The Accidental Collector.

[andypandy]

I didn,t mean to become an addict...Honest !About 25 yrs. ago a cab-driver I
knew complained to me that his watch was losing 20 to 25 minutes a day. I asked how long he had owned it , the answer was about 7 or 8 years. It had never been serviced. I offered to give it to a friend to check out and probably
give it a good clean etc. It transpired the watch needed a minor repair and service costing £ 50.00 ( $80.00 U.S.) When I told the owner, he threw a fit!
He informed me that that was a third of what he,d payed for the "bloody thing". I pointed out to him that it was a quality watch and worth the repair cost. His
reply? " If you like it so much gimme £50.00 for it and it,s yours ! " I got a 1967
Gmt Master and we,ve lived happily ever after. Fast forward a few years and I wander into a 2nd hand shop. I spot an old watch and the shopowner shows me
a nice hand wind s.s watch which is "broken" I buy it for £30.00 ( $50.00 U.S.)
I spent a whopping £20.00 having it serviced. It was a 1942 Rolex Oyster Precision. It has been in regular use and performs wonderfuly. I found an Omega
deVille in the street, handed it in to the Police, it wasn,t claimed and I was given it . Last , but not least, I sourced a1950,s Iwc "Boys" watch in A 1
condition. I bought it for a reasonable price and I am now investigating the
history . I didn,t even know IWC made boys watches. I hope I haven,t bored you with my story. Do I need help ?