Every Rolex tells a story

[Subfiend]

For many years, Rolex published a booklet entitled "Every Rolex tells a story" that was filled with letters the company had received from owners of Rolex watches describing fantastic stories of their adventures and the permormance of their Rolex time piece.

I have a copy of this book and I love reading it. A discussion over in the Rolex Vintage Forum about watches and their history got me thinking about it again. TRF has thousands of members, many with interesting stories to tell, so I thought I would start a thread to see what stories the members can tell about themselves and their watches. My contribution appears in the next entry. Let's hear them!

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by Subfiend

For many years, Rolex published a booklet entitled "Every Rolex tells a story" that was filled with letters the company had received from owners of Rolex watches describing fantastic stories of their adventures and the permormance of their Rolex time piece.

I have a copy of this book and I love reading it. A discussion over in the Rolex Vintage Forum about watches and their history got me thinking about it again. TRF has thousands of members, many with interesting stories to tell, so I thought I would start a thread to see what stories the members can tell about themselves and their watches. My contribution appears in the next entry. Let's hear them!

Here is a few old pics from the book.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Subfiend

For many years, Rolex published a booklet entitled "Every Rolex tells a story" that was filled with letters the company had received from owners of Rolex watches describing fantastic stories of their adventures and the permormance of their Rolex time piece.

I have a copy of this book and I love reading it. A discussion over in the Rolex Vintage Forum about watches and their history got me thinking about it again. TRF has thousands of members, many with interesting stories to tell, so I thought I would start a thread to see what stories the members can tell about themselves and their watches. My contribution appears in the next entry. Let's hear them!

Hi David,

I have a copy of that very same book...........very interesting reading indeed and some amazing stuff which tells us what utter HELL a Rolex is capable of being subjected to.

In fact, someone here once posted a fantastic pictorial of the whole book. There you go..........our good friend has already obliged!!

JJ

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Indeed , J.J. ... some even survive Jocke's treatments

[Sixxgrand1]

Thanks for posting that. Great to read..!

[Subfiend]

On July 29, 2000, I was participating in the first dive of the new century to explore the wreck of the R.M.S. Titanic. We had been down for several hours, exploring almost two square miles on the bottom, at a depth of 12,500 feet, when we ventured into a previously unexplored area of the wreck site. As always, I was wearing my trusty Sub Date, which had accompanied me on many previous adventures. My principal job was to keep a look out for artifacts that we could recover to be part of a collection that is meticulously conserved and displayed to millions of people around the world.

At 4:15 p.m., by my watch, I spotted a high value target -- a leather bag. Leather is impervious to the bacteria which destroys man made objects at this depth, and the contents of leather bags recovered on prior expeditions have almost always been perfectly preserved. So we picked it up. Here is my personal photo of the recovery.



Months later, researchers discovered that the suitcase contained the personal belongings of a 17 year-old man named Edgar Samuel Andrew. Mr. Andrew, a citizen of Argentina, boarded the Titanic in Southampton, England, not far from where he was attending school.

Ironically, an exhibit of Titanic artifacts opened in Argentina in March 2001, and researchers were able to locate the family members of Edgar Samuel Andrew. Further investigation revealed a remarkable letter sent by Andrew to his friend in Argentina, Josey Cowan, on April 8, 1912, just two days before he was to board the Titanic.

Edgar had purchased a ticket to board the Steamship Oceanic, but due to a coal strike, he was forced to change his ticket and go aboard the Titanic. He wrote:

“You figure, Josey, I had to leave on the 17th this (month) aboard the 'Oceanic', but due to the coal strike that steamer cannot depart, so I have to go one week earlier on board the 'Titanic`. It really seems unbelievable that I have to leave a few days before your arrival, but there's no help for it, I've got to go.”

“You figure, Josey, I am boarding the greatest steamship in the world, but I don't really feel proud of it at all, right now I wish the 'Titanic' were lying at the bottom of the ocean.”

One week later, the boy got his wish. Mr. Andrew was lost in the sinking and his body was never recovered. The letter never came to light until after I recovered his suitcase late in the afternoon of that fateful dive.

