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Post by John Lind on Aug 22, 2020 11:14:24 GMT
with a ~1982 Armitron 20/3173 quartz alarm. Noted now for very inexpensive quartz, they weren't always at the very bottom price tier. This one has a West German 6 jewel PUW 683A under the dial. (PUW = Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke; Pforzheim, West Germany). In spite of retooling to make quartz movements in addition to their very good mechanical workhorses, PUW didn't survive the Japanese Quartz Revolution and was swallowed up in 1990 by SMH, which very soon after became the Swatch Group. It's a battery eater if you don't turn off the alarm and use it very sparingly. It was a gift from the now ex-wife who bought it while I was deployed on a mission. Memory tells me it cost about $100-$125. That would be ~$270 in 2020 dollars, a far cry from most of Armitron's watches today which are in the $50-$75 range. Typical of the time, it has a base metal case and bezel with stainless steel snap-on back. It's held up well but is finally showing a bit of corrosion through the chrome plating. Crystal is thin mineral glass but has survived nearly 40 years. Bracelet is thin folded link stainless with a hook type clasp similar to that on most mesh. I only wore it when I was in a dress (green) or formal (blue mess) uniform. Has a Bauhaus style to it, but the visual impact of the wide day/date/alarm status window pulls it back from being one. Gratuitous Lume Shot:
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robmks
Spectacular Member
Posts: 60
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Post by robmks on Aug 22, 2020 12:28:48 GMT
Nice alarm from the past. Back to hot/humid today, a good to stay in. But will get a morning walk in with Steinhart Ocean One Red. At least at the park there's usually a cool breeze coming off the water. And the other day got a shot of a Least Sandpiper. But with some weird reflections in the water. Bob
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Post by jamestkirk on Aug 22, 2020 12:51:59 GMT
with a ~1982 Armitron 20/3173 quartz alarm. Noted now for very inexpensive quartz, they weren't always at the very bottom price tier. This one has a West German 6 jewel PUW 683A under the dial. (PUW = Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke; Pforzheim, West Germany). In spite of retooling to make quartz movements in addition to their very good mechanical workhorses, PUW didn't survive the Japanese Quartz Revolution and was swallowed up in 1990 by SMH, which very soon after became the Swatch Group. It's a battery eater if you don't turn off the alarm and use it very sparingly. It was a gift from the now ex-wife who bought it while I was deployed on a mission. Memory tells me it cost about $100-$125. That would be ~$270 in 2020 dollars, a far cry from most of Armitron's watches today which are in the $50-$75 range. Typical of the time, it has a base metal case and bezel with stainless steel snap-on back. It's held up well but is finally showing a bit of corrosion through the chrome plating. Crystal is thin mineral glass but has survived nearly 40 years. Bracelet is thin folded link stainless with a hook type clasp similar to that on most mesh. I only wore it when I was in a dress (green) or formal (blue mess) uniform. Has a Bauhaus style to it, but the visual impact of the wide day/date/alarm status window pulls it back from being one. Gratuitous Lume Shot: Interesting story, I have to admit, when I was collecting watches, I once bought an Armitron at Walmart or JC Penney, I can't remember and it was a quartz diver in a really nice black case and a WR of 100m. We were on our way with the family to Holiday World (Santa Claus IN) and stopped for the night just below Indy. We were not in luck and got a smoker's room! Luckily at least it had a small swimming pool and since the watch was rated 100 m, I took it swimming... Well, it wasn't like my Casio's I had at the time and it was just moist inside after the swim! The next day I brought it back to another store of the chain, very disappointed.
The watch I'm wearing today is definitely swim proof, no doubt about it...
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Post by jamestkirk on Aug 22, 2020 12:54:21 GMT
Nice alarm from the past. Back to hot/humid today, a good to stay in. But will get a morning walk in with Steinhart Ocean One Red. At least at the park there's usually a cool breeze coming off the water. And the other day got a shot of a Least Sandpiper. But with some weird reflections in the water. Bob Great pics Bob! Love that bird picture especially, of course the watch is nice!
