De Arctos is ook interessant: de basis is een Sinn 143. Een heeeeeeel veel gezocht horloge! Zeer schaars. Reden? Sinn heeft het niet zo lang gemaakt vanwege kwaliteits-problemen… Lees maar wat een eigenaar schrijft:
[b]"The Sinn 143 is a rare watch, possibly for good reason. The classic Seventies/Eighties square case measures 39mm across, 44mm lug-to-lug, and 15mm thick with a very slightly domed plastic crystal. The case design is not for everyone: Most people either love it or dislike it. The black PVD coating is another thing that seems to divide people as well.
The Sinn 143 is further unusual in that the case is made from aluminum, which is (usually) lighter than titanium but not nearly as durable as either titanium or steel. Aluminum cases are prone to oxidation when exposed to human sweat, thus the need for PVD coating. Be very careful when looking for a Sinn 143: If the PVD coating has been worn or nicked, oxidation is likely to begin eventually. Under normal conditions, the case should be fine for a long service life, but it is a good idea to wipe it down after each use. The caseback is the typical steel type, so no worries there.
The movement is a slightly modified Lemania 5100. Yes, it is a true 5100, not a 5012 nor a 1340. The obvious change is that Sinn deleted the 24-hour register at 12 o’clock. This suggests that the watch might not have been intended for military use, as does the non screw-down crown, but everything else about the watch suggests otherwise.
This 143 came with a world-time plastic bezel that has been replaced with a more common tachymeter bezel. Both bezels are made of plastic and both rotate. The original bracelet for this watch is no longer produced and very difficult to source, so a Sinn rally-style strap was installed. The 143 is a very lightweight, very functional timepiece. It is also rather loud: The aluminum case does little to muffle to movement’s ticking and whirring. For fans of mechanical movements, this is happy music, but it is unusual for the uninitiated.
The Sinn 143 was made only for a brief period in the mid-1980’s and thus is very difficult to find. It is nonetheless is valued piece amongst most Sinn collectors and a very unique and delightful watch to own."[/b]
Genoeg kwaliteitsproblemen die mij in ieder geval doen twijfelen of de kast (want dat is dezelfde bij Arctos en Sinn) ooit door de Bundeswehr zou zijn geaccepteerd!
Knirim schrijft in zijn boek (volgens bronnen op het internet - ik heb het boek zelf niet) dat de naam Arctos nooit op de wijzerplaat van military horloges stond. (Althans, ‘issued’ horloges)
De verkoper schrijft duidelijk dat het horloge voor ‘German Army’ bedoeld was. Dat zou kunnen met BUND op het deksel. Maar… we weten allemaal dat de Fransen nooit het woord BUND op een deksel zouden accepteren! Daar zou ‘MN’ of ‘ARMEE de TERRE’ of zoiets op moeten staan. Wel een Franstalig datumwiel, maar geen deksel zonder BUND? Kan er bij mij niet in.
Ik moet dat boek van Knirim maar eens kopen!
Menno