Hi, perhaps this has been discussed here before, but I didn't find any thread relating to it. It seems to me that there is a significant group of Turkish watchmakers (http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/peneyes/&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2754 is one such... perhaps just one guy with multiple IDs, can't tell...) who appear to have any endless stream of Respirators coming through every week on eBay. Are they all frankens, cobbled together from stray cases, dials and movements? There really doesn't seem to be a particular pattern to their offerings, though. Al What's the story? Is Zenith a super popular brand in Turkey, and particularly Respirators? I know it's a bigger brand in Italy, for example, than it is in the UK, but Turkey? Kind of a premium priced watch brand for a country which used to be of limited means, no? Okay, the offerings are probably lower than the general tastes of Zenith collectors here, but I admit that I've got a taste for Respirators and always keep an eye out. Any thoughts, opinions on the subject?
I think most of these are frankens, made of parts that are generally not in the best shape. Regarding the the Turkish origin, I have never seen any evidence (apart from perhaps the railroad pocket watches and the old Serkisoffs) that Zenith was popular in Turkey that way that it was in Italy and Finland. It has occurred to me that like the occasional very fine vintage that appears on sale from Bulgaria and Romania, these watches (or more likely parts) have been picked up in western Europe (junk sales or perhaps less savory methods) and sent to local watchmakers who assemble them into working product.
I fell for one of these as part of paying my noob tax. Probably a franken, but it was cheap and looks good on the wrist. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have bothered.
The interesting thing is just how many early Respirator case and 2542 (etc) movements they seem able to find. Believe me, I've looked for parts movements and there aren't that many around (and maybe this is why!). Anyway, here's one of mine as a toast to non-Turkish Respirators... as usual, a dance to replace the crystal (I'm fast friends with elisabeth9679 now) and the usual white knuckle ride trying to clean off the melted rubber gasket without damaging the dial. Sigh.
You summarize the Respirator experience very well, melted gaskets, odd crystals and all. That's a terrific result BTW.
HA! Now they're selling just the case! I'm going into business. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-ZENITH-SQUARE-WRISTWATCH-GOLD-PLATED-CASE-569-/390688568439Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
Speaking of which, here's a nice NOS example for sale: http://www.ebay.de/itm/ZENITH-RESPI...soires_Uhren_Armbanduhren&hash=item19e40dede5Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
Heeeeello! What's not to like about chunky? Just waiting for a new crystal from my pal, Elisabeth (small crack, hard to see). Case not as perfect as the German eBay one, which is sehr schön, as my German friends say.