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Post by marsss25 on Aug 22, 2020 13:02:30 GMT
with a ~1982 Armitron 20/3173 quartz alarm. Noted now for very inexpensive quartz, they weren't always at the very bottom price tier. This one has a West German 6 jewel PUW 683A under the dial. (PUW = Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke; Pforzheim, West Germany). In spite of retooling to make quartz movements in addition to their very good mechanical workhorses, PUW didn't survive the Japanese Quartz Revolution and was swallowed up in 1990 by SMH, which very soon after became the Swatch Group. It's a battery eater if you don't turn off the alarm and use it very sparingly. It was a gift from the now ex-wife who bought it while I was deployed on a mission. Memory tells me it cost about $100-$125. That would be ~$270 in 2020 dollars, a far cry from most of Armitron's watches today which are in the $50-$75 range. Typical of the time, it has a base metal case and bezel with stainless steel snap-on back. It's held up well but is finally showing a bit of corrosion through the chrome plating. Crystal is thin mineral glass but has survived nearly 40 years. Bracelet is thin folded link stainless with a hook type clasp similar to that on most mesh. I only wore it when I was in a dress (green) or formal (blue mess) uniform. Has a Bauhaus style to it, but the visual impact of the wide day/date/alarm status window pulls it back from being one. One of the nicer looking Armitrons, John Breitling today
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Post by marsss25 on Aug 22, 2020 13:06:43 GMT
Nice alarm from the past. Back to hot/humid today, a good to stay in. But will get a morning walk in with Steinhart Ocean One Red. At least at the park there's usually a cool breeze coming off the water. And the other day got a shot of a Least Sandpiper. But with some weird reflections in the water. Bob Bob, nice Steinhardt. Great still of the sandpiper. We have a bunch of wild turkeys roaming Tecumseh, in the style of the "Wild Ones" .
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Post by marsss25 on Aug 22, 2020 13:08:20 GMT
with a ~1982 Armitron 20/3173 quartz alarm. Noted now for very inexpensive quartz, they weren't always at the very bottom price tier. This one has a West German 6 jewel PUW 683A under the dial. (PUW = Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke; Pforzheim, West Germany). In spite of retooling to make quartz movements in addition to their very good mechanical workhorses, PUW didn't survive the Japanese Quartz Revolution and was swallowed up in 1990 by SMH, which very soon after became the Swatch Group. It's a battery eater if you don't turn off the alarm and use it very sparingly. It was a gift from the now ex-wife who bought it while I was deployed on a mission. Memory tells me it cost about $100-$125. That would be ~$270 in 2020 dollars, a far cry from most of Armitron's watches today which are in the $50-$75 range. Typical of the time, it has a base metal case and bezel with stainless steel snap-on back. It's held up well but is finally showing a bit of corrosion through the chrome plating. Crystal is thin mineral glass but has survived nearly 40 years. Bracelet is thin folded link stainless with a hook type clasp similar to that on most mesh. I only wore it when I was in a dress (green) or formal (blue mess) uniform. Has a Bauhaus style to it, but the visual impact of the wide day/date/alarm status window pulls it back from being one. Gratuitous Lume Shot: Interesting story, I have to admit, when I was collecting watches, I once bought an Armitron at Walmart or JC Penney, I can't remember and it was a quartz diver in a really nice black case and a WR of 100m. We were on our way with the family to Holiday World (Santa Claus IN) and stopped for the night just below Indy. We were not in luck and got a smoker's room! Luckily at least it had a small swimming pool and since the watch was rated 100 m, I took it swimming... Well, it wasn't like my Casio's I had at the time and it was just moist inside after the swim! The next day I brought it back to another store of the chain, very disappointed.
The watch I'm wearing today is definitely swim proof, no doubt about it...Cool marathon styling on that one, Johan!
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Post by jeffhargrave on Aug 22, 2020 13:34:04 GMT
1st full day of vacation! Visiting the girlftiend's family later today, then heading back east for 2 weeks. Going with this Dan Henry today. Attachment Deleted
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Post by zeb on Aug 22, 2020 14:31:35 GMT
with a ~1982 Armitron 20/3173 quartz alarm. Noted now for very inexpensive quartz, they weren't always at the very bottom price tier. This one has a West German 6 jewel PUW 683A under the dial. (PUW = Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke; Pforzheim, West Germany). In spite of retooling to make quartz movements in addition to their very good mechanical workhorses, PUW didn't survive the Japanese Quartz Revolution and was swallowed up in 1990 by SMH, which very soon after became the Swatch Group. It's a battery eater if you don't turn off the alarm and use it very sparingly. It was a gift from the now ex-wife who bought it while I was deployed on a mission. Memory tells me it cost about $100-$125. That would be ~$270 in 2020 dollars, a far cry from most of Armitron's watches today which are in the $50-$75 range. Typical of the time, it has a base metal case and bezel with stainless steel snap-on back. It's held up well but is finally showing a bit of corrosion through the chrome plating. Crystal is thin mineral glass but has survived nearly 40 years. Bracelet is thin folded link stainless with a hook type clasp similar to that on most mesh. I only wore it when I was in a dress (green) or formal (blue mess) uniform. Has a Bauhaus style to it, but the visual impact of the wide day/date/alarm status window pulls it back from being one. Very nice old quartz. What does the alarm sound like? Seiko Recraft today, photographed in the sun. I've been getting up in the morning lately, and the stupid sun is shining on my back porch.
