A Seiko With a Story - Full Service of a 6119C

Hello, This video I have a Seiko that has been sent in from a subscriber as it has a great story of survival. A Seiko with a story! I have always said Seiko are practically indestructible and there is another example of what you can throw at these old watches and it still not break!
Stay tuned as I disassemble the 6119C movement, clean and rebuild. We see the before and after shots on the timing machine of the improvement a service makes on this 50 year old Seiko.
If my videos have helped or inspired you into this hobby then I would be grateful if you could support the channel. A little goes a long way.
Make a one-off donation to the channel here: www.buymeacoff...
My tool affiliate links page. Items do not cost you any more and I earn a small commission. All tools are hand picked by myself. myretrowatches....
like to buy a T-Shirt? then please look here: teespring.com/...
Thank you for your support.
My website: myretrowatches....
My Facebook Group - Retro & Vintage Watches & Restorations
/ retro.vintage.watches....
My Instagram: / myretrowatches
Email. [e-mail]
Seiko Passion Facebook group: / 1780333925565991
A great resource for Japanese Watches: wristsushi.prob...
To date your Seiko watch checkout this site: www.watchsleuth...
#watchrestoration #watchmaking #watchrepair #hobbyistwatchmaking

[@MyRetroWatches]

Have my videos have helped you? why not support the channel in some way You can make a one off/ monthy donation here in only one click: www.buymeacoffee.com/MyRetroWatches If you would like to purchase any tools & equipment then please see my Amazon affiliate & eBay (I do earn a small commission from any sales.) Thank you. Link: Link: myretrowatches.co.uk/tool-sale-links/ If you would like to buy any of my T-Shirts then please look here: teespring.com/stores/my-retro-watches

[@andrewjackson246]

YOUR harassment campaign on ebay against my brother will surely not go unpunished...the po-lice are now involved.

[@MyRetroWatches]

Andrew Jacks what? The eBay seller of the same name has absolutely nothing to do with me. Zero connection .

[@victorbgdream8328]

Imagine if that was a Rolex? Seiko is very underrated for not being swiss... Nice piece history...

[@Emilmarch]

The result would be same. Be it a Seiko, a Rolex or a Citizen or any other maker as long as the watch has waterproof feature.

[@M3LTUP]

If it was a Rolex. He could take it on PBS-Antique Scamshow and get it appraised for $10,000,000.

[@rogerpenfold117]

Great video. Most people probably don't realise that, for the money, the build quality of Seiko vintage watches in particular is ridiculously good. For someone on a budget who is new to watch collecting Seiko, and in particular the Seiko 5 range, represent perhaps the most logical starting point for a collection. There are literally tens of thousands of examples out there for between £40-200 offering a range of movement and case combinations complimented by Seiko's amazing dials. The build quality and durability of these truly iconic watches means that there are thousands of examples out there over sixty years old, probably never serviced, and still running and keeping respectable time.

[@watchtock8818]

Yes, please keep the long videos. It's nice for us amateurs who also like to tinker to see the complete teardown and reconstruction. For those that don't like the long vids, they can simply fast forward.........Good job, and great story.

[@zahariastoianovici8590]

Absolutely amazing story!! If Seiko would find out they should be proud about . Immersed in hot oil for many months still works!!!

[@MyRetroWatches]

Seiko never die! it was a fun project this one. I would recommend watching my Seiko Willard video if you enjoyed this one.

[@alanwright3172]

I am so glad to see that it's not just us rank amateurs who drop screws in the balance spring!!! :-)

[@MyRetroWatches]

haha. that was such a classic mistake too. As you can see I am just like every other hobbyist.

[@jimmyschiel3863]

My Dad liked this video too. He was a driver/ cannoner on an 8" Howeitzer in the US Army in Vietnam. The gun is larger than that one but very similar. Great video!

[@randalljenks7564]

Loved this, including the history. I recommend keeping to one hour or so, gives us all a chance to see the real work being done.

