8 Discussions and CommentsMember since July 17, 2012
Hello, My name is Andy Leftley and I am a newly joined member of this forum so I thought I would take the opportunity if I may to briefly introduce myself.
I am based down on the South coast of the UK and following early retirement as a Marine Engineer a few years ago I now indulge in my passion for collecting and restoring military timepieces. My main interest is with timepieces from WW2, particularly those from the German military.
Here are 3 ex Luftwaffe B-Uhr’s which I have recently had in my workshop. The first example is a Lange & Söhne, the second example is a Wempe and the third is an IWC Big Pilot watch.
I recently made a trip to IWC at Schaffhausen to obtain a certificate of authenticity for the Big Pilot watch. I was very impressed with the stunning museum and it was a great pleasure to meet the Museum Curator David Seyffer. Here are some pics of the IWC which is still ticking strongly and accurately after over 70 years –
Here is a pic of me collecting the certificate from Jeannine Ankele at Schaffhausen (I am the one on the left!). I understand that the certificate is one of the first to be produced under the recently introduced new procedures which IWC are now operating for authentification of their timepieces. It was a real pleasure to meet the dedicated and professional staff at IWC who are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their history and products.
2,456 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 7, 2003
Hello Andy,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your passion here. It's great to see three of these historical pilot watches together in one picture. Great pictures of the IWC B-Uhr too and the new certificate looks impressive.
Best regards Norbert
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf - Jon Kabat-Zinn
5,025 Discussions and CommentsMember since Aug. 9, 2006
Thanks for you excellent first contribution to the Forum. There are a few here who share you passion for military IWC watches. I am sure they will join in the thread as well.
4,731 Discussions and CommentsMember since Dec. 18, 2006
Welcome to the Forum Andy and thank you very much for sharing your story with us. It's great to see passionate people that keep the memory about IWC and WW2 alive.
Enjoy your visits on the forum and please keep us posted about your (future) projects.
2,631 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 20, 2007
Andy, welcome to the forum and many, many thanks for sharing this wonderful trio and more specifically for us IWC forumers and collectors that great IWC B-Uhr with its oh so magnificent crown - which grew to become a modern day icon today!
5,019 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 29, 2003Sarasota, FL,
United States
Three fantastic watches. At first glance they look the same but the font and crowns are giveaways. Love the original strap. It's also interesting to see how simple the movement is. Looks to be in great shape. Terrific post!!
2,127 Discussions and CommentsMember since March 22, 2001
Welcome, and thanks for the big treat letting us see your wonderful cal. 52 B-Uhr. Like many others here, it is on my "wish list" also. I guess now we see what we get with the new, and only , um, slightly more expensive 'papers'.
My name is Andy Leftley and I am a newly joined member of this forum so I thought I would take the opportunity if I may to briefly introduce myself.
I am based down on the South coast of the UK and following early retirement as a Marine Engineer a few years ago I now indulge in my passion for collecting and restoring military timepieces. My main interest is with timepieces from WW2, particularly those from the German military.
Here are 3 ex Luftwaffe B-Uhr’s which I have recently had in my workshop. The first example is a Lange & Söhne, the second example is a Wempe and the third is an IWC Big Pilot watch.
I recently made a trip to IWC at Schaffhausen to obtain a certificate of authenticity for the Big Pilot watch. I was very impressed with the stunning museum and it was a great pleasure to meet the Museum Curator David Seyffer.
Here are some pics of the IWC which is still ticking strongly and accurately after over 70 years –
Here is a pic of me collecting the certificate from Jeannine Ankele at Schaffhausen (I am the one on the left!). I understand that the certificate is one of the first to be produced under the recently introduced new procedures which IWC are now operating for authentification of their timepieces. It was a real pleasure to meet the dedicated and professional staff at IWC who are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their history and products.
Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your passion here. It's great to see three of these historical pilot watches together in one picture. Great pictures of the IWC B-Uhr too and the new certificate looks impressive.
Best regards
Norbert
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf - Jon Kabat-Zinn
Bill
Enjoy your visits on the forum and please keep us posted about your (future) projects.
Kund regards,
Clemens
We look forward to the next photos !
Best regards
Mark
Last edited: 16 April, 2013 - 00:36
Love the original strap. It's also interesting to see how simple the movement is. Looks to be in great shape.
Terrific post!!
Last edited: 8 November, 2012 - 12:49
Welcome to the forum and congrats on the B-Uhr collection, especially on the IWC iconic B-Uhr, still on my list.
clepsydra
ad fontes...
Dick L.
whichwatch at roadrunner dot com
MfG,
Roman
KM/WWW/Mk.11/666/3508/9239/322712/811/3531/5442/5448/PD etc.
I guess now we see what we get with the new, and only , um, slightly more expensive 'papers'.
Nelson