Wow, I thought!

Posts
15,291
Likes
44,934
I visited the home of a friend from an outlying town, recently. Primarily to see the 1956 Ford 1/2 ton he’s converting into a resto-mod, and the 4-cylinder gas engine that he has built, but also to see the Rockford basket case he has just about finished. This fellow is not a watchmaker, but an inventive genius. He recently sold his 1934 Ford coupe for which he fabricated a new frame and front suspension, and then installed a Jaguar V-12 engine (because he was unable to locate a V-16 engine). Back to the Rockford. It had a broken 4th wheel pivot (carries the seconds hand), a broken staff, and no case! So he re-pivoted the 4th wheel, made a staff for it, and made a case ring and bezel (threaded) to compliment an orphan case back he had on hand! Conditioned the watch, and had it running nicely when I was there. He asked my advice regarding tuning it to keep better time. Regrettably, I didn’t have a camera with me, so at the moment, I don’t have a photo of his truck, his 4-cylinder engine, or his Rockford. Sometimes, motivation and inherent ability can overcome seemingly impossible odds.
 
Posts
8,241
Likes
19,425
... Regrettably, I didn’t have a camera with me, so at the moment, I don’t have a photo of his truck, his 4-cylinder engine, or his Rockford.....

Now, I must say —in this time and age, there are not many of us going around their lives w/o carrying a cell phone with a built-in camera! ...but nevertheless, it was a good story! 😉
 
Posts
17,685
Likes
36,993
Now, I must say —in this time and age, there are not many of us going around their lives w/o carrying a cell phone with a built-in camera! ...but nevertheless, it was a good story! 😉

Half the time I don't know where I left my phone, half the time I can't be bothered carrying it, and the other half the time it's usually flat.
 
Posts
15,291
Likes
44,934
Half the time I don't know where I left my phone, half the time I can't be bothered carrying it, and the other half the time it's usually flat.

I had my cell phone with me, and it will take pictures, not a problem. However, when I try to forward a photo I have taken to my email address, I get a message account not configured. I have talked to my cell phone service, and the person I talked to, said there was no way to cure the problem. So I just don’t bother with the cell phone camera. I may have talked to the wrong person.
 
Posts
614
Likes
836
I had my cell phone with me, and it will take pictures, not a problem. However, when I try to forward a photo I have taken to my email address, I get a message account not configured. I have talked to my cell phone service, and the person I talked to, said there was no way to cure the problem. So I just don’t bother with the cell phone camera. I may have talked to the wrong person.
If yours is an Apple or Android phone you should be able to easily transfer the pictures directly to your computer (via USB). If it's an older style "smartphone" or "not-so-smart" the USB cable might still work.
 
Posts
15,291
Likes
44,934
Mine doesn’t have a USB port. It is not a smart phone. I had an android based smart phone a few years ago, and I hated it. I could not believe my $200.00 phone bills. So I bought out the contract, and picked up the cheapest, most basic cell phone they offered. I much prefer the $40.00 cell phone bills. I shall look into this further, as it would be hand to be able to use the pictures it takes.
 
Posts
614
Likes
836
Mine doesn’t have a USB port. It is not a smart phone. I had an android based smart phone a few years ago, and I hated it. I could not believe my $200.00 phone bills. So I bought out the contract, and picked up the cheapest, most basic cell phone they offered. I much prefer the $40.00 cell phone bills. I shall look into this further, as it would be hand to be able to use the pictures it takes.
What's the model?
It's possible the power connector is still a USB variant. (There are a few).
Things may be different in CA, but in the US these days it's quite easy to get cheap service on any phone you want. I paid $200 (USD) for my iPhone SE, and no more than $35 monthly ever since.

The trick is to find a service plan with "unlimited" (e.g. throttled) data after you hit the cap. Old-style service plans like the one you had with your old Android charge extra past the cap. Bad business.
 
Posts
13,478
Likes
31,757
This is my Jaguar mechanics car. It has fully programmable individual throttle-body EFI.

 
Posts
4,763
Likes
12,042
This is my Jaguar mechanics car. It has fully programmable individual throttle-body EFI.


So clean, nice ride!
 
Posts
1,209
Likes
3,903
Half the time I don't know where I left my phone, half the time I can't be bothered carrying it, and the other half the time it's usually flat.

This reminds me of Click and Clack...and the 3rd half of the show.

If you've never heard of the Tappet Brothers...worth a search and listen!
 
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,983
People like this amaze me. I have a friend who restored a 1948 Ford Tractor by himself to showroom perfectition. He’s one of the busiest people I know, but still found time for this meticulous restoration- he uses it to mow his lawn.
 
Posts
8,241
Likes
19,425
This is my Jaguar mechanics car. It has fully programmable individual throttle-body EFI.


would like to hear the sound of that engine! 👍
 
Posts
2,581
Likes
11,955
Mine doesn’t have a USB port. It is not a smart phone. I had an android based smart phone a few years ago, and I hated it. I could not believe my $200.00 phone bills. So I bought out the contract, and picked up the cheapest, most basic cell phone they offered. I much prefer the $40.00 cell phone bills. I shall look into this further, as it would be hand to be able to use the pictures it takes.

No worries. I love the retro-vibe of a thread with no photos. In fact I propose a photo-less “WRUW today” thread 😁
 
Posts
16,307
Likes
44,983
There have been a few engines that have given me that eargasm that’s indescribable and you feel it in your gut:
WWII P-51 Mustang in full fly-by
Jag E-type with triple Weber’s
My old BMW 3.0cs with dual Weber carbs.
The 5krpm scream of a 1967 Porsche 911
it’s all about the carbs for the eargasm.
 
Posts
15,291
Likes
44,934
I am shame faced. Indeed, a post with no pictures! I had my cell phone with me during that visit, but I had no idea how to upload a picture from the phone to my iPad. Today, I found out how to do it! I’ll get my friend to send me pictures of his Ford resto-rod, his 4-cylinder homebuilt motor, and his Rockford. While I’m at it, I’ll have him send me a picture of his ‘34 Ford coupe I referred to.
 
Posts
8,241
Likes
19,425
you know one major theme around here! Pictures or it never happened! 😀
 
Posts
15,291
Likes
44,934
It happened! I had my friend send me pictures.

His four cylinder engine was running in the video, but this is a screen capture. The 1956 Ford truck is one a deceased friend of his spent over 30 years bringing it almost to where you see it. (Never drove it!) Honking big Ford V-8 with twin 4-barrel carbs, Ford C-6 transmission, Ford 9-bolt rear end, air, cruise, tilt, power everything. My friend has upgraded practically everything and replaced the box and tail gate. Paint and upholstery comes soon. The Rockford pocket watch is the one I described earlier. He fabricated the staff, re-pivoted the 4th wheel, conditioned it, replaced the mainspring, and made the case ring and bezel, machine threading them to fit a fancy embossed back he had on hand. This is one clever dude! And He’s capable at a lot of things, but he’s not a watchmaker.

 
Posts
614
Likes
836
He fabricated the staff, re-pivoted the 4th wheel, conditioned it, replaced the mainspring, and made the case ring and bezel, machine threading them to fit a fancyembossed back he had on hand.This is one clever dude! And He’s capable at a lot of things, but he’s not a watchmaker.
I beg to differ.
It sounds like he IS a watchmaker, whether he calls himself one or not.