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greg_r

JLC Master Compressor Memovox

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greg_r

Back when I returned to collecting watches (after a break of 7 or 8 years and around a year before we started this place), I remember being tempted by this particular watch - a JLC Master Compressor Memovox. It was only a cheapie (I seem to recall they were about $130 at the time from Josh), powered by a 21J and not all the functions worked - which put it a bit lower on the 'must buy' list than others. So, unfortunately, by the time I had got around to actually buying one, they'd been discontinued.

 

I'm not normally inclined to buy reps with faux subdials, but I have a thing for compressor-style watches and this particular one was always particularly appealing. Unfortunately they're rare and I never did manage to pick one up via M2M. Until this week - when Gazzla suggested that he might move on a watch he'd just bought from Frazzle. £25 later and it was mine! :D

 

Okay, it's not the greatest rep in the world. It tells the time. The date works. The sub-seconds work and the inner bezel rotates. That's about it - everything else is just for show. The watch itself dates from around 2008, so it's a bit scuffed up here and there - nothing that won't polish out, however. The strap needs changing too.

 

There was a suggestion that the PR wasn't anything special either, but actually that's just fine - the problem is that the rotor wasn't turning freely enough to wind the watch fully. Ten minutes and a miniscule amount of lubrication on the rotor bearing fixed that and the watch ran happily all last night. I think I'll be hanging on to this one as a beater - one of the more interesting cheapies I've owned over the years.

 

So - certainly not the best rep around, but it's a watch I've wanted for several years - for a ridiculously low price too, thanks to Gazzla :D

 

jlcmemovox.jpg

 

jlcmemovox2.JPG

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Stuvetjee

Is that all? Two pictures? :lol:

 

 

 

Looking great G! :)

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TheSav

I'd happily live with that for £25. Nice pick up. Shame the factories never do the really interesting pieces like this properly.

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greg_r

I'd happily live with that for £25. Nice pick up. Shame the factories never do the really interesting pieces like this properly.

 

Yep - I'd love a high-end rep of this watch.

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jmshen

There was a suggestion that the PR wasn't anything special either, but actually that's just fine - the problem is that the rotor wasn't turning freely enough to wind the watch fully. Ten minutes and a miniscule amount of lubrication on the rotor bearing fixed that and the watch ran happily all last night.

 

Solid pick-up! Honestly for six years that rep strap looks amazing. There is something about the Memovox line that I've always loved. I was minutes away from pulling the trigger on a pre-owned gen at my favorite local AD late last year but the guy wouldn't budge an inch on price. Turns out he already had a buyer in mind so I never really had a chance :(

 

Greg, a little off topic: when you mention the rotor wasn't turning freely enough does this mean that the rotor screw can be too tight? Or is it usually just a matter of lubrication?

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greg_r

 

 

Greg, a little off topic: when you mention the rotor wasn't turning freely enough does this mean that the rotor screw can be too tight? Or is it usually just a matter of lubrication?

 

It's just that the bearing was rather less free than it should have been. Just a matter of lubrication.

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Genius

It tells the time. The date works. The sub-seconds work and the inner bezel rotates. That's about it - everything else is just for show.

 

Now you have me confused, as far as I can tell you just described all of the features that I can see on the watch and said that they all work, so I don't understand what the "everything else" is that is just for show, no doubt I'm going to feel like a moron when someone points it out but I've been loooking at the photos and cant work it out so I need to know

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jmshen

It tells the time. The date works. The sub-seconds work and the inner bezel rotates. That's about it - everything else is just for show.

 

Now you have me confused, as far as I can tell you just described all of the features that I can see on the watch and said that they all work, so I don't understand what the "everything else" is that is just for show, no doubt I'm going to feel like a moron when someone points it out but I've been loooking at the photos and cant work it out so I need to know

 

No, it's not clear unless you're familiar with this model. This is the compressor dual-time. That row of numbers you see on the left side is actually supposed to act as a dual time/GMT for a second time zone. In this rep it's fairly evident (I think ... could be wrong) that the left numbers are just part of the entire date wheel. In the real watch there's the date wheel and then a separate wheel for the dual time. The left sided numbers would never go above "24" (because there are only 24 hours in a day).

 

Edit: the gen left sided wheel also has a little red arrow pointing to which number is the appropriate "GMT hand". They removed it from the rep because it's not a function that's available (a smart choice, imo).

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greg_r

Yep - the two apertures (@6 and @8-11) just show the datewheel. Crown at 10 does nowt. Locking crownguards, um, don't ;)

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Genius

Makes sense now, I didn't know the model so thought that it was supposed to be an exposed date wheel

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RichardMiami

Roses are red

Most flags have blue

I will leave this here

Since it is actually a review :D

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greg_r

LMAO - well it had to happen sometime, Richard :D

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fatarms

I was ready to send you a PM until I realized this wasn't in the m2m section :lol:

 

These watches are so cool, I never even saw them until about 6 months ago for the first time. Congrats on the pickup :D

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greg_r

LOL - that's pretty much how I got it. It wasn't actually for sale at the time....

 

However, I think I'm gonna keep this for a while ;)

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BadPickle

Shouty is the new WTB ;)

 

 

Nice pick up boss :D

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Abe Fromen

Reviving from the dead just to say it's a Dualmatic and that I just picked up a gen Memovox. It is sublime! 

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splke
23 minutes ago, Abe Fromen said:

Reviving from the dead just to say it's a Dualmatic and that I just picked up a gen Memovox. It is sublime! 

you know the score pics or it didn't happen 

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