A Gift from Elvis

[cte]

It's not what you know but who you know. I wish someone gave me a solid gold P2 as a gift... My birthday is coming up actually. I can post my address if anyone is in a giving mood.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... ID=EBAY-GB

[bruce wegmann]

One of the more interesting (and sure to be priciest) Pulsars to show up on eBay in quite some time. I rate this up with the Elvis P1, the Touch-Command Executives, and the 14K P1, for out-of-the ordinariness. This was definitely worn, and knocked about a bit (several dents to the case front and back attest to that). Given the low serial number, the magnet, and in particular, the module itself, are probably not original. All early P2s came with the silver "C" magnet, regardless of case material. If you watch the video clip closely, it does appear that the display is a line-segment type, and the digits are proportionately too far apart, and too short, and are thus probably a Dress or P4 replacement (I would guess the magnet replacement happened at the same time). A feature of special interest is the "step" in the angled part of the case back...two of my 2980s (10282 and 10337) have this identical step; the other two (18002 and 18075) do not, and have the normal contours common to all other P2s. I do have a theory why we see this...anyone else care to make a guess?

[cte]

Bruce, did anyone ever tell you that you reminded them of Sherlock Holmes?

When I originally watched the video, I felt the display looked off but didn't give it a second thought as I was busy trying to place exactly which adult movie the music in the background came from. I think I remember it from naughty nurses 2. 1976 if I'm not mistaken?

Anyway, I definitely didn't notice the step on the back case. That is unusual to me. It housed an extra large O ring seal or different module to the usual? I am stabbing in the dark here. I have no clue what it could be for. Maybe just aesthetics, to look like a nice graded stepping design in combination with the screw ring.

[bruce wegmann]

I had it thoroughly whipped into me when I was doing my apprenticeship as a tool and die machinist to notice detail (after I made a tiny mistake that cost my boss thousands of dollars to correct, I never again underestimated the importance of paying attention to detail). It has nothing to do with appearance or fit of parts, (and, this shows up ONLY on the solid gold ones) but, I think I will keep you all in suspense for a while longer... And, while I may not be right (unlikely, but possible), it is connected to other things we have seen on the P2s, and I can think of no other logical explanation to account for what we see. After all these years, there are still some details that have yet to be figured out.
BTW, logical thinking, a skill not widely taught or appreciated any more, has served me well over the decades; looking without seeing, or hearing without listening, can cost you a great deal, or get you into far more trouble than you can get out of...a whispered fact is more powerful and persuasive than a thousand shouted lies (or, it should be, anyway). I accept nothing as established merely because it comes from some "authority", until and unless it can be documented; nothing wrong with speculation, as long as it as put forth as such, and kept within reasonable boundaries...sometimes, even guesses turn out to be right.
We live now in the trailing years of a golden age...not far from the original events, but getting farther away with every passing day. What will collectors a few generations down the road be able to do, unless we sort out as much as possible now, when things are still reasonably clear, and make them a matter of public record?

[charger105]

A feature of special interest is the "step" in the angled part of the case back...two of my 2980s (10282 and 10337) have this identical step; the other two (18002 and 18075) do not, and have the normal contours common to all other P2s. I do have a theory why we see this...anyone else care to make a guess?

Presumably for strength reasons. A solid gold caseback would be rather prone to distortion without a strengthening rib around the perimeter.
Rgds.

[richard_uk]

[PG101]

Even though you haven't said anything Richard, I tend to agree with you on this one.
If this was a legit piece of Elvis history, it would be better suited to an auction house. In fact, the sellers have probably gone to an auction house, been laughed at, and decided to try their story on eBay.
If there was any proof, it would have been posted in the description.
Good luck to the winner

[bruce wegmann]

Not a structural strength feature... What's been done here actually removes metal and makes the case back thinner (by about .2mm), and weaker.
Also, if what you say was correct, I would expect to see this on later watches, not earlier ones. Refinements are normally seen later in production, not at the beginning.
On the provenance, I am inclined to accept it as legitimate (I'm sure Graceland, if they are not already aware of this item, soon will be). The trend of the bidding certainly suggests others agree with me. The engraving is of the period, and is old, not recent, as scratches and wear marks go over the letters, not under. This auction may very well not go to term, just as the Colonel-to-Elvis P1 was pulled early. In any event, it will be interesting to see how high the bidding goes (I am guessing >US$5K).

[PG101]

...On the provenance, I am inclined to accept it as legitimate. The trend of the bidding certainly suggests others agree with me.

I tend to be one of those people who: "accept nothing as established merely because it comes from some "authority", until and unless it can be documented"

Isn't Elias Ghanem's wife still alive? I guess someone could ask her if her husband had a solid gold Pulsar LED watch, from Elvis? Unless it's