: Congratulations, John, on this great acquisition.

: I am on vacation with the family this week, and must admit since
: reading your message and seeing this find, every time I see a
: pawn shop or small, local jewelry store, I wonder what might be
: inside. We tend to think that everything goes onto eBay now, but
: your story proves that there are still merchants with the rare
: old watches, just sitting in the display cases.

Jeff,

First of all have a great vacation. Second, I am with you that most watches that are found by pawn brokers or jewelers today go on the Bay. However, there are exceptions and it has been my mission to find them and establish a relationship for going on 40 years. If you count the relationships I inherited from my father we have a picture somewhere of me being pushed down Maiden Lane in NYC in a baby cartridge so maybe I have been talking to jewelers and pawn brokers for 60 years. I bought a very nice 3646 Autavia over the phone from a Jeweler in Central Wisconsin who calls me about a watch at least once a month. This guy won't even let me pay him up front...he just send me the watches and if I like them he knows I will pay. I must admit that I have not done well in Atlanta or in big cities in general. Most of the goods I buy come from smaller cities and towns. Anyway, it takes a little work and some time to build the relationships but it seems to have been worth it for me.

Thanks for the info and thanks for the millionth but not the last time for this great website.

JohnCote