Above and below sea-level

[tapaptpat]

Hi everyone,

Hopeing this will clear up some of the fog and murky waters.

So to begin with a asymmetrical double marked (Left). Followed by an unusually marked (Right) both white dialed Cal 2220 Lemania.

If there are any angles I missed please just ask and I will try my best with mobile phone.

According to my research I belive this watch started it service life with navy, as a navigators flight watch. Some time later it got reassigned for submarine use.


The second watch is a mystery to me. It was a wreck when I found it. Missing its crown and at some point it had the dreaded water ingress. I shipped it off to Mr Senior with the hope he could do a little magic.

White dialed HS9 have been seen in the hundreds I'd guess I only found a hand full of the HS9A reference. I have not been able to find much in support of this watch other than a single line in Def Stan. Other examples can be seen buried in the archived on mwr.

I have a few guesses I'll keep hold of them until the discussion goes there.

Cheers for now
Pat

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

[tapaptpat]

Done some digging over at MWR for some backstory and other references to compare 9A too

FRL with interesting comments
Lemania assymetric mil chrono.

Reassigned/struck HS9A
Lemania HS9A

Another poor hs9a in a sorry state(middle)
Advice needed on Lemania single button chronographs

Still searching for copies of the following reference materials

SDM (A) 143, Issue 1 dated ?
SDM (A) 143, Issue 2 dated ?
SDM (A) 143, Issue 3 dated 21/11/58
Navy Dept. Spec. Chronograph, Wrist HS9A, dated 29/11/67

Well that the sum of my research so far as you can see there are other instances of HS9A in ianp's sold lists from 2012 and a couple from last year of which this is one of them.

Over to you guys for further thoughts and analysis. Paging @ATG @DaveS @river rat

Thanks before hand
Pat

[DaveS]

Lovely both, and rarer variations on the British-Lemania-issued-chronograph theme.
Neither odd of their type, the Submariner issue and the later HS9A.
Both with the proper dials, hands etc for the casebacks, and given there was water ingress to the 9A, it is in remerkable condition. Like the replacement crown too (although it does look like it is in the hacking position in the photos?).
A very enviable pair to own.
Do you have a favourite?
D

[river rat]

Nice pair of Lemania issued chronographs one of these days I mite ad one to the collection. And nice job getting the one that was a wreck back to being in great shape again.

[tapaptpat]

Thanks for the feedback. Glad to know that nothing was left unnoticed. I hadn't realised I had left the crown in hack. Being in a rush actually helped.

@DaveS shh wait till the children can't here us. You are asking a next to impossible to answer question. 3312 is one my grail list. A long and troublesome hunt. Aka it was a great hunt. Culminating in a great watch to ware. Easy to forget about the others when you have it on. Silent but deadly.. Boom boom boomer.

The 9A has its own story. Sitting on a train with an eBay connection that is bitty at best. Trying to find any reference to a 9A existence and ultimately just taking a chance on a wreck.

Having not done anything like this before. But having read my share of horror stories I was equipped for the worst case scenario. Having read about the Malawi water watch also. There was hope. Not that my endeavour was in the same league of a rescue for charity. Where banding together of forums, watchmakers and fans.

I still wanted to get a little known watch a 2nd chance.

Upon initial inspection were promising, when digging a little deeper the oh oo moments start arriving in the mailbox.

In the end to pick a fav is neither fair or possible. Based on a grail list and a rescue. Both journeys were very rewarding for their own reasons.
@river rat i cant take any credit here, that belongs to John for doing yet another bit of magic. Spectacular, Thank you so much. There is another mention needing to go to @Northernman for sourcing the crown. Thanks to both.

All I did was accepting the challenge of deciding which to ware today.

Wreck pic to be inserted

Cheers
Pat

[tapaptpat]

So 9A before photos. When I received the initial email for Mr Senior, my thoughts were got away with it.

Then the second email arrives when he started the actual work and well you can see for yourselves.