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Airflight hands [message #616] Tue, 11 June 2013 16:24 Go to next message
Habitant is currently offline  Habitant
Messages: 19
Registered: June 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Gruen Apprentice
Arrrrrggggghhhh. My watchmaker just confessed that he's lost the handset for my Airflight. Anyone out there know of a source? Have tried the 'Bay and just missed a pair from Squinky. Arrrgggghhh.
Re: Airflight hands [message #626 is a reply to message #616] Wed, 12 June 2013 03:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
afire is currently offline  afire
Messages: 1312
Registered: May 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Gruen Authority
Habitant wrote on Tue, 11 June 2013 16:24
Arrrrrggggghhhh. My watchmaker just confessed that he's lost the handset for my Airflight. Anyone out there know of a source? Have tried the 'Bay and just missed a pair from Squinky. Arrrgggghhh.

Ouch. Sorry to hear that. I once had a guitar tech drop a very rare guitar and a nearly irreplaceable part fell off and broke. As much as it upset me, I never even bothered to give him a hard time. He knew what he did and it wouldn't have gotten my part back anyway. And with rarities like watch hands and guitar parts, the monetary value rarely equates to the nerdy/sentimental value to us collectors. It might not help at this moment, but I've seen other Airflight hand sets for sale over the years. Another pair will show up with a little patience.
Re: Airflight hands [message #636 is a reply to message #626] Wed, 12 June 2013 19:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Habitant is currently offline  Habitant
Messages: 19
Registered: June 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Gruen Apprentice
Thanks, afire. I have stayed cool with the guy - it wouldn't help anything to lose it with him. Just on to the hunt for the elusive Airflight hands. Thanks again for your thoughts.
Re: Airflight hands [message #638 is a reply to message #636] Wed, 12 June 2013 21:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Timeticker is currently offline  Timeticker
Messages: 568
Registered: June 2013
Location: Somewhere in the world
Gruen Master
Can you post a photo? Yeah, I know they're lost, but can you get a picture of some? I have 1500 or so hands, and you may never know what I may have.

People you thought were your best friends will stab you in the back to your face!

Love them anyway.
A "Paradoxical Commandment"
Airflight hands [message #657 is a reply to message #616] Fri, 14 June 2013 10:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Habitant is currently offline  Habitant
Messages: 19
Registered: June 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Gruen Apprentice
index.php?t=getfile&id=329&private=0Hi folks
As per my previous post to the parts side of this forum, a watchmaker has managed to lose the hands for my Gruen Airflight. Words fail me. There had been a set on the Bay, but they were sold about an hour before I discovered the lose. I'm not having a good week. Confused

It seems incredibly unlikely that I will be able to locate a genuine replacement set, and so I am thinking about having a set made. What choices are there, really.

So my question to the forum is: can anyone out there let me have the various measures of the hands? I have high quality shots of my now-deceased set, so I have ample visual reference. But I don't have exact measures. So if anyone can help, I'd really appreciate that.

There doesn't seem to be many (if any) folks out there who do make custom hands, yet I suppose there must be. Any suggestions?

Many thanks,

Michael

PS Reference shot included, taken from Big Ben on the 'bay

[Updated on: Fri, 14 June 2013 10:05]

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Re: Airflight hands [message #658 is a reply to message #657] Fri, 14 June 2013 14:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gary
Messages: 2108
Registered: May 2013
Location: Left Coast
Gruen Authority
Cheerleader

Very hard for me to believe that a watchmaker could loose a set of hand as in your case. A click spring. dial screw... yes but a set of hands...no way! I keep my overhauls in separate containers, hands and all. Your watchmaker is either un-organized or gave you this excuse and procured them for his own use or another customer. If it was the earlier he would have found them already. Words don't fail me in this case. Does he have an email address. ;-)

Give it time Michael, I will be looking for you too.
Re: Airflight hands [message #672 is a reply to message #658] Sat, 15 June 2013 21:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Habitant is currently offline  Habitant
Messages: 19
Registered: June 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Gruen Apprentice
Hi - thanks for your kind message of support and for reposting this message to 'Sale / Wanted' but my request (the second one) was for information as to size and shape of hands in order to create reproductions to replace the missing hands, and so likely to go unnoticed on the sales board.

Cheers,
Michael
Re: Airflight hands [message #674 is a reply to message #672] Sat, 15 June 2013 23:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JackW is currently offline  JackW
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Registered: May 2013
Location: Denver
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Site Admin
Hi Michael,

Sorry about moving your post, we're just trying to keep house. Mr Green Please post your request again. Sorry for the confusion on our part.


All I know is based on hard work & writing by others. I can only aspire to augment this body of knowledge. If I am wrong it is because of my own failings. -me

"If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." - Newton
Re: Airflight hands [message #690 is a reply to message #674] Tue, 18 June 2013 15:33 Go to previous message
Habitant is currently offline  Habitant
Messages: 19
Registered: June 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Gruen Apprentice
No sweat, Jack. I realise that I can measure everything in Photoshop, starting from the point that the 510SS movement hour hand hole is 1.40mm. Possibly more accurate that relying on someone's measuring ability. Also, I am hoping that one of my watchmaker contacts Stateside might have something tucked away in a material cabinet... I can always hope, right?

Thanks,

Michael
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