Flea market find - Fun with watches

I picked up some goodies at the Round Top, Tx, flea market the other day. Everything for about $125. The Spaceview didn't hum :-( A nice AS alarm movement for parts. The most interesting were the NOS Austin dials. I wanted to turn the baseball dial into a functional watch.


To do this:
- determine the type of movement the dial posts fit. I know from history, Austin watches typically have used AS/ST movements. The AS1686 was it! I have a bunch of spares. Just had to find one that worked well.

Then:

• Find the post sizes and locate some hands that match the style and length I want.
• Find a case. This part is tricky as there are plenty of dimensions that need to line up for everything to work.
• Movement holder. Equally time consuming for the same reasons above.
• Crown. Not as difficult but still a search through the parts bin. Has to fit the stem and the case. Oh, the length is important.
• Crystal to fit. Easy peasy.

Next:

• Lume the hands. Vintage watch = puke brown colored lume. I'm thinking an old baseball as the hour hand.
• Assembly.
• Stem length. Measure twice cut once. (It's never that easy for me)
• Vintage strap.

Now the money shot:
A fun watch. Not bad.

Love this! You really hit a home run!

Excellent score. Redpcar helped me case an IWC movement and dial I salvaged after some idiot melted the gold case. He was going to help me with a vacheron but I went back to the store to buy it someone had snapped it up. Red is a genius with these matters I just sent pics of all the caliper measurements he sent one case that worked perfect. I love the IWC.

Always nice to see something from others who salvage old watches.

(and I though I had a lot of junk movements.) Not nearly as well organized. Still think AS 1187 is an underrated workhorse.

Great! Now you need a strap made from an old baseball glove with the branding visible.