Marathon field watch mechanical movement ?

[xpatUSA]

Does anyone know what Cal. movement Marathon used in their Apr 1991
MIL-W-43674E Type [edited] 2 watches?

It's a 17-jewel non-hacking 18,000 bph movement.



Cheers,

[Stokport]

Have you got the Mil-code right? Isn't it 46374E instead of 43674E?

I'm not sure I can help you with the movement. It's swiss. Maybe it's a ETA2801. According to Country Comm

http://www.countycomm.com/490DESCRIP.htm

the mechanical model 490 by Stocker an Yale is powered by that one.

Maloja at Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/US-GOVERNMENT-MI...QQcmdZViewItem

claims the same (bought that one overpriced for my wife and she loves it). But both says the movement is high-beat at 28000 bph, not 18000 bph

The best resource I've read on Marathon and the mil-codes is this though

http://home.earthlink.net/%7ebrendo81/46374.html

But I can't remember the movement being mentioned.

Have fun.

Cheers Henrik

[Stokport]

Sorry.

I checked Maloja again. He doesn't mention the name of the movement but it seems to me that it might be the same.

Gnomon/Anders has a watch similar to that of yours unavailable :(

http://www.gnomonwatches.com/marathon46374E.htm

Cheers

Henrik

[xpatUSA]

Have you got the Mil-code right? Isn't it 46374E instead of 43674E?
http://home.earthlink.net/%7ebrendo81/46374.html

But I can't remember the movement being mentioned.

Have fun.

Cheers Henrik

You're right. It is of course 46374E - which means my website's wrong!

Thanks for your input,

[Stokport]

WCT claims it's a eta in the current machanical caliber

http://www.westcoastime.com/westcoas...boxwatusm.html

Cheers

Henrik

[xpatUSA]

WCT claims it's a eta in the current machanical caliber

http://www.westcoastime.com/westcoas...boxwatusm.html

Cheers

Henrik

Hi Henrik,

Thanks for the link. I'm a little suspicious about their description, for example "For collectors this is important since the first models had 'peek-a-boo' windows for the tritium tubes" - surely only the SandY models had the little windows? Perhaps Marathon made some special (red box?) with the ETA 2801-2 (hacking, 28,800 bph) but the watch I have is definitely non-hacking and 18,000 bph.

The one I have is here as pointed out by Stokport. It's the 'brown box' version NSN 6645-01-304-4308.

I do appreciate your interest and thanks again for your post,

Cheers,

[Crusader]

This is all very fishy, Ted.

The Type 1 was hacking, to begin with. No hack, no Type 1.

There is a bunch of so called "Red Box" Marathons around, which have the incorrect NSN (indicating a Type 1 hacking watch), when in reality they don't.

It doesn't have to be an ETA movement inside, btw ... the present Marathon "Type 1" mechanical watch has a cheap Russian/Chinese movement, no matter what advertisers or dealers may say. :(

[xpatUSA]

This is all very fishy, Ted.

The Type 1 was hacking, to begin with. No hack, no Type 1.

There is a bunch of so called "Red Box" Marathons around, which have the incorrect NSN (indicating a Type 1 hacking watch), when in reality they don't.

It doesn't have to be an ETA movement inside, btw ... the present Marathon "Type 1" mechanical watch has a cheap Russian/Chinese movement, no matter what advertisers or dealers may say. :(

Hi Martin,

It's getting interesting. I will do some more research. I didn't know about the later type 1's! My Hamilton 46374D has a Honk Kong case and is genuine AFIK.

Cheers,

[Crusader]

Hi Ted,

I am not implying that Russian/Asian origin (either for the case or the movement) casts authenticity into doubt ... lack of a hacking function, though, would for a Type 1. :)

[xpatUSA]

Hi Ted,

I am not implying that Russian/Asian origin (either for the case or the movement) casts authenticity into doubt ... lack of a hacking function, though, would for a Type 1. :)

Yep, I realized that. (Can't believe I wrote "Honk Kong" :P)

[1st edit] The NSN on mine is 6645-01-304-4308, so maybe it's a throw-away variant, like the Timex's, i.e. not a type 1. As you know, type 1 is NSN 6645-00-066-4279.

[2nd edit] Found this in Ned Frederick's excellent website, carefully hidden in the page for the "G" spec: "This is an old NSN last used for lesser quality MIL-W-46374E mechanical wind watches" so, my watch is not a type 1.

Thanks,

[Stokport]

I found this, too, on Ned's page

Marathon Type 2 6645-01-304-4308 PLA 17j MEC 1991 Mod. 348A; tritium vials introduced

http://home.earthlink.net/%7ebrendo8...checklist.html

It seems that your watch is a type 2?

[xpatUSA]

I found this, too, on Ned's page

Marathon Type 2 6645-01-304-4308 PLA 17j MEC 1991 Mod. 348A; tritium vials introduced

http://home.earthlink.net/%7ebrendo8...checklist.html

It seems that your watch is a type 2?

That's the watch for sure - thanks, Stokport, I had forgotten about that checklist (lost the link some time back).

If Marathon were using ETA back then, could it be an ETA 1801 movement?

Cheers,

[Stokport]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=31387

I've found your watch on an ebay auction and asked seller about the movement. Pending . . .

Cheers Henrik

[abraxas]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=31387

I've found your watch on an ebay auction and asked seller about the movement. Pending . . .

Cheers Henrik

Sorry . I couldn't resist. :P

john

[rfrazier]

Impressively, it looks like General Schwarzkopf has harness on. (Or are they just really, really big braces to keep his trousers up? ;))

Best wishes,
Bob

[ewan.w]

Hi all

Re: the pic of the General above - it was actually a Seiko Quartz diver that he wore in Iraq. He wore two watches I believe, a normal (might have been a Datejust or somesuch) on one wrist and the Seiko on the other.

I have seen the above used in Ebay auctions for some time and always smiled.

Cheers

EWan

[xpatUSA]

Does anyone know what Cal. movement Marathon used in their Apr 1991
MIL-W-43674E Type [edited] 2 watches?
Cheers,

This just in from the "horse's mouth" . .

Hi Ted:
I think that this series was made with FHF 96
MARATHON WATCH COMPANY LTD
30 Mural Street, #10
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada L4B 1B5

So now we know,

[rfrazier]

I have a watch with the FHF96. It is a decent, reliable (so far) movement. And here it is. Sorry about the lume being so bright. It has a full charge.



Best wishes,
Bob

[xpatUSA]

I have a watch with the FHF96. It is a decent, reliable (so far) movement. And here it is. Sorry about the lume being so bright. It has a full charge.

Best wishes,
Bob

Hi Bob,
Thanks for the input. I'm going to google around a bit (after my eyes readjust :wink:) and then update my military web page. The Marathon actually keeps better time than my SandY 490 which is about the same age, but with a 2801-2.

Cheers,

Ted