[@thomasm5714]

Wearing my faithful Seiko 5 as I watch this. Great story, thanks for sharing.

[@TerminusVox]

I love a good Sousa March!

[@ThePillenwerfer]

Don't worry about the video length; it certainly didn't seem like over an hour. I'd also recommend keeping the cleaning machine footage, in fact some more details if the timer would be interesting.

[@MyRetroWatches]

thank you, understood.

[@jwoodyr1]

I love the cleaning machine sequences and your music selections! Please keep that as a regular feature of your videos. Thanks for sharing!!

[@MyRetroWatches]

Thank you! Will do!

[@alvinpillay9995]

Hi. Another informative video. Does not matter how long it is. Just keep making them. Thanks.

[@colintitterington144]

Love these vintage 6119 seiko 5 watches have quite a few myself👍 Bomb proof movements👍👍👍

[@pgsahlman]

Keep the musical interlude. I love it!!!

[@bgdavenport]

I have no problem with the length of the video. Great entertainment goes with the excellent information!

[@rbmwiv]

Long videos 👍👍👍👍 yes please.

[@krazykat64]

I worked on the M109 and M110 howitzers for 8 years in the USMC. Always kept my watch in the pocket of my coveralls when doing maintenance, especially on the battery banks, not only because you could lose it but you could end up with the “shock of your life” as well.

[@clydedenby1436]

The musical montages normally are amusing but, after a 24-year career in the US Navy during which I endured countless hours of standing motionless in formation, my knees began to hurt within the first three notes from today's video. As far as the length is concerned, I do not mind because of the value of the content. You actually provide us with information that is hard for a hobbyists to come by which is detailed lubrication. No one else really goes into such depth so, please, do not stop. Treating each video as if the viewer is a novice contributes greatly to the educational value. Thank you for another GREAT video!

[@MyRetroWatches]

thank you for your feedback, sorry my music choice brought back painful memories, however with the military connection this type of music had to be used for comedy value.

[@clydedenby1436]

@@MyRetroWatches not painful memories, phantom pain! Your choice in music was SPOT ON; no need to apologize. Keep up the amazing work.

[@johncunningham5435]

Yes! I do enjoy the current way the production is done; personally find it very helpful.

[@solstar4778]

Did a wonderful job- glad you straightened it all out ! And new gaskets all around ✔️👍🆗

[@sorinbunea471]

That's why I love mechanical watches over smartwatches..they can pass to generation's, to your kids, friends and still works, nice job sir (excuse my bad English) :)

[@mikedo6]

Great video! My big brother spent 30 plus years in the Canadian Army ( RCHA/RCA) . He was also M-109 crew and was stationed in W. Germany for much of the 60's and 70's! Small world!

[@mikedo6]

Like your Rickenbacker clock....six string or twelve? :)

[@MyRetroWatches]

@@mikedo6 6. I don’t play much anymore but I play off a G&L original S500 custom.

[@westend3019]

Liking the march music theme. The waltzes were OK, too.

[@zs1dfr]

Thank you. For my part, the video was not too long, and the trials and tribulations of lost screws and pieces flying off make you more human, and less of an automaton! I would have liked to see the construction of the automatic works displayed, but maybe next time. And that cleaner timer certainly looks full of character!

[@kevincoon8573]

Just saw this….I like the length of the videos you create. The stories and content are fascinating!

[@MyRetroWatches]

Thank you very much!

[@michaelbroadhead332]

very happy with the long video's keep them coming. Cheers

[@AdamAugustPhoto]

Great video. I'm preparing to have a go at my late grandfather's 6119c (6003 case). It'll be my first ever service but it's the type of thing that would have made him proud, so I'm glad I found your videos.

[@MyRetroWatches]

Good luck. I started my tinkering on a 6119 ! great movement

[@CheenaSingh]

Another great video. Thank-you for doing a balanced appraisal of these watches. I have bought a few in the past and agree in the grand scheme of things they have their place.

