ChronoMaddox

Browsing the ChronoMaddox site today I wondered if the following email correspondence with Chuck Maddox and Omega might be of interest to those who look after the ChronoMaddox website:

On Dec 15, 2006, at 1:11 PM, John McIntyre wrote:

> Thanks for a wonderful and encylopaedic article on the 1045 Speedmaster.

Oh dear lord, that's a work in progress! But thank you for your kind words.

> I have now been able to establish that the watch I bought back in the 70s is a 176.0012. After several weeks and £££ it has now been completely overhauled and largely rebuilt by a UK based Omega specialist (Andy Steels). A truly beautiful watch that I haven't used for years and must now put on the market.

Sound's like it is a shame you're parting with it after all these years. But sometimes it's necessary.

If you speak highly of Mr. Steels, perhaps he wouldn't mind me referring folks in the UK to him who need Omega service? Check with him, it's always nice to hook people up for mutual benefit.

> However, my reason for contacting you is to ask if your Omega interest extends to their specialist sports watches.

A bit. I'm not as big into them as, say Jeff Stein is on Vintage Heuer Dashboard timepieces, but I do dabble.

http://www.onthedash.com/

> I have a hand stop watch produced for the Innsbruck 1976 Winter Olympics and Montreal 1976 Olympics. It has the logos of both games on its black dial either side of the Omega name and logo. The case is about 53mm. in diameter, charcoal grey crackle finish with a flat stainless steel back. The watch comes with a red plastic snap-in case with back rest for table top use, and with slots for the neck strap hooks to engage in. I can send photos etc. if you're interested.

Sure, I'd love to see snaps... Here's one of mine: [picture of two stop watches were included in the email]

> So far I have been pretty unsuccessful in finding anything on the Internet that relates directly to this sort of watch. However, because it is a special watch, built for serious use (apparently Omega supplied them to officials at those Olympic Games), in a special commemorative edition just for those events, it should be of interest to collectors.

It is of interest to me. Unfortunately, this aspect of Omega's history is singularly undocumented as far as I know. About the only thing written about this aspect is one of my own:

http://home.xnet.com/~cmaddox/olympic.html

> I realise that this has nothing to do with the chronographs your article is about, but as a man steeped in Omega "performance" watch culture, you seemed to be most likely to point me in the right direction.

=)

Well, I certainly wish I could point you somewhere. Unfortunately I really am at a loss to point you to someone who can tell you more. I'll CC Bill Sohne (who's busier than I am even)... He might know more than I do, but on this topic, it's a shot in the dark.

Great meeting you in any instance. Looking forward to communicating in the future.

Happy Holidays!

Chuck

> Any help will be most appreciated.
>
> John McIntyre
> Farnham, Surrey, England
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 December 2006

Sorry for the delay. I had a busy weekend, and then wasn't happy with the lighting for photographs. The attached are probably OK for a general impression. I'm not too keen on taking backs off, etc., but will do so if necessary.

I checked with Andy Steels re references for Omega work. He would be delighted to help anyone you care to refer. His credentials are impressive (including being trained by Omega in Switzerland, and being a one time director of the Omega Swatch group).

A S Associates
6 Oast House
Stapeley Manor
Long Lane
ODIHAM
Hampshire RG29 1JE U.K.
Tel. +44 (0)1256 862626
Email. andrew.steels@btconnect.com

Odiham is located quite handily for the M3 motorway, about 40 miles South West of London, in beautiful Hampshire countryside. Let me know if you need more info.

All the best

John

[Photos of the hand timer from all angles were attached]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Dec 18, 2006, at 8:02 AM, John McIntyre wrote:

> Sorry for the delay. I had a busy weekend, and then wasn't happy with the lighting for photographs.

John,

It's Christmastime... _I_ understand! =)

> The attached are probably OK for a general impression.

They are awesome! Very nice, in better shape than mine are. Would love to own it if it ever comes on the market (just so you know).

> I'm not too keen on taking backs off, etc., but will do so if necessary.

No, that's not necessary, and I understand.

I have no idea what something like this is worth these days. My examples were bought in the 1999-2000 timeframe and I paid about $125-160 USD each, for them at that time.

