Synch Prices on Ebay

[charger105]

Can anyone guess why, of these two watches, the stainless one had most interest ? They were both listed at the same time by the same seller:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SYNCHRONAR-MK-1- ... 638Q2em122

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SYNCHRONAR-Mark- ... 638Q2em122

I thought the black ones were rather more desireable than the SS.
Rgds,
Andrew.

[bucko170]

I guess it boils down to personal preference, I personally prefer the SS over the black.

I think the condition of the black one also may have been another factor, the listing stated that the stainless steel was showing through and stainless steel showing through black is going to be very noticable, maybe in mint condition because of its rarity a black Synchronar would be more desirable and command a greater price

Boils down to the old adage things are only worth what people are prepared to pay for them.

Regards Mick

[retroleds]

I think the condition of the black one also may have been another factor, the listing stated that the stainless steel was showing through and stainless steel showing through black is going to be very noticable, maybe in mint condition because of its rarity a black Synchronar would be more desirable and command a greater price

Mick hit it on the head...the black coating looks like crap when it gets worn thru, and it isn't a ceramic coating as some have said, so you have the proposition of trying to fix up a finish that is of unknown quality & material. Solid metals are hard to beat for their capacity to be brought back to a nice finish. I think the titaniumcases are a bit over-rated too - the band's aren't titanium and a Synchronar is already ungodly light....some of the people I have let hold mine, in stainless with a very solid band, have commented that they feel disturbing lightweight or cheap.

[Synchroserious]

IT MOST CERTAINLY IS A BLACK CERAMIC COATING ON NEARLY ALL BLACK ROUNDED CORNER HIGH QUALITY STAINLESS STEEL UNDERNEATH CASES.JUST REMOVE THE CERAMIC COATING AND YOU USUALLY WILL HAVE A FRESH SS CASE RESTORTED.

[Synchroserious]

SEE MY NEW POST AND TOPIC

[charger105]

Well I ended up getting the black ceramic coated watch, and it seems to be taking a charge. I've had it under a bright light for about 4 hours, and the digits are now faintly visible. Hopefully after more time it will spring to life.

Does anyone know what the differences between a MkI and a MkII Synchronar are ? I'm interested in physical differences, as well as functional differences.

This one has a red bottom, adjacent batteries(not diagonal), red sliders, and the magnet thing in the back for setting. It also has a segment display, not the dot display. Can anyone tell me what model it might be please.

Rgds,
Andrew.

[Synchroserious]

Andrew, Not sure what you have there.If there is a sticker on the bottom that reads "Synchronar 1" it is a MK I.The seller may have used a MK I bottom to rebuild a MK II so again not sure. There are no other physical differences with case,band and module looking from the outside.On a MK II The setting is done different and there is suposed to be an ability to adjust accuracy although there is no designated speed # that displays like a MK III or IV.

There should not be any charging required unless the watch remained in a dark drawer for 4 months or longer.4 hours of charging should be plenty to give a bright display,nothing should be faint.18 hours at 10 inches to a 75 watt bulb would normaly give you a full charge and not really be much brighter than the 4 hour charge.Just trying to help despite not having done any transactions with you.I offer properly rebuilt watches at the same price range although i have to build them only after a half down deposit is made.

Regards, Howard

[Synchroserious]

Correction. If it has a Large DOT display it is a tell sign of the MK I even though about half of them had a bar type display like MK II.

[charger105]

Thanks Howard.
The watch was sold as not working........it hasn't been opened up before. There's no sticker directly on the bottom, but there is a sticker under the plastic that says "Ragen Semiconductor MFG". Serial number is 47396.

It hasn't taken a charge....I think the solar panel is enough to drive the colon and the digits very faintly. I'll have to put new batteries in it.

Anyway, I think it's a MkI. The left hand away slider has a heavier spring on it, which I read somewhere prevents the hours from changing accidentaly on a MkI. The reed switch associated with this does advance the hours, so I think this precludes it from being a MkII (I saw in an on-line manual that on a MkII, the hours are advanced using the rear switch with the time displayed).

Thanks again.
Rgds,
Andrew.

[charger105]

So, to summarise:

MkI
Dot or segment display
Red bottom, adjacent batteries
Time
Date
Seconds
Trimmer capacitor speed adjustment (adjusted at factory)

MkII same as MkI but:
Segment display only
Leap Year setting
Electronic speed adjustment

Please correct me if I am wrong.
Rgds,
Andrew.

[Synchroserious]

Thats correct according to old manuals.However it should have a sticker 'Synchronar 1' to be one. Believe it or not there was a combination which we could call a Mk 1.5.I even have a drawing(1975) titled Synchronar 1.5
Furthermore many of the thought to be Mk II,s do not have a leapyear # didplayed,it is a O displayed like a MK 1.

Sounds like some new batteries would brighten things up

[clockace]

to add to the mix: my ser #46733 does not say synchronar I or II. it says "ragen semiconductor, made in usa, patented". the date display is mo & date. the secs display is 0:52. the time display is hr & min. i am not sure about the leap yr, altho the booklet says it will keep the correct date until yr 2100. the outer box says ragen synchronar. the inner box says ragen on the outside, ragen on the inside, synchronar on the silver triangle piece. the booklet says synchronar, solar powered watch. in the bottom right corner it says ragen. there is a tag taped to the bottom of the outer box that has written by hand 08-30-75. also ser # and .-02. peter

[Synchroserious]

Yes Peter you have a Mk II (1.5) since it does not have a sticker 'Synchronar 1'.
MK II,s(Mk1.5) only have a serial # sticker and a sticker Ragen semiconductor Mfg USA patented.

There were over 60 employees back then and Ragen Semiconductor did have it,s quality control issues and wanted to bail out of the market just like the rest of American companies did. But that's why my dad bought the remains and started Riehl Time corp.One of the first things he did was create a better module (MK III) at a much lower cost in order to compete in the market quickly filling up with ever cheaper Hong Kong watches that had a 30% failure rate.

[clockace]

hi howard, thanks for clearing up exactly what i have here. i has been working fine since its rebuild last march. since may 1 it has gained about 14 seconds which should work out to less than 1 min/yr. that kind of accuracy in 1975 was unheard of. truly an awesome piece of work on your dad's part. peter