[@teeroh99]

I have a 6119 with what appears to be the same hands as this one you worked on. I love the design of those hands.

[@timtimecollector9808]

Great video, I just bought blue face 6119 on eBay. It keeps really good time and I like the fact that it's 50 years old, with a bit of light age related marks. I didn't have a clue how to set the date, so Googled it and found a helpful video. Your full length videos are just what is needed, for that extra detail.

[@MyRetroWatches]

Thanks, the 6119 movements are a favourite of mine.

[@hugeshows]

A side note about beat error... The timegraphers we use show beat error in milliseconds and amplitude in degrees. The higher your amplitude, the faster the balance is rotating, especially as it goes through the impulse phase. This means that if you have any beat error at all, it will worsen as amplitude gets lower and improve as amplitude gets higher. All because the measurement of beat error is in the time domain rather than being expressed in degrees. When amplitude is lower, the overall arc is smaller, and since the time period of the arc doesn't change, the escapement spends a greater overall percentage of time with the impulse jewel inside the fork. Therefore beat error is amplified in the time domain as amplitude lowers, even though the beat error stays the same if expressed in degrees out of center. Hope that makes sense. The practial side of this is understanding that as amplitude goes down, you're effectively zooming in on beat error.

[@MyRetroWatches]

Thank you for this concise explanation. A good incite

[@medea27]

I love objects with an interesting history & spending 9 months in the sump of an artillery piece's V12 engine is certainly one of the more unique stories I've heard! Not only did I learn new things about a Seiko but you propelled me down a mini internet rabbit-hole discovering the differences between tanks & self-propelled artillery as well.... so thank you! 👍 And I'm ridiculously late, but I love the musical interludes & also that fabulous industrial timer you're using to time the wash cycles ⏲👍

[@spidiq8]

Great story and nice result. I'm sure he'll be delighted with it. The tank thing is great. Calling any tracked vehicle a tank with afv guys is like calling any 6139 a pogue in the Seiko group. Minutes of entertainment to be had. 😂

[@MyRetroWatches]

Haha , when I spoke to Ken I called it a tank, I was corrected immediately, either way they are amazing machines I have since watched a few KZbin videos on them. Thanks as always Che

[@truthsayer5824]

Having full length video is very useful.

[@itopete77]

I like the cleaning machine part, I vote for keeping it!

[@bigbob1699]

Very good . Stay well .

[@andrewgrace4410]

Always a pleasure Mike, thanks 👌🏾

[@jeffreyhickman3871]

I watched this just a little over a year ago. At first, I thought 💭 this was a watch that got ran over by a tank. I was totally wrong 😑. It means that this watch survived being somewhere inside the tank, hence the name, the watch also being built like a tank. By what I remember, the watch had been there for quite awhile. Both while the tank was being used, and during disuse. The watch appears to be in great shape, and all it needs is a good 😊 cleaning and oiling. Your friend, Jeff.

[@MyRetroWatches]

yes Jeffrey this watch was essentially in the engine sump for 10-12 months! amazing really and had it not been a new watch at the time I doubt it would have survived. The new gaskets were likely to have saved it.

[@PpaStrmpf]

No annoying click springs. At least not those little tiny SS spring wires. Simple design, made to run and run and run and run. That used to be Seiko. Quality with good performance for a reasonable price. Today you pay 800€ for a 4R35 that has more power reserve and you call it 6R15 or 35, with plastic movement and friction fit dial.

[@joeskeptical4762]

*_The cleaning portion with the machines, clock timer and music make me think I'm watching a short episode of Wallace & Grommit_*

[@walther9161]

That’s a crazy thing to happen!! Thanks for the story!

[@BB155Fox]

Great work Master!!!

[@alastairwright77]

Fantastic story and great video. Actually appreciate the length, helps that nothing too much is skipped over.