> I checked with Andy Steels re references for Omega work. He would be delighted to help anyone you care to refer. His credentials are impressive (including being trained by Omega in Switzerland, and being a one time director of the Omega Swatch group).
>
> A S Associates
> 6 Oast House
> Stapeley Manor
> Long Lane
> ODIHAM
> Hampshire RG29 1JE U.K.
> Tel. +44 (0)1256 862626
> Email. andrew.steels@btconnect.com
>
> Odiham is located quite handily for the M3 motorway, about 40 miles South West of London, in beautiful Hampshire countryside. Let me know if you need more info.

OK, Here's what I've done, John... I've created a "Referral Footer" in my mail program and will use it to refer people to Andy when I get queries. I've included the footer below, and am CCing Andy. If either of you have suggestions for additions/corrections/deletions/improvements (I'm starting to get repetitive) let me know.

Thanks for all the info, Have a safe and memorable Holiday season!

Chuck

P.S. the "Referral-Andy Steels" footer follows...

> All the best
>
> John
>

Hello,

I often get queries from people looking for qualified watchmakers to send their examples for service. In this instance, I have not personally used the gentleman named below, but he comes highly recommended:

-------------------

I checked with Andy Steels re: references for Omega work. He would be delighted to help anyone you care to refer. His credentials are impressive (including being trained by Omega in Switzerland, and being a one time director of the Omega Swatch group).

A S Associates
6 Oast House
Stapeley Manor
Long Lane
ODIHAM
Hampshire RG29 1JE U.K.
Tel. +44 (0)1256 862626
Email. andrew.steels@btconnect.com

Odiham is located quite handily for the M3 motorway, about 40 miles South West of London, in beautiful Hampshire countryside.

-------------------

Should you choose to use Mr. Steels services please let me know how things go.

Best of fortune and Good Hunting!

Chuck

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 December 2006

The Andy Steels reference looks fine to me -- I'm sure he'll be very pleased.

He did an amazing job for me on the Speedmaster. He had to delve deep to find why various functions weren't functioning properly in test running. Eventually it turned out that a plastic (really!) plate that supports the date change mechanism was cracked. He persuaded Omega in Switzerland to part with one of the only three, I think, spares they had left. He was persuasive and I was lucky!

I'd be happy to let you have the stop watch, and am sure we can do a deal. I'll see if I can get an up to date price indication, though I'm sure you're vastly better qualified to do so than I.
You should know that there is a problem with the attachment on the neck strap/lanyard. The plastic attachment has two flat hooks that engage in slots on the back of the carrying case/stand. One of the hooks is broken halfway round the bend (I don't remember, but I think I must have been careless and twisted it when unhooking it years ago). I haven't been able to find the bit that came off, though I'm sure I put it away "somewhere safe". However, I'm not sure it's the kind of plastic that sticks with superglue . . .

The watch itself is almost mint, as my grand athletic ambitions took a back seat to a busy career in IBM et al, and apart from the occasional affectionate unwrap and gaze, it's been wrapped in a handkerchief pretty much since I bought it. I don't have the box -- can't even remember what it was like. Nor do I have the original bill of sale, guarantee etc. I fear my successors may find them in that "safe place" after I've gone off to place where time isn't!

I'll be back to you when I have something useful.

Enjoy the Holidays, Chuck.

John
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15 December 2006

Dear Mr. Mc Intyre,

Thanks for your message and sorry for the late answer. Here are the details about your OMEGA hand-timer:

OMEGA 1/5-second split-seconds timer MG 6351, 1976: Calibre 18000 A, one revolution in 60 seconds, 30-minute totalizer, 17 hours running time. Start-stop and return-to-zero by the crown; the push-button makes the fly-back hand stop and rejoin the main hand. Dial with logos of 1976 Olympic Games in Innsbruck (winter) and Montreal. Slip-proof water-resistant anthracite case.

Uses: Car races,chemistry,cooling curves,heating curves,typing,sound recordings,tests up to 30 minutes,physics and chemistry experiments,public utilities,accumulated times (reading on a stopped hand).

You have an additional red protecting case (optional) of ref. W 1732 (case-rest for 54 mm diameter timers).

The Swiss retail price of your time piece was of CHF 260.- in 1976. See note below for a current valuation.

Best regards and happy new year!

Jean-Luc Miranda
OMEGA MUSEUM - Vintage Information

OMEGA SA
RUE STAMPFLI 96
2500 BIENNE 4
SWITZERLAND
T. +41 (0)32 343 91 84
F. +41 (0)32 343 98 70

jean-luc.miranda@omega.ch
www.omegawatches.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If anyone is interested in the images I can send them as attachments to an email. I do not have internet hosting facilities

John McIntyre