Independents

Dear forumners,

Previously, we held the MBF-2 Contest and there were many entries click here

The results of the contest will be revealed.........................................................................................................after the break !

Seriously though, the judge's comments are appended below.

Regards,

MTF

Max Busser:

Thank you all very much for your wonderful posts ! Each day I read them I discovered a part of my life I had forgotten about. 

When I set about creating a new Horological Machine, the process never starts with a thought along the lines of "I would love to create a piece which is inspired by X, Y or Z”.  The initial idea is usually the principle function and, because we know many master watchmakers and master engineers quite well, the function and the creator go hand in hand.

Eric (Giroud) and I then launch into designing a 3-dimensional machine we would love to wear. And so we sketch. . . and we sketch . . . and we sketch.

Then, when our gut feeling tells us we have a solid base and are on the right track, we set about refining it. It is then that we often find that we have added references to the past we were barely aware.  Only when the timepiece is completely finished can we sit back and start wondering “What exactly inspired us here?” And then it hits us hard !  The inspiration is rarely any one thing, but an assembly of many. A little like our lives are a jigsaw puzzle of experiences which go together to make up who we are today.
 
I discovered in your posts various memories from my own life, past and present, so please allow me a moment of candour in replying:
 
A DJ turntable – oh yeah…

The Nautilus - a bit of which can be seen in all our creations at MB&F

ET - I was 15 and trying desperately not to cry at the end of it… very bad for teenager street cred…

Grendizer - of course.

Good old Johnny Five from John Badham’s Short Circuit

Car and plane dashboards - do you remember when you were a child and the stewardess would allow you a sneak peek into the pilot’s cabin ?

Moons and Supernovas – and that science project where you would gaze through that puny telescope ?

Your friend Tim – we all had a friend like Tim. Come to think of it, I probably was Tim at some point in my life…

Jacques Tati – Sigh… A Grand Monsieur !

Ducatis – Even today they get my blood racing…

Time Machines – remember that Time travel show 30 years ago where two scientists (in grey suits) would jump from one era to another – does anybody remember the name of it ?

Vintage Radio – OK, I am not that old, but my grand mother had a phenomenal piece in her sitting room.  Which makes me wonder where it has disappeared…

Gas cooker - J If I remember well, that was one of the first comments somebody gave me when HM2 was introduced…

Nagra Kudelski – Yes ! A reference ! Just wait for HM3, and you will see a much clearer homage…

A bra, and all associated…  absolutely no comment, except I was not breast-fed – clearly a Freudian influence here…

Rohrschach tests – errr… My ex-wife is a psychologist. Does that count ?

Goggles – welding or not. Remember “Those Magnificent Men iand their Flying Machines” ?
 
So how to choose a prize, now ? Major sighhhh…
 

Warmest regards,
 
Max

This message has been edited by MTF on 2008-05-28 09:01:57

Which is the evidence he's a great man..Un Grand Monsieur!

Hats off to him!

Thanks, MTF, for reporting that to us!

Best.

Nicolas

Max Busser:

Well, I have to confess that what resonated with me most was Starbase 375.   I remember when I was young spending part of each summer with my aunt’s family in Wiltshire (UK) and every morning being glued in front of Star Trek (it was of course raining, even though summer). Absolutely right about the font. That was a very conscious decision, and even the numerals are from the Star Trek font.

So congratulations Allen and thank you so much for the post !
 
Now, as it is Festival de Cannes time, let us follow suit ! So on top of Allen’s “Palme d’Or”, I would like to award a “Prix Special du Jury” …to rewarding an entry which not only caught me by surprise, but also allowed me to remember “Frankenstein Jr”… Marty Feldman !!!! 

Congratulations mdsmithmd ! It deserves a second Etro bag !
 
Again thanks to all of you – special kudos to Vadim for his imaginary world and great graphic talent, and looking forward to all your comments and thoughts about HM3 when we release it !
 
Warmest regards,

Max

WINNERS: Please write an e-mail (NOT using PM as it blocks your address) to MTF who will arrange prizes.

This message has been edited by MTF on 2008-05-25 00:38:11

Max, I missed meeting you twice, once in Geneva and the other time in LA.   Now I really have to make a bigger effort to meet you and thank you in person!

Thanks to all the other awesome entries as well.  I really enjoyed all of them!

 

...well done. Great intuition, great explication. 

Now you've got the bag, better save for the watch!! Go forth and prosper....

 

Cheers,

pplater.

Live long and prosper

No message body

You have something to go with the Montblanc keyring.

- SJX

nt

I'll make sure I take a picture of the Etro bag with one of Max's creations when i receive it.

And thanks to Max !

Fr.Xavier

Cool competition and thanks to Max Busser for hosting it!

Cheers,
Anthony

Shocking or not, it was a fun contest and I had a chance to post a tongue-in-cheek response! It was good to understand a bit of Max's design process too. Thanks!

Rgds,
Lionel

Thank You Max..  The Fallout 1,2 game was Epochal and my favorite . Very like it ideas and spirit.  Fallout 3 is promised this year (10 years later from F2), but do not thought that it will have such influence on mind.

 

In waiting of HM3. Will it be such technician or more illusory ?  I have an obsession ( and can not to do nothing with it) to see the watch reproducing the view from the commander’s place of space frigate, with all dark deepness of space.

 

Best regards.

Vadim.

The Time Tunnel was a 1966-1967 U.S. science fiction TV series. The show was created and produced by Irwin Allen as his third science fiction television series. Everyone should remember the first two series:

1. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
2. Lost in Space

Later, Allen also produced The Land of the Giants and The Swiss Family Robinson for TV as well as mini-series like The Return of Captain Nemo/The Amazing Captain Nemo (1978) and Alice in Wonderland (1985).

The 'Master of Disaster' also produced or directed films like The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The Towering Inferno (1974), The Swarm (1978), Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979) and When Time Ran Out (1980).

I regret to inform everyone that I watched all of the above.........

MTF

I got the news this morning that my entry had won, and I wanted to post a thanks to Max. I'm glad you have a sense of humor

I, like many of the posters here, can only dream of owning one of these mechanical works of art. I'm sure that I speak for many of the users here in saying thank you to Max and the other artisans that take the time to interact with this community.

The only problem with winning is that I now own a satchel better than all of my wife's handbags combined

Matt
mdsmithmd

First the VH luck/skill, now this! Well done -- will look forward to seeing you soon.

Best,

Gary

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