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Thread: Excelsior Park Decimal Chronograph

  1. #1

    Excelsior Park Decimal Chronograph

    Hi all

    This was a late christmas present to myself, which arrived today. My first Ebay purchase in quite some time, it arrived from the US this morning having only been the subject of my winning bid on xmas eve - speedy service :)

    It was listed as "vintage chronograph, a non-runner" with no mention of the make in the auction title, but looked to be complete and in reasonably nice original condition, so I set my max bid at £250 and went to bed. Pleasantly surprised to "win" it for £190 shipped.

    The screw-back case is all steel and approx 38mm across excluding the crown. The column-wheel Excelsior Park chrono movement does actually run with applied pressure on the crown, so hopefully a clean and new mainspring will sort out this vintage chrono. All in all, quite pleased with this one, as recently my collecting direction has been heading towards vintage handwound chronographs.




    Cheers

    Foggy

  2. #2
    Grand Master
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    Very nice, congrats!

    Ming

  3. #3
    Administrator swanbourne's Avatar
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    A wonderful find at an excellent price Foggy.

    Eddie
    Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".

  4. #4
    Thanks Eddie

    It was a slight gamble, but I think it's paid off :)

    This may be a stupid question, but why a decimal scale ? What applications would this be used for ?

    Cheers

    Foggy

  5. #5
    Think I've answered my own question with this link explaining different scales used.

    http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t= ... 1739&rid=0

    Cheers

    Foggy

  6. #6
    Administrator swanbourne's Avatar
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    Wasn't a decimal scale used in navigation or artillery? I can't remember the reason for recording 100ths of a minute but I'm sure it had a military application. Some decimal stopwatches took only 10 seconds to go round the dial!

    Eddie
    Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".

  7. #7
    Administrator swanbourne's Avatar
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    This is what I researched a few years ago for a Lemania decimal stopwatch I had:

    "Although there are no military markings on this watch, the probable use was either a navigation watch for measuring ground speed or an artillery watch for measuring the flight of shells."

    The strange thing about this watch was that the seconds hand completed one revolution of the dial in 36 seconds, 100th of an hour! It seems that decimal watches had specific functions and there are 2 or 3 (or more) different types.

    Eddie
    Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".

  8. #8
    Master
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    Hi Foggy
    I like that, glad the "snipe" worked!
    These older chronos seem to be good investments as well as gorgeous to look at.

    The speed it reached you from the US is phenomenal - what postal service was used?
    OT I know, but what service do TZUK members recommend for postage to the US? Quotes I have had for UPS / Fedex seem very high if insured for say £500 - yet sellers seem to be able to send items to me fairly cheaply.

    Si

  9. #9
    Hello Si

    It was sent regular airmail from the US. Sent Dec 24th, arrived Dec 30th - doesn't appear to have had any hold-up in customs which is always good news :wink:

    Whenever I've sent to the US, I've used Royal Mail registered airmail. not lost anything so far that way, although I've never sent any high value watches (max £200). The only expensive item I've sent to the US was a £2500 telegraph key - for that one I used Fedex at a cost of circa £50.

    Cheers

    Foggy

  10. #10
    Master
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    Hi Foggy
    I was quoted around £78 to send a watch worth £300 odd to the US by Fedex, UPS were about the same!
    The only problem with Royal Mail airmail is that if there is a problem the packet is not trackable in the destination country - at least for Japan and Thailand that is the case.
    Anyway I will go no further in deviating from your post!
    Nice chrono!
    By the way: £135 to service that 552 and build me an SM300.
    Happy New Year to all!!
    Si

  11. #11
    By the way: £135 to service that 552 and build me an SM300
    Si

    That is pretty good :D I was expecting them to charge you the same price as Omega in Bienne charge for an overhaul of a 552 watch ie £160. Having said that, the £160 includes a new crystal and crown, which are parts you have already supplied, so all in all about right.

    I bet you're getting excited :mrgreen:

    Cheers

    Foggy

  12. #12
    Master
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    I am looking forward to it of course, but in a relaxed way as I already know I'll love it!
    They quote the same (£114 + VAT, post included) to service my dad's De Ville - glass and crown included in their standard auto service price, it seems. (I think the "overhaul" might include a case refurb - the people you recommended do this too, you get the watch back with a new strap as appropriate and an Omega box).
    They estimate it will take 20 days (20 days after they get my money that is!) which beats 5 months :shock: for the Heuer.
    Have a good New Years's Eve!

    By the way, any thoughts on the purpose of the "calograph" posted about below?

  13. #13
    By the way, any thoughts on the purpose of the "calograph" posted about below?
    No thoughts beyond your suggestion, which seems the most likely to me.

    Cheers

    Foggy

  14. #14
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
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    Very nice Foggy.

    I had a couple of similar EP's (one gold) years ago when they were cheap.

    In house column wheel movement, lovely.

    Looks to be 40's. I think they made movements for other fims as well.

    Nice find, funny how you get the occasional great bargain on ebay, although I admit nowadays its mainly on specialised items.
    Cheers,
    Neil.

    My Speedmaster website:

    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  15. #15
    Master
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    Congrats foggy great find enjoy

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