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Post by russmurray on Aug 22, 2020 14:47:25 GMT
Some very cool pieces gents! Sunny yesterday but not so much this morning, so there's room on the porch for ya Dan
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Post by marsss25 on Aug 22, 2020 14:52:43 GMT
1st full day of vacation! Visiting the girlftiend's family later today, then heading back east for 2 weeks. Going with this Dan Henry today. Have a great vacation, Jeff! Cool Dan Henry,
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Post by marsss25 on Aug 22, 2020 14:54:52 GMT
with a ~1982 Armitron 20/3173 quartz alarm. Noted now for very inexpensive quartz, they weren't always at the very bottom price tier. This one has a West German 6 jewel PUW 683A under the dial. (PUW = Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke; Pforzheim, West Germany). In spite of retooling to make quartz movements in addition to their very good mechanical workhorses, PUW didn't survive the Japanese Quartz Revolution and was swallowed up in 1990 by SMH, which very soon after became the Swatch Group. It's a battery eater if you don't turn off the alarm and use it very sparingly. It was a gift from the now ex-wife who bought it while I was deployed on a mission. Memory tells me it cost about $100-$125. That would be ~$270 in 2020 dollars, a far cry from most of Armitron's watches today which are in the $50-$75 range. Typical of the time, it has a base metal case and bezel with stainless steel snap-on back. It's held up well but is finally showing a bit of corrosion through the chrome plating. Crystal is thin mineral glass but has survived nearly 40 years. Bracelet is thin folded link stainless with a hook type clasp similar to that on most mesh. I only wore it when I was in a dress (green) or formal (blue mess) uniform. Has a Bauhaus style to it, but the visual impact of the wide day/date/alarm status window pulls it back from being one. Very nice old quartz. What does the alarm sound like? Seiko Recraft today, photographed in the sun. I've been getting up in the morning lately, and the stupid sun is shining on my back porch. Love that tv dial... and the blue
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Post by kentbetts on Aug 22, 2020 17:29:07 GMT
I grew up in Arlington, Texas, where Armitron started. A former USAF officer figured out that if he made some ceramic mounting plates and attached a watch chip to it, he could have a quartz watch business. The company set up operations in the Great Southwest Industrial District, which was basically just an industrial park. The thing was, they set up shop very early in the quartz watch era, so there wasn't a huge number of competitors, and so it was a good business proposition. They were in business for a few years, and then the company operated elsewhere. I figured the company had closed and just sold off its trademark. Or it could have just relocated. As far as the new Armitron fogging up, and naturally assuming there was something wrong with the water resistance, I tend to doubt that was actually the "case". Sometimes watches are shipped or stored in a humid atmosphere. So the watch fogs up when it hits the cool temperature of a swimming pool. After experiencing this, I now wear a watch for a few weeks before taking it to a pool to give the watch time to acclimate. It seems to work. I fogged up a new Sandoz Submariner once as soon as it hit the water, and I am pretty sure there was nothing actually wrong with the watch.
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Post by zeb on Aug 22, 2020 17:50:00 GMT
Nice alarm from the past. Back to hot/humid today, a good to stay in. But will get a morning walk in with Steinhart Ocean One Red. At least at the park there's usually a cool breeze coming off the water. And the other day got a shot of a Least Sandpiper. But with some weird reflections in the water. Bob Those Steinharts are great watches. I really love this picture. The water is so smooth and fluid, and the sandpiper's feathers are so sharp and clear.
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Post by zeb on Aug 22, 2020 17:53:17 GMT
Interesting story, I have to admit, when I was collecting watches, I once bought an Armitron at Walmart or JC Penney, I can't remember and it was a quartz diver in a really nice black case and a WR of 100m. We were on our way with the family to Holiday World (Santa Claus IN) and stopped for the night just below Indy. We were not in luck and got a smoker's room! Luckily at least it had a small swimming pool and since the watch was rated 100 m, I took it swimming... Well, it wasn't like my Casio's I had at the time and it was just moist inside after the swim! The next day I brought it back to another store of the chain, very disappointed.
The watch I'm wearing today is definitely swim proof, no doubt about it...
That really reminds me of my Deep Blue tritium watch, especially the bezel.
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