New Stocker & Yale 590-where's the tritium?

[keithhr]

New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

I just bought this watch from county comm and found out that in anything but absolute, 100% total darkness, you can't tell the time from the tritium markers. I guess I'll have to wait till tonight , but in my first in the closet test, I am really disappointed. Anyone have experiences with tritium and how bright it ususally is? I have a wenger military watch that if I illuminate with a flashlight it is really bright for a while.

 

[GJW]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

That's pretty accurate.
But in the dark it's impressive.
In a dark theatre I'm sometimes almost emabarrassed by the glow.

 

[snuffy]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

It dims as it ages. What's the date of manufacture? With my Luminox I can read newsprint in a dark room.

 

[keithhr]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

I'll have to wait till it's dark here, but I wanted a watch that I could tell the time without having to be in an isolation chamber. Seeing the hands with the smallest amount of ambient light would be good. I don't think I could read a newspaper in the dark with 50 of these, it's that dim.

 

[flownosaj]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

I believe that these Stocker and Yales were produced in the early to mid-90's. They could be over half way to their half-life, hence the diminished output.

-Jason

 

[vcal]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

[ QUOTE ]
keithhr said:I'll have to wait till it's dark here, but I wanted a watch that I could tell the time without having to be in an isolation chamber. Seeing the hands with the smallest amount of ambient light would be good. I don't think I could read a newspaper in the dark with 50 of these, it's that dim.

[/ QUOTE ]IIRC, some of the Wenger, Victorinox, and a very few of the S & Yale watches use the ³H tritium paint, and not the waay brighter tritium Gas tubes.

The tritium paint alway looks faint. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[keithhr]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

Well, it's dark now and unless there is no ambient light, this must be old painted markers or something. I was so jazzed about getting a new easy to read watch and frankly, my wenger with luminous dials that have to be charged by light are way brighter. These dials have almost no illumination and unless I look at this watch after my eyes have adjusted to total darkness there's not much to see.The people that have mentioned almost being able to read a newspaper by the light emitted from a tritium tubed watch must have something other than what I have, it's almost comical how absolutely bad this watch is. Don't get me wrong, there is a faint glow coming from this watch but it's really hard to see.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

Email Frank at County Comm. Ask for refund if you are not satisfied, He and Mark will listen to you. Bill

 

[FlashlightOCD]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

I have the SANDY 590 and Navigator, the Navigator is quite a bit brighter, but the SANDY 590 lights up well enough to easily read the time when it is dark.

Are you giving your eyes enough time to adjust?

 

[keithhr]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

I ordered the Marathon standard quartz which is supposed to be the same as the navigator with fully exposed tritium tubes and will either send the 590 back or offer it here on the forums, it is sleeker and maybe a bit small for my large wrist.
Anyone interested in the 590 if I decide on the other one? I'm just peculiar about some things, oh well, make that most things.

 

[sotyakr]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

I had thought about ordering a steel cased Navigator from County Comm, but I wonder how much glow those tritium tubes have left after 13 years.

 

[keithhr]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

I think some of their watches are relatively new and not only from the gulf war period.

 

[FlashlightOCD]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

I've heard someplace that the Stainless Steel Marathon casing is from the Gulf War period, but the watch mechanism itself is new [or at least relatively new]. Mine is plenty bright.

Call or write countycomm and ask.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

From what I have read, the stainless steel Navigators are totally upgraded, including new tritium. Bill

 

[sotyakr]

Re: New Stocker & Yale 590-where\'s the tritium?

Thanks for the info. Guess it goes back on to the shopping list!