freddy333 Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 It has been quite a journey, but, finally, I have a working Rolex 1036 gmt motor for my Phase II 6542. For those of you who are new or have not been following the story thus far, I have been working on converting a standard 1036 Rolex movement over to a gmt to power the watch (which will be all gen except for the dial face). This is the same movement as was fitted to the original Rolex 6542 GMT-Master in the mid-50s. Because the GMT parts were unique to the 6542 & have not been made in over 20 years, to say they are rare is a vast understatement. In fact, although the movement is a relatively simple 4-hand affair, many Rolex watchmakers today know little or nothing about it & none of my usual contacts were able to provide much in the way of guidance. But, after alot of time, effort & money, not to mention a series of very fortunate happenstances, I was able to gather up all of the necessary parts (many NOS), piece them together & prod them into running. I am still awaiting the dial (because the dial holds the calendar disc in place, I cannot install it until I install the dial), which is being professionally repainted & should arrive within a week or so. In the meantime, I have the hands, case & bracelet, all gen & awaiting final assembly (The 6542 in this pic is my 2846-powered Phase 1 watch) Until then, here is the 1036-to-1036gmt motor in action (shown here with its gen GMT hand & a spare DJ hand I threw on to demonstrate the 24-hour function for this video) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Killer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Grail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Thanks, All. Here is a still Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Brilliant! And artful pics to accompany, as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Amazing Freddy! Congrats! I know this has been a long long project for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Absolutely fantastic work, a real labor of love Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 I n c r e d i b l e ! ! ! F333, I need to put on my sunglasses, 'cause you a Rock Star! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Absolutely spectacular, my friend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikellem Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Outrageous Freddy.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 I don't get a lot of time to cruise all the threads on the board these days. But I'm glad I cruised this one. Brilliant work Freddy. Listen I have a Magna I want remodeled into a Mercedes can I send it your way. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Fabulous project. Great work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc jacobs Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Thank you for your project and post ~~~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 great job Freddy, amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Listen I have a Magna I want remodeled into a Mercedes can I send it your way. Funnily enough, just yesterday, 1 of the Mods on VRF found someone selling a 308 Ferrari that has had its engine/trans replaced with the same from a Pontiac Fiero. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgiv Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Beautiful work Freddy!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Man, I can't wait to see this baby all put together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Believe me, you are not the only 1 . It may look something like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 *klunk* Medic! We have a code blue! He's stopped breathing! Damn, tachycardia! Charging... clear! *zap* Doctor, it's not working... Increase to 360! Clear! **ZZzzZZzaaappp** tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock... Doctor, we have an 18k bph sinus rhythm. You saved Nanuq. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Down boy! Nanuq needs to switch over to decaf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Down boy! Nanuq needs to switch over to decaf. Decaf? Huh? You must be talking about decaf next to demoose... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Decaf? Huh? You must be talking about decaf next to demoose... Datz de spirit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbutlerman Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Hehe, no kiddin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Another Update - I just spoke to the dial refinisher & they expect to have the dial completed by the end of next week (if not before). Along with the dial, I provided them with a number of macro pics (coronet, text, index markers, etc) & they feel that the result should be very close to the original (gen). My previous experience with this refinisher was that they did exactly that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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