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  1. UncleBuck understands the decision making hierarchy Aug 3, 2020

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    After years of looking at cracked dials and missing lume, I finally pulled the trigger on one of my most sought after watches.

    I love the old stuff and as a Veteran, I've always had some interest in military watches. I have a WW1 era watch that was owned by a Mr. Daly, a draftee that tried his best not to go!
    I have always thought of that watch as my "reluctant warrior".
    https://omegaforums.net/threads/the-reluctant-warrior-100-years-later.81078/

    Now, he has a mate that was built to serve and that proudly wears "SIGNAL CORPS U.S.A.".

    It has a chipped crystal, wrong crown, doesn't wind and I can't get the dust cover off for nothing but I don't care!
    I have my entire remaining life to sort it out mechanically. Right now I'm just trying not to drop it or snort too much radium.

    Special thanks to Jim, @JimInOz, for being such a great help and great friend. He defines why this forum is a special place. He'll probably be pissed that I mentioned him.
    -3.jpg -2.jpg
     
  2. airansun In the shuffling madness Aug 3, 2020

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    ::love::
    Beautiful!

    Movement shot, pretty please.
     
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  3. UncleBuck understands the decision making hierarchy Aug 3, 2020

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    It's only arrived today and has totally whipped my ass at my first attempts to get the dustcover off.

    I may need @Archer to make a house call.
    Oh, wait, Canada wouldn't let him back in!
     
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  4. SpikiSpikester @ ΩF Staff Member Aug 3, 2020

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    Congrats Jim :thumbsup:
     
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  5. UncleBuck understands the decision making hierarchy Aug 3, 2020

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    Your up late, my friend!
    Thank you.
     
  6. SkunkPrince Aug 3, 2020

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    In what way? Doesn't match a picture you've seen? Wrong color?

    Gold crowns on silver cases, not uncommon. Not sure why.

    Sternkreuz makes some really nice crystals for these in plastic.
     
  7. RonJ Aug 3, 2020

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    Very cool watch.

    I really like the design element on the hands.
    Is there a name for that style of watch hands? (sorry if it is a dumb quesiton, I'm a bit of a newbie).

    .
     
  8. UncleBuck understands the decision making hierarchy Aug 3, 2020

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    Cathedral, is what I see the most commonly used.
     
  9. RonJ Aug 3, 2020

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    Thanks for the info.

    And, I think the "9" on the dial is interesting (same on both watches).
    It is like an upside-down-G character.

    I wonder if it was a military thing - to make sure the "9" didn't look anything like an "8".
    They do they same thing in radio communications, they say "niner" instead of "nine" to make sure there is no mistake in understanding the number.
    .
     
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  10. UncleBuck understands the decision making hierarchy Aug 3, 2020

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    It's almost a pink, when I get a chance, I hope to get the dustcover off and get full pictures.
     
  11. UncleBuck understands the decision making hierarchy Aug 3, 2020

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    The Daly watch was engraved on his draft day which was also his birthday in 1918. I don't feel it was a military watch, just a style of the period, Art Nouveau?
     
  12. Farmer Aug 3, 2020

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    Great watches, lucky bugger
     
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  13. TexOmega Aug 3, 2020

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    Hold off changing the crown, it could be correct.

    Great example!


    Omega Signal Corps USA 1918.JPG Trench with era leather strap.JPG



    signal-corps-W4  (1).jpg signal-corps-W4  (2).jpg Omega Signal Corps USA 1918.JPG Trench with era leather strap.JPG

    Pigskin strap and sterling buckle of the era.
     
    Edited Aug 3, 2020
  14. Mossback Aug 3, 2020

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    Lovely lovely watch. What stories could it tell.
    Fellow vet, US Army STRATCOM (signal corps) 1972-1975 MAG Taiwan.
     
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  15. UncleBuck understands the decision making hierarchy Aug 3, 2020

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    3 yrs. you served, so an R.A? STRATCOM, so you must feel this watch!
    I didn't realize that the early Air Corps was a part of Signal Corps.
    Me, US Army, 11B Infantry, 71-72, Korea, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, back to E-2, E-3 and finally E-4 (long story).
     
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  16. Mossback Aug 3, 2020

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    We served nearly the same time. I was assigned to US Army STRATCOM (Strategic Communications) Taiwan from Ft Gordon Georgia as Nam was winding down.
    I bought a Seiko quartz at the PX in 1974? I remember they had Rolex and maybe Omega too but everyone wanted the new quartz watches.
     
    Edited Aug 3, 2020
  17. UncleBuck understands the decision making hierarchy Aug 3, 2020

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    I bought the Omega at the PX in Korea '72, still have it.

    IMGP3714.JPG
     
    Edited Aug 4, 2020
  18. JimInOz Melbourne Australia Aug 3, 2020

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    Glad to see it arrived OK Jim, I think it will be a real keeper once you've patched the old boy up.

    Omega referred to them as "Skeleton Radium" in AJTT, but Cathedral is the general descriptor.


    As @TexOmega noted, the crown may be correct, it just looked too fresh to me. I've seen many trench watches with nickel/gun metal/silver cases and gold crowns, so the actual colour may be OK.

    And if you want to put a period correct replacement crown on just let me know.

    :D

    Crowns.JPG
     
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