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Hello from Florida
Posted: August 29th, 2025, 10:43 pm
by islander21
Absolute newbie here. The people in this forum do amazing work and the knowledge base is through the roof! However, as interesting as watch repair and restoration is (I can view youtube videos for hours!) I'm here to find a good source to repair and service my 1977 Hamilton GG-W-113 I got while in the USAF. It seems there is no one local to me in Central Florida to take on that task.
gg113.jpg
Also, I'm not much into fancy or expensive items, but I like classy ones, like a mid 60s Wittnauer. Would love to get my hands on this one, specifically:
Re: Hello from Florida
Posted: August 30th, 2025, 5:13 am
by dj57
Welcome to H-F.
Re: Hello from Florida
Posted: August 30th, 2025, 8:40 am
by straps68
Hello and welcome to the forum.
You may want to PM unreformed66 for all your watch repair/servicing needs. I think he is in Ohio, not FL though but shipping exists
.
Re: Hello from Florida
Posted: August 30th, 2025, 11:43 am
by islander21
Thanks for the welcome! I tried PMing unreformed66 but the message is sitting in the outbox and my sent box is empty. Is there a restriction for newbies to PM users until X number of posts or something similar?
Re: Hello from Florida
Posted: August 30th, 2025, 7:15 pm
by straps68
islander21 wrote: ↑August 30th, 2025, 11:43 am
Thanks for the welcome! I tried PMing unrefomred66 but the message is sitting in the outbox and my sent box is empty. Is there a restriction for newbies to PM users until X number of posts or something similar?
No restrictions on PMs. The way it works, the message will stay in the outbox until it is read.
Re: Hello from Florida
Posted: August 30th, 2025, 9:41 pm
by islander21
straps68 wrote: ↑August 30th, 2025, 7:15 pm
No restrictions on PMs. The way it works, the message will stay in the outbox until it is read.
Good to know, thanks!
Re: Hello from Florida
Posted: August 31st, 2025, 12:14 pm
by Mellons
Welcome!
Re: Hello from Florida
Posted: September 1st, 2025, 10:33 am
by Philip1944
Wittnauer as a brand was first registered in 1890, but ten years before that Albert Wittnauer, a 16-year-old watchmaker and immigrant from Switzerland, arrived in New York to work for his brother-in-law. In 1885 Albert registered the A. Wittnauer Company to import and distribute high-quality, precision timepieces, primarily for the American market. For one hundred years the company has made excellent watches. I'm sure some of the vintage models are worthy of investment and perhaps in the future will become more collectable by connoisseurs.
Owned by Bulova/Citizen since 2001, in the past Wittnauer had a long relationship with Longines. In fact, in the mid-1900's in America they were marketed as an 'affordable' Longines, with the cases made in New York, and the jewel count kept to 17 to avoid tariffs.
I love the shape of the case of the mid 60s model in your photograph, and the superb pie-pan dial. Good luck in your search for this particular model.... but I might just get there first!
Here is the Wittnauer alarm watch from the 1960s with a 35mm case and honeycomb dial. Note the Rolex.Milgauss style second hand.
Watch.Wittnauer.Alarm.1960s.JPG
Re: Hello from Florida
Posted: September 1st, 2025, 11:17 am
by islander21
Philip1944 wrote: ↑September 1st, 2025, 10:33 am
Wittnauer as a brand was first registered in 1890, but ten years before that Albert Wittnauer, a 16-year-old watchmaker and immigrant from Switzerland, arrived in New York to work for his brother-in-law. In 1885 Albert registered the A. Wittnauer Company to import and distribute high-quality, precision timepieces, primarily for the American market. For one hundred years the company has made excellent watches. I'm sure some of the vintage models are worthy of investment and perhaps in the future will become more collectable by connoisseurs.
Owned by Bulova/Citizen since 2001, in the past Wittnauer had a long relationship with Longines. In fact, in the mid-1900's in America they were marketed as an 'affordable' Longines, with the cases made in New York, and the jewel count kept to 17 to avoid tariffs.
I love the shape of the case of the mid 60s model in your photograph, and the superb pie-pan dial. Good luck in your search for this particular model.... but I might just get there first!
Here is the Wittnauer alarm watch from the 1960s with a 35mm case and honeycomb dial. Note the Rolex.Milgauss style second hand.
Watch.Wittnauer.Alarm.1960s.JPG
My father wore Wittnauer/Longines watches. He purchased some of them in St. Thomas, USVI back in the 60s. Classy, with clean lines. Not ostentatious or loud. I Like the octagonal shape of the case on this one, which, BTW, I missed out on during a local estate sale. The pie-pan dial is simple but classy. I believe there is a Geneve automatic version of this manual wind watch as well. I'd like to pair it with a stainless steel band, not a leather strap.
Re: Hello from Florida
Posted: September 12th, 2025, 12:09 am
by Hypnogagia
Welcome! Your Hamilton will likely be an easy one to repair/service, well made utilitarian movements in those and it will likely last forever. The Wittnauer is beautiful, classy. I’ve got a Witt pocket watch from the same era, uses a Longines movement, 17 jewels and shock protection. They made good stuff!
@ Phillip1944- that alarm watch is snazzy as hell! I’ll have to add that to my want list.