Does Anyone Know How Many Straight Writing Speedmasters Were Produced?

Ron_W

Coming up for auction at Dr. Crott another early one with Movm. No. 29600924, Ref. 145.022-69, Cal. 861, and it says ; origin Swiss but since there is no EoA i dont know if that means made in Swiss or sold in Swiss. Lots of aging on the hands and bezel - the caseback looks a whole lot better.... Is the writer of MWO book present here as we now have at least two posted outside of the 31xxxx range ?

pdxleaf

Besides the serial number, two other features raise questions. This has a DON, which the SW A-11 didn't have. Also, the case is really chewed up from a hard life. As you noted, the caseback doesn't match the condition of the case. (That sunburst is wierd too.) Without an extract stating that this was sold in Japan, I would not believe it to be originally a SW A-11. Even with the proof of coming from Japan, it's very suspect, IMO.

befobe

Ok!!! my mistake. Let's update. And reorganize the list (chronological appearing in this thread). At the end, the ones without serial.

145.022-69 SW ApolloXI seen on OF:

#1: 31313986 - March 8, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...eedmasters-were-produced.166302/#post-2267557)

#2: 31006193 - ? ?
same source as #1

#3 : 31328143 - May 19, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @befobe : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...eedmasters-were-produced.166302/#post-2275319

#4: 31619XXX - July 2, 1971 (EoA?) - Japan
source @n-theory : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-2#post-2282420

#5: 31006222 - ? - ?
source @OneTwo : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-3#post-2296651

#6: 31313536 - March 10, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2297470

#7: 31622096 - ? - ?
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2297471

#8: 31317410 - March 1971 (EoA?) - Japan
source @Ron_W : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2297479

#9: 31637332 - July 1, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @abrod520 : https://omegaforums.net/threads/ome...raight-writing-apollo-xi.110430/#post-1517971

#10: 316????? - July 1971 (EoA?) - Japan (?)
source @queriver : https://omegaforums.net/threads/straight-writing-eye-candy.111341/#post-1469490

#11: 31622878 - July 1, 1971 - (EoA) Japan
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2302889

#12: 2960???? - July 2 , 1972 (Warranty-sell date) - Japan
source @Ron_W : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2325777
* particularity : has a DON ! *

#13: 31?????? - July 2 , 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @pdxleaf : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2325836

#14. 31313984 - August 3, 1971 (EoA) - Japan
source @amphib44 : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...ters-were-produced.166302/page-4#post-2328094

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#10, #13 could be doubles, but pics seem let think they are not
*************************************************************************

#?? : no serial, only 1 pic of the back - ? - ?
source @ortope : https://omegaforums.net/threads/doe...eedmasters-were-produced.166302/#post-2268079

hansaboy

I have been reading this post a few times, and it has been very helpful during my hunt...

But a question - are there any confirmed SW (both FG and Apollo) Speedys with serial numbers after 32 mil?
I have found a few, and a recent one that I am looking at has 3219xxxx.

hansaboy

Sorry... @befobe !
SW, but I think there is something weird with this one....??

Ron_W

Radial brushing pattern on the side wall ? Strange feature but the text seems very worn. I believe the SW FQ has been seen in that high range as it is more common than A11.

hansaboy

The watch has been worked over, so a No Go for me, but the question regarding the high serial nr?
Anybody??
😬

Ron_W

I have not seen an EoA of one, but your example is now the 3rd i see this year with a 3219xxx SW FQ caseback. There is one from a French seller Atelier Jb Louise on C24 at the moment.

edit ; And a lucky hit also on C24 from the UK , so 32.201.623 confirmed ;

hansaboy

Nice work!
I am looking at another one with the serial nr 32830082 (really late...), so it could be that there are late ones out there??

hansaboy

Nice work! Plo
I am looking at another one with the serial nr 32830082 (really late...), so it could be that there are late ones out there??

pdxleaf

32830082 is about June, 1973.

Looking at the SW FQ (flight qualified) casebacks, it appears they have movement numbers from 31.000.844 to 32.857.xxx, making them first appear around January, 1971. They had a long run, with some reportedly sold as late as Oct. 1974. So yours fits in ones with later dates.

We know there appears overlap between the SWA11, SWFQ, No NASA medallion and NASAFQ. The later years of SWFQ are easier for me to explain. When there is a transition in design, the prior production parts aren't as in demand but a company still wants to sell what's already made. So casebacks with later movement numbers could show up.

Its more difficult for me when a SWFQ has an early movement number that preceeds the earliest known SWA11, as my theory says the SWA11 came first. For example, the auction above has early SWA11 with Movm. No. 29600924.

This one has problems. The 'XI' font is different than typical SWA11 casebacks. Most SWA11 fonts follow the earliest casebacks from the BA gold ones. This 29600924 follows later BA. Personally, I don't think this 29600924 was originally delivered as a SWFQ.

There is another early SWFQ numbered 30.992.XXX, which I suggested was an earlier production movement that sat in a bin when a later production watch was put together. The sales date was 1971 for that one with a production date of Oct, 1970.

That’s a little tangent.

So later production SWFQ do show up.

P Pandakarhu