[@MyRetroWatches]

Thank you for this.

[@gawkingwatches7988]

Working on one of these myself at the moment. Bought it as a parts donor watch in case my dad's 6119-6050 ever needs something replaced movement wise. It is running and keeping time so I decided to service it and freshen it up a bit in the meantime.

[@MyRetroWatches]

The 6119 was the first movement I ever worked on so have a fondness for it. Seiko make them so robust. Thanks for watching.

[@tonyfrewin4822]

Great repair video. Thanks.

[@MyRetroWatches]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevingoodrich5472]

I like the cleaning interlude but maybe bring that ringer down a tad in volume. Another nice vid. Thanks

[@MyRetroWatches]

Thanks for the feedback. Will take note of the volume!

[@bottletree33]

Adding the brown leather strap was a good idea. Enjoyed that.

[@rbmwiv]

I would testify that it should run in the mobile artillery unit because I broke my foot and was laid up for a week and only got up to do necessary stuff my movements were minimum and my skx was still ticking. I couldn’t believe it.

[@MyRetroWatches]

You done well. Sorry to hear about your foot. I gave my father an automatic but he didn’t move enough to charge it. He now wears a quartz

[@ajaychoudhary9817]

last time i was this early it was still stone age amazing watch i have similar one a very very comfortable and durable piece

[@jorgeolguingarcia]

Great Seiko, great story. You should do more videos with a story. Thanks and best regards!!

[@terrystover7365]

Interesting bit of history on this watch and actually pretty amazing it survived the ordeal. Nice job.

[@cathdy3736]

great story for that seiko, i love my seikos

[@davidrasch3082]

The P.X.(Post Exchange) sold these at a great price-duty free! Looks like a 155mm gun. We trained on something like this at Ft. Sill in '72. Cabin so small if you stood behind the sleigh which holds the gun the recoil would cut you in half. The 12 cylinder is the universal engine for all tracks in the U.S. army. I was in 8 inch self propelled in Germany '72-'74. Each vehicle had two engines, one for each track.

[@MyRetroWatches]

2 engines sounds crazy powerful

[@davidrasch3082]

@@MyRetroWatches No turn indicators either! LoL Twelve bolts takes the engine out-with the help of a crane and that extraction can be where the oil and gunk comes from.

[@jco1298]

Great job. I had that watch at one time, may have been the most comfortable watch I ever had,

[@dennisc.1189]

That watch has a great story, thanks for passing it on to us. Great job on this watch, it turned out beautiful, it runs great all so. I don't think that the video's are to long, just right.😊

[@MyRetroWatches]

thank you Dennis

[@smitmachinale8281]

Mike, cleaning is a part of the maintenance, please keep it in.The timer every time😀 I love it. And off course the cleaning machine itself is also nice to watch also. keep it in, speed up version.

[@MyRetroWatches]

great feedback thank you. I like the montage bit too so just wanted to be sure its well received.

[@markbyrum4743]

Nice rebuild. Great story of it's loss for awhile. Good vid. Keep at it!

[@sghr220]

Lovely story and an excellent video. Ken and I may have looked at each other from the opposite sides of that wall. Glad his old watch is still in good shape and hope he keeps enjoying it. My Ракета is still keeping good time too and so does my father's Poljot. Good luck and wishing you the best of health. Formerly of the 40th motor rifle regiment.

[@MyRetroWatches]

I have informed Ken of your comment here. amazing to think that you may have been on different sides. Glad we all get along now. Thanks for watching.

[@tedblack2415]

Oddly enough i don't mind the length at all, but for sure you've Gotta keep the cleaning cycle and my beloved timing clock it so makes me smile,and great job as well by the way fantastic results👍.

