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Thanks Alex.

Well that is exactly my concern - I want a chronometer, not an international
posting saga...

Just came back from a very reputable local antique clock and chronometer
dealer. He bought a couple of weeks ago the estate of an instrument maker
who passed away. There were a few antique chronometers and a few antique
sextants, all extremely expensive, but what I went to see was a wartime 1941
Hamilton 21 two day chronometer, serial number(?) 8800. It looks quite
austere on the outside - simple silvered face. When taken out of its metal
casing it reveals a beautifully shining clean and well running movement.
What is for sale is just the chronometer in its casing - the gimbals and the
wooden box are missing (which I don't mind too much about as I am an
enthusiast, not an antique collector and the thing that interests me most is
the clock itself and its movement). The dealer had no time to rate it yet.
He wants 650 GBP which translates to about 1,040 dollars and he will back it
up with a warranty if something fails.

What do you think?



-----Original Message-----
From: Alexandre Eremenko
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 3:07 PM
To: zvidoron@btinternet.com
Subject: [NavList] Re: Purchasing a Russian Chronometer


Zvi,

I can tell you my experience. I bought several things from
"Russian" (=former Soviet territory) sellers.
Including a chronometer. All sellers were very honest and co-operative,
and the thing they sold were good.
The negative experience is with:
a) payment (They don't accept Paypal, Credit cards etc.) And there is no
insurance.
b) and transportation, and again there is no insurance.
Almost everything I bought was damaged to some extent in transportation.

The chronometer story is the following.
Chronometer arrived, carefully packaged.
I opened the case, removed the wedges from the balance (these wedges are
necessary in transportation!), wound it and tried to start.
It went down at high speed in a minute...
The balance shaft and possibly the jewel were damaged in transportation.
By winding and starting it, I added the damage...
I brought it to a watchmaker in Elgin (near Chicago) who was recommended
by the list. He said that spare parts were not available, and making them
would be prohoibitevely expensive.
Then I asked the seller about spare parts...
and told him the whole story and how much will repair cost.
(This was more than the price I payed for the chronometer, even if
I get the spare parts for free).
The seller agreed to exchange it!!
I sent it back, and a month later or so, the new one arrived, undamaged,
and works reasonably.

If I were to buy another one, and I had a choice, I would buy from
a person who gives some guarantee, and ships from some Western country,
with full insurance. And of course, the person has to know how to ship
them.

This was about 5 years ago, I payed about $650 and one way shipping was
$140 or so. Three shippings were $420 :-)

Alex.





: http://fer3.com/arc/m2.aspx?i=118733




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