The suitcase and its contents, including some clothing, letters, schoolbooks and other personal items have been displayed to millions around the world as part of “TITANIC, THE ARTIFACT EXHIBIT.”

Incredibly, the find almost never happened. We were getting ready to leave the bottom when I spotted the bag because, by my watch, it was time to go.

[JJ Irani]

Thanks for that great story, David. You are one guy here who really makes FULL use of your Rolex dive watch potential and capabilities!!

[Jocke]

Thanks for the story David, unfortunately I haven't some good Rolex story's at the moment.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Thanks for the story David, unfortunately I haven't some good Rolex story's at the moment.

Now why does that surprise and shock me, Jocke?

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Now why does that surprise and shock me, Jocke?

Maybe I can made up a story?

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Sorry David .. but .. "...at a depth of 12,500 feet, when we ventured into a previously unexplored area of the wreck site. As always, I was wearing my trusty Sub Date.. "
Buy a SDDS before you sell us that bu..

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by BASSETHOUNDS

Sorry David .. but .. "...at a depth of 12,500 feet, when we ventured into a previously unexplored area of the wreck site. As always, I was wearing my trusty Sub Date.. "
Buy a SDDS before you sell us that bu..

Didn't you know they have very small feet's in Philly?

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Didn't you know they have very small feet's in Philly?

Do you mean they are all geisha's over there?

[JJ Irani]

You 2 tossers are hijacking this thread!!

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Your highness .. supreme master capital T.. would we ever ???

[Subfiend]

Originally Posted by BASSETHOUNDS

Sorry David .. but .. "...at a depth of 12,500 feet, when we ventured into a previously unexplored area of the wreck site. As always, I was wearing my trusty Sub Date.. "
Buy a SDDS before you sell us that bu..

Don't need one. You can wear a Submariner inside a submersible.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

You 2 tossers are hijacking this thread!!

Can I smell some envy?

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by Subfiend

Don't need one. You can wear a Submariner inside a submersible.

How will you get up? If you have the submariner inside the submersible?

[Subfiend]

Does anybody want to get this thread back on track? Anyone?

I know for a fact that Jocke and JJ have some interesting stories to tell. They just aren't in a mood to share.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by Subfiend

Does anybody want to get this thread back on track? Anyone?

I know for a fact that Jocke and JJ have some interesting stories to tell. They just aren't in a mood to share.

Sorry my friend, I'm out.

[BASSETHOUNDS]

Originally Posted by Jocke

How will you get up? If you have the submariner inside the submersible?

You open up the window and chuck out the the submarine first ..

[Subfiend]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Sorry my friend, I'm out.

Thanks for posting the photos of the book Jocke. Those are great.

[greekbum]

Subfiend that is amazing.You go down in a sub and look for treasure.I liked your story keep em coming. As for me my Rolex has been on my wrist almost 25 years now since my teens.It has been with me during every moment in my life since then.........I don't know were to start.........

[Safetrends]

I have posted a copy in the library, check it out.

[Speedmeister]

Wow that is a truly amazing story David!

[Safetrends]

Originally Posted by Speedmeister

Wow that is a truly amazing story David!

When ever I get a Rolex book, I work on doing a scan, crop if necessary, and work to make it a nice online book, takes a whole Saturday sometimes but it is worth it for others to read the Rolex history, price sheet, models, etc.


It is my way to contribute to a good cause, and I think TRF is worth the work.

[Mike B]

I have that rolex book as well. Very interesting read. The more I read it, the more inspired I am to get a Sub again !!
Also, Subfiend, VERY COOL story !!!! That is soooo neat that you were actually a part of something so special !! And to know you were wearing a Sub at the time makes it even better :)

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Here is a few old pics from the book.

Great post.

[nickriebe]

What a great book! and thanks for the Titanic post as well... I need to get a copy somewhere... ideas?

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Subfiend

“You figure, Josey, I am boarding the greatest steamship in the world, but I don't really feel proud of it at all, right now I wish the 'Titanic' were lying at the bottom of the ocean.”

That's an incredible story.

What at time capsule!