Early seventies seiko info

[steptoe]

Friends father has this seiko. Given to him by colin chapman ( Mr lotus). Anyone know what model it is, and, as it was put to me..."is it any good"..
Actually, here's how my mate put it . " I was curious about it & whipped it off his cold limp wrist (don't worry everybody he's still alive..) & bunged it on here for a bit of interest. Colin Chapman gave it to him & a bag of flour..."

[pastrana72]

It is a Seiko Chronograph 6139 - 6002, also known as a Pogue after Col. Pogue a who took his in to space on a mission

Very Nice watch, I have one too.

If you do a search for pogue on the forum you will find threads with more info and pics on them.

[steptoe]

Thanks, much appreciated. They now know a lot more about his fathers watch.

[JasonM]

I think its quite an early one as it has a 'proof' dial which was used apparently until Feb 1970 when it was replaced by 'resist', try to get the 5 digit serial number off the back to date it accurately ...


A guide here:
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f281/ho...de-140803.html

[Thewatchbloke]

It's a very early one (1969/70) as it has the notched case by the crown.

[Velorum]

Has he still got the bag of flour and can you post a picture of it?


Sorry


Great looking Pogue there - thanks for posting

[TakesALickin]

If it's a "proof/proof" ("proof" on both dial and caseback) that usually commands a slight premium from collectors.

[fmc000]

Also with the correct and rarer two-pieces chronographic hand.

[RobDad]

I must get myself one of these. From my first visit to my late teens when he retired, my dentist - a lovely reassuring guy with worryingly huge hands for a dentist! - he wrote one of these and I think staring at it whilst he looked after my teeth started me on the path of WIS Dom!

[yonsson]

It's the worlds first automatic chronograph. The Swiss say the Zenith el primero was first but they are liers (and I own a el primero so I'm not bias).

And like already stated, it's a space icon.
A great watch by any standards and it looks to be all original.

He he should get it serviced ASAP.

[Neil.C]

It's the worlds first automatic chronograph. The Swiss say the Zenith el primero was first but they are liers (and I own a el primero so I'm not bias).

EP first multi dial auto chrono? Unlike the rather clunky execution of the 6139.

Actually the 6138 was to be the first but wasn't ready in time.

And like already stated, it's a space icon.

Space icon? Worn inside something like a bus and never worn outside in space like the Speedmaster?

A great watch by any standards and it looks to be all original.

He he should get it serviced ASAP.

Agreed.

[Wicky]

It's the worlds first automatic chronograph. The Swiss say the Zenith el primero was first but they are liers (and I own a el primero so I'm not bias).

So the Wiki is wrong ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronograph

the automatic (self winding) chronograph was not invented until 1969 when the watch companies Heuer, Breitling, and Hamilton, and movement specialist Dubois Depraz, developed it in partnership. They developed this technology secretly in an effort to prevent other companies from beating them to the patent. It was in Geneva and in New York that this partnership shared the first automatic chronograph with the world on March 3, 1969. These first automatic chronographs were labeled "Chrono-matic"

[catflem]

So the Wiki is wrong ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronograph

The Swiss announced their Auto Chronos in March 1969, however, there are Seiko 6139's with the manufacturing date code of February 1969 stamped on their casebacks. It must have taken a few months for tooling and production lines to be set up.

So it all depends on where you want to draw the line, first announced ?, first prototype demonstration, first manufactured ?, first available on the open market ?.

There was a pretty lengthy debate on WUS
http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/who-...ph-256831.html

[Thewatchbloke]

There's always a lengthy debate on this topic!