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Omega A.M 6B/159 A3435 - Advice please -

roderick lane
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Good morning everyone.

I am looking for some information about a watch I have inherited from my late father.
He served in ten RAF from 1942 until the early 1950's as a bomber pilot flying mostly Lancaster and Stirling Bombers. Mainly based in South Africa, Rhodesia and Aden.
The watch has lived in a box of all his RAF memorabilia until quite recently.

I would really like to know more about the watch, as he sadly can no longer tell me.

Also, the watch is damaged in that it is missing most of the hour hand and the watch glass cover is missing. It seems to want to run, but the minute hand catches on the remains of the hour hand. I would really appreciate some advice on how I should go about restoring the watch to working condition, and any recommendations for some one to take on this kind of work. It has survived so long, I don't want to take any risks with it now.

Thanks in anticipation of any information and advice you can offer me.

Rod.

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Davidt
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It’s be good to know your country/area as members may be able to recommend a watchmaker to help
 
Dan S
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Another suggestion is to look for a local watch enthusiast group. It's an excellent way to get firsthand recommendations for local watch repair professionals that don't advertise.
 
watchyouwant
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It`s what it is ... Service is no problem for an older Watchmaker, who knows caliber 30 . If parts are needed , that will be a search with patience... The hand will be a Problem; very hard to find at all. There are a few old watchmakers in London, Clerkenwell . Contact everybody there. The missing Bezel will be a problem as well. E#ven if you find something, it might not fit . Too small, no problem. Can be machined. Too loose, Oh Dear ... I might have one somewhere for sending to you for dimensions to manufacture a new one. But i need that one back.
 
roderick lane
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Thank you Don for the suggestion. I will follow it up.
DON DON
The bezel is missing which holds the crystal.

Post over on the Military Watch Resource forum. Will get a lot of info there

https://www.mwrforum.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?2-Main-Forum
Davidt Davidt
It’s be good to know your country/area as members may be able to recommend a watchmaker to help
Hi David, sorry, I should have thought of that. Dad served in the RAF in the UK initially, and I am based in Wales (UK).
 
roderick lane
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Dan S Dan S
Another suggestion is to look for a local watch enthusiast group. It's an excellent way to get firsthand recommendations for local watch repair professionals that don't advertise.
Thanks Dan. I'll get searching in West Wales.
 
roderick lane
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watchyouwant watchyouwant
It`s what it is ... Service is no problem for an older Watchmaker, who knows caliber 30 . If parts are needed , that will be a search with patience... The hand will be a Problem; very hard to find at all. There are a few old watchmakers in London, Clerkenwell . Contact everybody there. The missing Bezel will be a problem as well. E#ven if you find something, it might not fit . Too small, no problem. Can be machined. Too loose, Oh Dear ... I might have one somewhere for sending to you for dimensions to manufacture a new one. But i need that one back.
Many thanks for the information. I didn't know if parts are still available, so you have given me some hope. I'll have a look at Clerkenwell suggestion. Shame I'm retired, as I used to work in that area of London.
 
Davidt
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If you’re in the UK, don’t limit yourself to watchmakers in Wales, RM Special Delivery is pretty bullet proof so shipping to the most suited watchmaker in the UK shouldn’t be an issue.

I’d usually recommend, Swiss Time Services, Mitka or WatchGuy but I’m not sure if there someone else who specialises more in this era
 
padders
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Mitka did a great job on my 6b/159. It wasn’t silly money either. You are missing some pretty crucial hard to get parts there though.
 
speedb
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I could have a go at machining a replica bezel from my UK2292, can't say whether I'll be very successful!
 
R
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Hi Rod,
Another Roderick here.
I have spare NOS hands, movement parts and a skimmed case which could provide a donor bezel.
The hands I’ve sold in the past for £70 individually. The bezel is hard to put a price on - my skimmed case is perhaps worth £300, so perhaps the bezel is worth another £70?
I think you may be missing the sweep seconds pinion to attach the seconds hand to as I can’t see it. At least it sounds like your balance is swinging. A glass would be another £5.

Anyway, it’s a fair amount of parts to buy, and there may be more missing/broken under the bonnet.

Send me a PM if you are interested at all. I am also a BHI-qualified horologist, but I don’t have much spare time at the moment due to having a toddler to look after.

Cheers,

Roddy
 
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