLEX, JAGER, & Even they were using ETA movements.
Anyway, if you like the bench & got the training hang in there us old tymers will eventually lose our sping.
I rode a lot of bicycling & wish I had taken to Yoga instead.
Take some Yoga classes, & become an insructor.
Repair watches in between classes.
I'll try and answer any question you have to the best possible.
Cheers! Mike
