Restoring an Extremely Dirty Zodiac Chronograph I Got Off of eBay for $160

Comments · 820

• ST

  @stuborn-complaining-german · 9 months ago

  Hi Marshall, very nice video! &nbsp;I&apos;m also a long time self taught watch restaurator, and I sort of specialize on those old chrono movements. <br>This very movememt is actually not a Landeron 51, but a Landeron 47. &nbsp;The two are very similar and share many parts, but the most obvious part giving it away is the shape of the clutch assembly with that hump on it. &nbsp;<br><br>Some history:<br>The Landeron 47 was actually the first ever cam shifted chronograph movement, and the predecessor of a big range of movements commonly known as the Landeron 48 family including the 48, 49, 51, 52, 148, 248, 189... &nbsp;Differences were minor variations and improvements, but most parts stayed the same and were interchangeable. &nbsp;<br>That&apos;s why the main spring fits, even though you got one for a 51, same thing...<br><br>The Landeron 47 was only actually produced for one year, 1937 before the 48 was introduced, and is something you don&apos;t encounter too often. &nbsp;That is some real watch history there! <br><br>The column wheel was actually the beginning of it all when Adolphe Nicole introduced the first real chronograph in 1862, operated by a column wheel. <br>Landeron introduced the cam mechanism in the L47 to produce more affordable mass produced chrono movements. <br>The column wheel prevailed as a more elegant and more luxurious solution. <br>Venus went from column wheel to cam in 1948 in the Venus 188 which would become the 7730 under Valjoux and then evolved into 7731 and later the 7733/34, one of the most popular chrono movements in even luxury watches like Heuer, Breitling and many others. <br>The Landeron 48 was also found in early Heuer and Breitling...

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• ST

  @stevekovacs6250 · 9 months ago (edited)

  I&apos;m the proud owner (55 years) of a 1971 Zodiac Super SeaWolf Chronograph that I purchased from my ex Navy Seal diving instructor. The watch has a little missions (5) history being from the Viet Nam war period. During my ownership it has seen numerous dives from Micronesia to the Red Sea but now in retirement from diving. I recently had it &quot;tuned up&quot; and it is still a stunner keeping excellent time at 55 years old.

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• FL

  @FlareHeart · 9 months ago (edited)

  Something just straight up jumps away into the ether at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8NFSwb6VQ8&amp;t=410">6:50</a>. Continuing to watch to see if he addresses that missing part. Oh good, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8NFSwb6VQ8&amp;t=2505">41:45</a> it gets put back, so he did find it haha.

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• JA

  @Jackzira · 9 months ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8NFSwb6VQ8&amp;t=138">2:18</a> &quot;somebody invented that!&quot; Marshall, I could not agree with that statement of amazement more. I think too often people take for granted things in daily life and I&apos;m often struck by just how amazing certain things are. I hope you always keep your wonder and excitement.

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• MA

  @margarethorrall8621 · 9 months ago

  When I first looked inside a F-14, I almost volunteered to do my time in a galley or scullery. That&apos;s how intimidating it was. So many parts! So much going on in the cockpit! After a few months of immersion though, I was troubleshooting and repairing one of the most complex airframes ever designed and built. I could approach watchmaking in that context I suppose but those parts are TINY! Probably will have to be satisfied watching talented and dedicated persons such as yourself. Thank you.

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• CH

  @CharlesDeMar · 9 months ago

  “Somebody invented that…” Yes, exactly! Just beautiful little machines, brilliantly designed and crafted!

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• KO

  @Kombivar · 9 months ago

  This must be the only channel where the longer the episode is - the happier I am. But it feels like a quarter of it. Best chill after work.

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• CO

  @codepluggg2875 · 9 months ago

  I hit pause and checked comments for &quot;hair in the movement&quot; - play - 2 seconds later &quot;don&apos;t worry, I saw it&quot; :)

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• TA

  @taylorjoshd · 9 months ago

  Marshall, Dude...I&apos;ve been watching your content for years,and I had NO clue you were the voice of the &quot;MAGIC Games&quot;. &nbsp; I knew you sounded similar, but I had NO idea you were the guy.. &nbsp;A good buddy told me yesterday when he overheard me watching a Wristwatch Revival Video that was you. &nbsp; I&apos;m actually both, STARSTRUCK and BLOWN AWAY!!!!

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• NI

  @NiGHTS4life · 1 month ago

  Wished someone would make old school main springs today.

• ST

  @stephenm5000 · 9 months ago

  A great Christmas present, a WristWatch video - thank you...

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• LQ

  @lqueryvg666 · 9 months ago

  HAHAHA - &quot;What&apos;s in the box!!!&quot; - you had me laughing there......from the movie &quot;Se7en&quot; - LOL

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