Restoring the First Watch With a GMT Function, and Boy Does it Need a Lot of Work!

Marshall wins an eBay auction for a sweet vintage watch to restore, a Glycine Airman pilot's watch from (probably) the 1960s! It had the tantalizing phrase, "For parts or repair" on it, and boy did this one need both parts and a repairs... Join Marshall as he restores another vintage watch here on Wristwatch Revival!

Follow on Instagram for Project Updates in between video releases: @wristwatch_revival
————————————————————————————————————

These are Amazon affiliate links to some of the equipment used for these videos and purchasing anything through them helps support the channel.

TOOLS AND EQUIPEMENT:

CAMERAS AND AUDIO:

COMPUTER STUFF:

[michaelshook]

Marshall has the uncanny trait that makes his site seem like he is speaking to each of us as individuals. It's almost as though he is speaking his own thoughts out loud to us, not so much like a rehearsed seminar. So easy, and smooth...even jocular when he gets tripped up for whatever reason. A natural orator, if you ask me.

[jamesb]

FYI: the back of the hour hand isn't for the second time zone- the bezel is for the second time zone. The extension on the back of the hour hand is for the "civilians" who have trouble reading 24hr time. So when the hour hand points at 14, the back of the hour hand points at 2.

The Glycine Airman also went to space with Pete Conrad wearing it on Gemini V and Gemini XI.

[ToolsandTargets]

I knew there was no way you were gonna keep that donor plate after you realized the original wasn't the issue. Decisions like that are one of the reasons I absolutely love your videos.

[russellmitchell]

This actually made me cry. My father gave me that watch he wore in Vietnam in the Air Force. I was at my advanced school and it was stolen out of my locker. I have never seen another like it till today 45 years later.
It even had the same band it came with when you started on it. It hit me hard he passed 25 years ago.
It didn’t come out of Texas did it, that is where it was stolen in San Antonio.

[randalldunning]

I had my Dad’s 1959 Glycine Airman restored after our hero didn’t respond to offer to do this restoration on his channel. Once restored, the GA is a great watch. My dad, a USAF B29 and later Airline pilot, wore the airman until he was given a 1958 GMT Master Rolex. When he was promoted to Captain with United he purchased a Heuer Autavia GMT Chronograph and Let me wear the Rolex through High School. (Crazy right?) Upon his retirement he traded me the Autavia for the Rolex which I wore until it died in 2011. After watching Marshall’s channel I went and had all these watches restored. Thanks to Marshall for getting me off the dime to restore my dad’s iconic pilot’s watch collection.

[MrAzcatfan]

I recently inherited my Grandpa's Glycine Airman after he passed away earlier this year, so this video is very special to me. He was an Air Force pilot for 25 years and he got his Airman early on his career, and he wore it on pretty much every single flight he flew in the C-141. Knowing that history and seeing you carefully restore this watch to it's former glory made me tear up. Thank you for this. Seeing the appreciation of this watch is truly special.

[nathanrspain]

Now THIS one was an adventure! Thank for showing that you took this apart and reassembled 3 (edit 4!) whole times 😂. I couldn't help but laugh a little. Nice to know someone else shares my type of luck.

[gangstax]

Hi Marshall,
My name is Jon and I am a 54 yr old veteren that needed a hobby. I stumbled across your channel and I am hooked. I went to your website and bought the starter box and it just arrived. Can't wait to follow along with you on my journey to watch repair. Thanks!!!

[gordonmccool]

I remember when your Patreon list use to take only about 15 seconds to show. Now it is about 45 seconds. Way to go. One of my most interesting channels!

[bausumsa]

I have watched several other similar channels and Wristwatch Revival is easily the most enjoyable. Marshall’s voice over has a great quality and is very pleasant to listen to. Also, the camera work and lighting are perfect! You get a good appreciation for the work he puts into making such great videos when you watch some of the other channels. Thanks for such great content Marshall! I watch for new videos daily as I enjoy watching them at the end of my evening to help me wind down. Keep up the great work!

[Justicesdad]

You are getting very comfortable tinkering around with all kinds of different timepieces, amazing stuff

[richardknee]

Hi Marshall, I have decided to take up amateur watch making. I bought one of your kits from your website an took my first watch down an back together successfully. I didn't break anything and it still works thanks to you and your videos.

[edorofish]

Years ago (mid 90s) my wife found a box of watches in the garbage. I put them on eBay and was selling as a lot. One watch was gold. Someone on eBay sent me a message and asked if they could buy the one gold watch from the lot. I was curious and we sent notes back and forth that eventually led to a phone call. The person told me exactly what they intended to do (restore) and I agreed to sell him the watch for $100. I'm sure the person that bought the watch knew what they were buying and I had no idea what I had. When I'm watching your videos I anticipate the gold watch one day popping up on your channel. I have no idea who bought the watch or what state they are from. I can't find my old sales from eBay in their archives.

[HavingFunRepairs]

Coming from a retired Air Force veteran, I really appreciated this restoration!

[Deusmecumest]

My step-dad's watch. He died Saturday. He was a nam vet. After 20 years, he lost his battle with prostate cancer. I own a glycine gmt, not that model because of him.

[ccooper]

A video lesson in engineering, artistry and history all rolled into one.
I am not normally a fan of GMT watches but this one with its 24 hour dial is superb.
Hats off to you for saving another timepiece...

[philiprice]

an old episode of wheeler dealers Edd says while repairing a carburettor "it becomes parts and bits very quickly"
that sums up watch repair to a tee.
another marvellous video and absorbing hour

[Raigoth]

Awesome video as always. Just one thing I wanted to bring up is about the painting you did. There is something called "Panel lining" that model builders do on things like tanks and Gundams (Gunpla). Tamiya makes some of the more popular stuff. I think that would be PERFECT for that kind of application you were doing with a lot less mess. It is also enamel but it is very thin, so you may have to apply it multiple times but one of the major benefits is that the brush that comes with it is very thin and I think would fit perfectly within those lines on the watch that you were doing.

Its called "Panel line accent color" and comes in all kinds of different colors including black, grey, brown and I think even like a rusty red color. I dont know how often you would use it, but im sure it would last a WHILE for you.

[yadaroni]

I subscribe to about 80 different content providers. WWR is always at the top of my watch que. Thanks so much Marshall for the great content.

[mikehowell]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet. But the history of the need for the military to have a "GMT" watch (especially aircrew and sailors) is that the Greenwich Mean Time is used az "Zulu" time. The second marking is to retain GMT or Zulu time. If you are travelling across time zones Zulu time is used to coordinate rendezvous, etc., regardless of local time. When I served on a ship and deployed our ships log was kept in Zulu time because we crossed so many time zones and a watch indicating Zulu time would be super helpful. It was less for keeping track of time at home though i'm sure it was used for that by some.

Great video as always and keep up the great work!

Sorry to be long winded.😂