[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Walking past a Jewelry shop in the Shopping Centre I looked at the various watches on display and wondered if people really wear watches these days. Looking around I would say no. I know with the younger crowd it would be why do I need a watch when I have a phone. Ok there is truth in that statement, but I feel a phone can't contend with the beauty of a carefully crafted time piece. I am talking analogue watches not the cheap digital ones. When I was in the early stages of my Airforce Career as an Instrument Fitter I worked with a fellow that previously was a Watch Repairman whom was trained in Switzerland and then joined the RAAF. Part of the retaining the skill policy we had at the Squadron we repaired watches, particularly Aircrew issued watches and some personal items like mantel clocks. Ok, I am old fashioned, but I marvel at the engineering that goes into a crafted watch and I sort of lament that these things will be long forgotten in the future. To further add to my weirdness, I marvel at Instruments like Slide Rules, chronometer and Sextants .. the thought that went into the creation of these Instruments.

Ok, I am going to make a book recommendation here, Longitude by Dava Sobel.