dasher
Timekeeper
Waiting on 6:00 pm
Posts: 966
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Post by dasher on Jun 19, 2013 12:12:37 GMT -8
In an effort to preserve the vast sum of knowledge about Col. William Pogue's watch, I thought it prudent to start this thread so that future generations of Seiko enthusiasts can cut through the crap and get the real story here. Boy, I better get this right, huh?? To begin with, who is Col. William Pogue? Col. Pogue is an American born in Oklahoma, went to school in Oklahoma, and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 (source: Wikipedia). He became a pilot in the Air Force and was a darn good one, eventually joining the Thunderbirds. In time, he ended up a Colonel at the Manned Spacecraft Center and he was selected as an astronaut in a support capacity for 3 of the Apollo missions. He was scheduled to be a command module pilot for Apollo 19 but the mission was canceled. In the coming years, the United States would create Skylab though, and Col. Pogue got to be the pilot on Skylab 4, the third and final manned trip to Skylab from the U.S. Col. Pogue was on Skylab from November 16, 1973 until February 8, 1974. Col. Pogue is now 83 years young and his autobiography is titled But for the Grace of God: An Autobiography of an Aviator and Astronaut released in 2011. Our next question about Col. Pogue must be "how did he decide on a Seiko as his watch of choice on Skylab"? Well, to be honest, he chose that watch when he realized his officially certified watch from the USAF was an Omega that would not be given to him during his training. So, knowing he had to have something to rely on during his training, he got good advice from someone and purchased a Seiko, even paying for it on layaway! So that, while in space on Skylab, Col. Pogue had 2 watches on his person, the Omega (set to GMT) and the Seiko. However, for the sake of this post, the Seiko is the only watch we are concerned about. Col. Pogue used the Seiko to time engine burns as a backup to the computers. Here, at long last, is a picture of the Seiko Col. William Pogue made famous on the Skylab 4 mission: There are various opinions about what a "true Pogue" is and isn't, and while a very literal reading of the words certainly points one to the watch pictured above, a general understanding of the nickname will indicate a Seiko automatic chronograph watch with a gold dial powered by a 6139 movement in either a -6002 or -6005 designation. The Seiko 6139 Pogue watches that attract the most attention and highest prices are the -6005 designations. Col. Pogue's 6139 had the serial number of 190945, which indicates the watch was made in (9) September of (1) 1971. To find a watch with a sequentially similar serial number would indeed be a valuable find. Col. Pogue confirmed that the inner rotating bezel of his 6139 was originally yellow, but had faded to white. He also confirmed he wore the watch daily for a number of years, even building a house while constantly wearing the watch. The watch was auctioned in 2008 and sold for just shy of $6000.00 So there you have it: the nearly-perfect story of Col. William Pogue and his legendary Seiko 6139 chronograph. Please see following posts for pictures and additional information about this wonderful watch. Thanks for reading!
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dasher
Timekeeper
Waiting on 6:00 pm
Posts: 966
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Post by dasher on Jun 19, 2013 12:15:18 GMT -8
Here is a photo of the Colonel with his 6139 and space suit, ready for action:
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dasher
Timekeeper
Waiting on 6:00 pm
Posts: 966
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Post by dasher on Jun 19, 2013 12:16:08 GMT -8
And a photo of his mission patch:
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Post by timewatcher on Jun 19, 2013 13:24:44 GMT -8
That's an awesome post! Thanks for sharing that info and it may also clear up the "mystery" of the inner ring actually being YELLOW to begin with! thunbsup.gif
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scubarob99
Moderator
Just bought a 6309-7049...this is the last one, I promise.
Posts: 3,700
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Post by scubarob99 on Jun 19, 2013 13:56:16 GMT -8
Funny ,I have a 6139-6015 that is 300 units away. (they weren't even in the same factory most propably.)
Rob.
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Post by timewatcher on Jun 19, 2013 14:01:44 GMT -8
My Pogue (6002) has an interesting Serial # ..............................666266
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Post by lordflagpolecrabtree on Jun 19, 2013 14:07:27 GMT -8
Great post ! Mine is a hopefully all original except for a replacement crystal 6002 with pale yellow inner bezel. The guy that sold it to me also sold me the Brooklyn Bridge, and that's going to be worth a lot of money one day, I can tell you. laugh1.gif It also came with this chunky leather strap. I prefer it to the bracelet as I'm more of a strap man.
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Post by timewatcher on Jun 19, 2013 14:11:09 GMT -8
You have seen it before but here is mine........
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funksterforgottologinagain
Guest
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Post by funksterforgottologinagain on Jun 19, 2013 14:12:00 GMT -8
I'll add this one to the Pogue pot... 6319-6005 Resist from September 1971 Serial No. 192700 Correct white / faded yellow inner bezel Needs a bit of work though... laugh1.gif
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Post by estrickland on Jun 19, 2013 15:02:27 GMT -8
Good thread. Mine is all original, with the 'correct' 2 line header and "water 70m resist" at 9'oclock.
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donciccio
Is a Permanent Fixture
Posts: 6,160
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Post by donciccio on Jun 19, 2013 18:15:07 GMT -8
Fantastic thread! cheering-clapping-smiley-emoticon
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Post by Groundhog66 on Jun 19, 2013 20:35:43 GMT -8
Present and accounted for...
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Post by seikoholic on Jun 19, 2013 20:51:17 GMT -8
That's a great picture, Tim. Here's my favorite of my all-original:
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Jun 20, 2013 9:40:07 GMT -8
Here's mine . . . actually my Dad's . . . wonder if he wanted this one because of Pogue or if he just liked it because it was a good looking watch? This was born in August '72.
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Post by seikoholic on Jun 20, 2013 9:49:11 GMT -8
Here's mine . . . actually my Dad's . . . wonder if he wanted this one because of Pogue or if he just liked it because it was a good looking watch? This was born in August '72. I don't think Col. Pogue talked about his watch at all really. It was a collector who found out about it somehow and got all the info about it from him. That was in the 2000s at some point I believe.
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Jun 20, 2013 9:51:22 GMT -8
Here's mine . . . actually my Dad's . . . wonder if he wanted this one because of Pogue or if he just liked it because it was a good looking watch? This was born in August '72. I don't think Col. Pogue talked about his watch at all really. It was a collector who found out about it somehow and got all the info about it from him. That was in the 2000s at some point I believe. Interesting . . . good information . . . thanks!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2013 14:26:10 GMT -8
Thanks for sharing the info , Seiko's smiley-cool11
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DonnaCiccio
Timekeeper
I'm not mean, its sarcasm you idiot!
Posts: 255
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Post by DonnaCiccio on Jun 20, 2013 14:56:25 GMT -8
Fantastic thread! cheering-clapping-smiley-emoticon I second that!! Thanks for the great info and pictures.
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Adrian-VTA
Global Moderator
Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5,327
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Post by Adrian-VTA on Jun 21, 2013 2:56:32 GMT -8
Here is my 100% pure pogue - And a bonus "not pogue", the infamous "Brake Fluid Chrono"
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Post by pollythecat on Jun 21, 2013 4:00:55 GMT -8
Here is my 100% pure pogue - And a bonus "not pogue", the infamous "Brake Fluid Chrono" The Brake Fluid Chrono' always brings a smile to my face.
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