[@wildernessofzinn17]

You don't have to apologize for everything you do, and I like the musical interlude during cleaning; you mix it up with everything from Classical to Bluegrass. Please continue. Music all through the video during narration, yes, that would be annoying for a channel like this, but not for a few minutes of intercession. For those of us with IQs larger than our show size, please continue whatever length video they turn out to be. If it's three hours, no problem, if it's instructive and fun (as your videos always are). For those in the viewing audience with the attention span of a month old kitten, they can go to TikTok and get their watch making instruction.

[@MyRetroWatches]

thank you for your comment. I will stop apologising for sure! music is now only in certain parts of my videos where appropriate.

[@steftedja]

Good work, I enjoy it

[@funkykoval2099]

Hi. It's nice coincidence, because today is Polish Army day! We had small masked-parade and jets over Warsaw.. I wish You lived nearby and could repair my seiko and all russian watches too to be that precise. All best

[@rbmwiv]

Fun fact about the Detroit diesel it’s a 2 stroke diesel. It requires a supercharger to run the engine dosent pull vacuum like a normal 4 stroke that’s in about everything.

[@dodgydruid]

Nothing wrong calling it a tank watch, the term came around due to shape and heavy build, Soviet tank watches tend to be super heavy rectangular pieces but can also refer to the Vostok Komandirskie "tank commander" dialled watch which is a very iconic design popular too. I featured a Sekonda branded Slava tank watch recently on my channel which is beautiful as was a wrist virgin til I put it on. Working on a video on a USSR built gold and black Sekonda alarm which is insanely clever in design with two crowns, one for time and wind, the other for the alarm set and alarm wind and when it gets to the alarm set time, it releases power into a little hammer inside the case that taps like a little cricket hence the nickname of "crickets" for these watches.

[@davidcrandall4958]

I Really enjoy your site!

[@jeffreyhickman3871]

P.S., champagne dials seem pretty 😍 popular amongst these watches. That was revealed after pulling the ugly crystal off. It was hiding 🙈 the beauty of the dial. Your friend, Jeff.

[@riolobo4497]

“THUMBS UP” for the timepiece cleaning videos…👍🏽 From Bellflower, California U.S.A. 👋🏽

[@rodd555]

Thanks for the video. Watched quite a few of them now.

[@MyRetroWatches]

thank you

[@JohnValencia70]

Nice watch

[@jgrainger]

like the music. yes it's a bit loud, but that's what my volume control is for :)

[@breaktime3269]

Nice, video and a great story, many thanks!

[@Supercruze]

Great story and result Mike. Well done.

[@francoroberti4979]

Very professional .

[@bruces12]

The Bridge over the River Kwai...very British...love the music and the montage! Next, you should do Rule Britannia! and we can all salute the Queen!

[@MyRetroWatches]

I wanted to use land of hope and glory at the end but the totality fee to use it was far to much for 30 seconds.. thanks for watching

[@davidworth4692]

No problem with the length, an hour (and a bit) well filled.

[@paulwilson3434]

Jolly good shew mate. From ohio 😆

[@johnny6171]

Great story! Thankx!

[@jenilocke8255]

Hi Mike, really enjoyed the vid. I like the quick wash insert, the length of the vids, for me, isn't an issue as you keep the viewers attention and that hour goes in the blink of an eye. Look forward to the next video, stay safe.👍⌚🙂

[@MyRetroWatches]

Thank you for your feedback Jeni great to know this. hope you are well and your watch repair is going well.

[@MartinOcando]

More than happy with >1hr videos.

[@dsb1763]

Great video as always, and a truly amazing story! Now I have to find a Seiko 5.

[@jonabitstream]

I would have enjoyed seeing how you regulated that beat error

[@davidhammond9336]

Great work Mike, love these videos. Warts and all. Amazing how you do it behind a camera.

[@MyRetroWatches]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tonyr.5111]

KEEP IT!!! Great video... 👍👏👏👍 Sun, 16 Aug 2020 ... KEEP HEALTHY... STAY SAFE!!! 😷😷😷

[@MyRetroWatches]

thank you and you too keep safe.

