Horological Meandering

Back in February 2007, there were a couple of reports on Russian timepiece collecting in Singapore:
www.watchprosite.com

www.watchprosite.com

Apparently, there is an active group for Appreciation of Russian Timepieces in Singapore and they had another meeting recently. Some newbies (see later) turned up at Mark Gordon's abode to be introduced to horological appreciation in general and Russian horology in particular.

As the previous reports were quite detailed, I will only lay out a photo-essay of things that caught my eye; many of them had nothing to do with Russia or timekeeping.  Well.....strictly speaking, only the former is true because the next batch of pictures deal with keeping track of time over eons. Or more poignantly, keeping track of the Meaning of Life, Death, Self and Ancestry......

Some insight into "what makes a collector tick", mayhaps.........

Regards,

MTF

Yes -  This is a side table with the salt and pepper for dinner!











Photos Copyright Melvyn Teillol-Foo, 2007.
South East-Asian Tribal Art and Ancestral Artefacts provided with the kind permission of Mark Gordon.

Maybe not current people

 
Mark has a background in anthropology and these are fossils of pachyderm jaws.






Trotsky before not all pigs were created equal...





The pendulums are in 'Resonance' mode
Which means it is time for >>>

Troughing....
Yes  -  another Orwellian pig joke.

Russian enthusiasts....er.....Enthusiasts Ruskiya.....er.....Enthusiasts of Russian of Russian Timepieces...you know what I mean!

Newbie Michelle getting some pointers from Mark

When starting in this hobby, first photograph Other Peoples' timepieces

hmmm.....what do you call a photograph of someone taking a photograph of someone else's timepiece? Answers on a postage stamp, please!

Mark with the man who restores Life into the Soviet timepieces - Master Soh



Photos Copyright Melvyn Teillol-Foo, 2007.

This message has been edited by MTF on 2007-04-02 10:30:58

The eagle-eyed will have spotted 'Made in Germany'. Strangely, Germany has a large number of Russian or strictly speaking, U.S.S.R. horology enthusiasts...dunno why?

Kissing Cousins Poljot

Spot the difference? They are getting better......

Hello Tutima - I can't tell the difference between those made from confiscated German parts, reverse engineered parts and Made in Russia parts with "relocated" German technicians....but Mark can!

Something for everyone

Propaganda Watches

Real Jaeger

Vostok 'Amphibian', which seems incongrous to me as Vostok was a space vehicle 

Vostok Amphibian Tschistolpolsky Cal 3426b automatic (1970s)
Very rare diving watch 200m

More Naval watches

No girlie-man superluminova or tritium here. See Geiger counter?
Real Russkiyies used Radium for that extra-hot glow 

Tank clock  -  and I don't mean like Cartier Tank watches.
This is from a real Soviet tank that shoots ordnance from a big barrel up front!
Winder in front at 8 o'clock also pulls out for setting time.

Turning swords into ploughshares?
Same tank clock movement but now in dashboard of some Soviet car.
Winding by turning bezel and pulling bezel for setting time. Russian cars are built like....well...tanks.
But this is one component that is from a tank.

Modern clock for export to Italian market. Same tank clock movement but with the thawing of Cold War, not enough tanks built to take clock factory capacity.
hmm.......lets sell the retro-chic clocks to the Italians......they buy anything.....even Panerai

No - we can't even sell these to the Italians!
Diving watch (with Michelle's hand for scale) 55-57mm diameter without crown cap.

 

Propaganda clock using traditional Russian lacquer ware and iconography techniques but with Soviet icons decorations round the border (sickle, hammer, stars).

Soviet functionality at it's best - rattrapante watch for military use e.g. artillery range officer?




Photos Copyright Melvyn Teillol-Foo, 2007.
Timepieces provided by kind permission of Mark Gordon.

This message has been edited by MTF on 2007-04-03 13:14:31

 

No message body

Some people laugh at my tiny equipment (sniff sniff)
But over the years, I have learnt to use what little that I have....Purely.

Leave it on automatic, hold my breath and just let the technology do its magic.....

Regards, MTF

scary art. Like you, I too was drawn to them and I almost forgot that I was there to look at the watches and not the ART!!!

Cheers
HarryTan 

in us to respond to those images and idols. We nervously call it "Art" to make it less spooky but deep down.....inside....we all know what is calling to us. 
Calling........calling..........by OUR name...that only we can hear!

S-k-k-r-e-e-e-a-m,
MTF

Spooky? Of course not!
THEY told me to tell you that there is nothing to fear as long as you respect their beauty and leave them a nice offering of boar's leg once in a while.
-- Mark