Greetings all!
I just added a "beater" to the collection. It actually looks very presentable. Nice dial (smudge to the left if the signature is on the crystal). Polished (especially back). Lugs on the back look a bit beat up (I included a close up of the worst of them).
I don't know if the crown is original so if anyone cares to comment, please do. The hands are so bright I presume they're replacements, although I don't know for sure. Not the original bezel (no DON).

It arrived yesterday and is keeping very good time. The serial number puts it 801 away from Neil's Lunar Module Speedy so that should add $1000 to the value (kidding).

All in all I'm pretty pleased. This one will be my strap changer watch. At the moment it's on the brown leather NATO that came with my -66 CB.

You can see by the pics I haven't treated it to the toothpick/dry toothbrush treatment yet...

 

Oops, bad lug showed up twice. Here's a wristie instead...

 

Interesting dial, narrow T Swiss T and pro label.

i love watches like this, usable and good looking.

 

nice pickup!

 

Didn't notice until you pointed it out. Does that suggest the dial may be an old replacement, like 66-67?

 

The first few photos are kinda low quality, and I think that some of the parts might be changed.

 

I think the dial is OK. This is my 105.012-65

 

After doing a quick scan of pics on the net I would suggest that narrow T SWISS MADE T is correct for 105.012-65 and wide T SWISS MADE T is correct for 105.012-66

cheers

 

From my observation, most -65 with narrow T and most -66 with wide T, but the contrary was observed a few times.

 

"You can see by the pics I haven't treated it to the toothpick/dry toothbrush treatment yet..."

interested to to hear more about this.

Cheers

 

When I am uncertain about the water resistance of an old watch, I loosen the old grime with a wooden toothpick, and brush it with a dry toothbrush.
If it were a safe queen that looked new old stock (save for the grime), I might perform a more sympathetic cleaning. But I would still keep it dry.

 

So to clean you just brush essentially with a toothbrush? no other products involved?

 

Yes.
First I use a stiff wooden toothpick to loosen the caked-on grime. This is usually between the lugs where they meet the case, and wherever there is a seam like between crystal and bezel, bezel and case, lid and case, etc. Then I brush the same areas with a dry, soft-bristled toothbrush, which is one I have "retired from dental duty." No compounds, no liquid, just dry.
I have not checked their effects on the surface under magnification, but to my eye it does no damage. Others may chime in with their examination of the results using the same technique (this is sort of a "disclaimer," you know, like "your mileage may vary!").

 

Why not just take the movement out of the case first? Then you can clean the outside and the inside of the case with any solvents or compounds or even soapy water that you wish to use, with no risk to the movement or dial. I am now in the process of working on a 2577 of mine like this, and it is really so much easier with the movement out of harm's way.

 

That would require basic watch repairing skills that most don't have.

 

Because it would cost a fortune to get a new movement, dial, and hands after I did that.

 

and being retired from general use, even softer, no damage (hopefully)

 

Daughter, age 5.
Wife, resents time spent on personal interests.
Need I say more?

 

Reasons enough . . .

 

Hah, won't be long and you will be wishing she was five again