[@artkingofwholefoods74]

I’m not sure why the musical interlude cracked me up so much. 😂 ⌚️

[@MyRetroWatches]

For a bit of fun. I still do the cleaning montage in some videos to separate the disassembly from assembly

[@oxfamshop]

In the 1980s I had a seiko watch that I bought at Camdem Market as I worked at the underground station . The watch came off my wrist and got caught in a escalator . It landed up in machine room , Glass scratched to hell but the watch was still working

[@watchmedraw4340]

Awesome. I love the story as well.

[@craig2100]

Great video and brilliant looking watch

[@dodgydruid]

Cool, a long range sniper like meself ^^ The artillery were always a bit funny about watches, at Woolwich the RSM hated quartz watches and he said we should have automatic mechanicals of a reasonable quality... the adjutant though thought mechanical watches were rubbish so insisted we all had ultra reliable quartz analogue watches so basically we had to do the best we could.. Woolwich was the largest parade ground outside Russia if memory serves me right and I royally pissed off the RSM somehow and I had to pick a billet mate's toothbrush not my own and sweep the parade ground with the toothbrush, he went abs beswick and I spent like 7 hours scrubbing away til I was told to turn it in.

[@MyRetroWatches]

didnt know you were a military man Ian. well done. Ive never fired a gun, well a shotgun a few times in clay pigeon shooting. cleaning with a toothbrush it just plain bullying.

[@Bobbycat115]

I too love my Seiko watch I have owned as of 1976 a sport 100 with a gold face to me it is like a Toyota beat the shit out of it and still keeps going Yes it still runs but - 15 seconds a month .I guess its ok as I dont move any faster so it keeps time with me.

[@Onez_1]

Uh oh wait for the language warning

[@peterkull8354]

The design looks a bit a Banjo...............like it !

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

The problem with the engine on that self propelled gun was a timing issue?

[@MyRetroWatches]

Haha! Quite possibly

[@bangy55]

Brilliant job as usual. I'm always jealous of your Timegrapher results. I'm actually wearing the exact watch at the moment and I did get very good results after servicing it. In my case, I'm afraid it had more to do with the fact Seiko makes a great watch. Still, you inspire and encourage me to keep working on the dang things. Cheers from the US.

[@MyRetroWatches]

cleaning is the most important bit for good results. It helps with a microscope, when I bought a scope I quickly realised my methods needed to be changed.

[@bangy55]

@@MyRetroWatches Thanks for the tip, but there must be some skill involved since I own the exact Amscope you have, lol.

[@danielmoberg4758]

Like your videos cause they give me confidence to service my own wathes. I just finished service my Seiko Seahorse and i find that you dont have to remove the click spring to get the barrel out. just slide it out to the center. I would love to see you do some more early Citizen movement. Dont see them that often beeing serviced and they are lovely made movements.

[@Sergeant_Fury]

You could probably dispense with turning the screws, unless they directly impact the story, like missing screws, wrong screws or screws not tightened by a previous service.

[@MyRetroWatches]

Fair comment. In my more recent videos I am not filming them / editing them out.

[@adiposerex5150]

Love the long videos.

[@williamhill7312]

Wonderful video

[@chrisj2713]

Very nice!

[@cncdaddio]

Nice video again; Keep the sped up cleaning in!

[@TerminusVox]

Is there a story for the watch from his buddy?

[@dodgydruid]

Would love to see a vid where setting up the regulator arms is done as I have several where previous owners have fiddled inside and knocked both arms all over the place and I don't know how to set the arms up in a baseline. I seem to find this with people who have reached the end of the adjustment so think to 'emselves most likely to move the cock thinking they will buy themselves some more adjustment and then of course the watch is going bonkers and so they sell 'em on not telling plonkers like me who buy 'em they fiddled :(

[@MyRetroWatches]

one day mate I will do a regulation video, its straightforward enough just time consuming and does not always end well. big game of cat and mouse as long as the stud arm moves