Well, another incoming

[River Rat]

Well, I added another military watch to the collection should get it next week. It's a Hamilton FAPD 5101 Type 1 navigation US Issued wristwatch was only produced for one month Sept. 1970 during the Vietnam war. Has a 36mm case same size as the Hamilton 6B so on the larger size and rare they don't show up for sale often anymore collectors seem to hold on to the few out there. There was an Australian Issued version same watch but different issue numbers on the case back that one's rarer. This one was issued to the US Air Force during Vietnam. Seller's photos below. Should have got one when they were cheaper, but I hold on to stuff so by the time I ever think of selling I will get my money back maybe with a little profit.

[rockmastermike]

Amazing, Mike
you have a great eye for these watches

[ezcheese]

Yep, very cool. Congrats!

[demer03]

Love that

[Bob1035]

That's killer! I wish someone would make a modern version with good lume.

[ncstate1201]

Nice... I was watching that one... I have had a few and this is one of my favorite Hamilton and American mil watches...

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[deepcdvr]

Congrats, Mike! You have a great collection..

I don't know enough about vintage and am always afraid I'll get ripped off...

[River Rat]

Paul, you have to buy the seller on vintage watches. Most of the time if they been around a while the seller knows their stuff. Also, feedback from other buyers. Most forums have feedback sections. And you can contact other forum members that know their stuff and ask info on vintage watches your thinking about buying if it's a watch out of your comfort zone to make sure the price is right, and the watch is legit. I have done that before. This watch I have checked the prices and have info on this one in one of my books. And seen the seller around at the MWR forum for a long time and saw a thread when he added this to his collection.

[River Rat]

There is an Australian version one for sale for 4000 pounds there are fewer of them but dam that's a lot of money. That one been for sale for a while.

[River Rat]

Well received it today.



A side by side for comparison of the RAF 6B

[River Rat]

Nice... I was watching that one... I have had a few and this is one of my favorite Hamilton and American mil watches...

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Been trying to find out what FAPD stands for. Contacted the NAWCC they have no info on Hamilton after they moved out of the USA. My guess for one month production is Hamilton was going through some changes could be why see below.
From 1969 to 1972, all new Hamilton watches were produced in Switzerland by Hamilton's Buren subsidiary. In 1971, the Buren brand was returned to Swiss ownership. By 1972, the Buren-Hamilton partnership was dissolved, and the factory liquidated, due to decreased interest and sales of the Hamilton-Buren product. Due to quartz and digital watches.
If found any info when you owned a few add to the thread if you can.

[deepcdvr]

Mike, that is stunning! Wow, I'm only about 7 years older than that watch, but it looks WAY better than i do

NO idea what FAPD stands for..

[River Rat]

Sorry to say I am way older than that watch Paul by 12 years. I remember seeing the Vietnam war on TV news and the military draft lottery also on TV. And going to the Oakland Navy Hospital as a kid where we went to see a doctor since we were dependents and seeing Sailors and Marines in the hospital after coming back from Vietnam. Coming from a military family and also serving myself one reason I collect these.

[River Rat]

Well got it back from getting serviced. The second hand on these were lumed it fell off it so was bare metal my watchmaker did a great job matching the lume on the second hand.




Size comparison on the normal size US issued watch to this one. At 36mm was larger than most US issued watches except for the Benrus type 1 and 2 diver. And other us issued divers.

[Bob1035]

Looks fantastic!