I’m assuming, for the sake of the argument, that you’re typing this whilst simultaneously running the threadmill that powers your computer?
Yeah those electrons will beat the hell out even the best copper over a couple of decades.
Well whatever it is that deteriorates, the electric company hasn’t kept up with keeping it up.
:eek: I got a new battery for my OM-1 a few years ago…when were the original ones DC’ed?
I don’t know. I bought my OM-1 used a few years ago, and the mercury batteries were banned then.
I understand the Krasnagorsk-3 (16mm film camera) has the same problem.
Well, um, ok. A more likely explanation, besides environmental wear on the cables, is that there are probably a hell of a lot more people, buildings, and equipment using those wires now than when you were a kid. . .
One word- “eBay”. Scads, and at way better prices than pawnshops.
If you look on e-bay for Rolexes, you must be extremely careful. There are a lot of fakes out there. I saw one once where a guy was trying to pass off a really bad fake as real, and the bidding was at $800. IANAE, but even I could tell it was fake. The trouble is that there are some fake Rolexes out there that are indistinguishable from the real thing, except to an expert. Some of the more expensive counterfeits will even use Rolex parts, including less expensive Rolex movements. Unless you know what you’re doing, I’d stay well away from e-bay. Get a new fine watch from a reputable dealer, or a used fine watch from a reputable jeweler.
Same goes for the other Swiss brands, but Rolexes seem to be the main target. If you’re buying a vintage Seiko (dad’s stainless & blue “Bellmatic” is an excellent watch – YMMV) you probably won’t have much trouble with counterfeits.
The one I just bought is the “Submarine Commander Amfibian” model. The standard Sub model is the same as yours (except for the graphics), but the Amfibian is waterproof to 200 meters. That’s twice the crush depth of my old Timex digital, and a lot better looking to boot 
Actually, I was not recommending a Rolex- which is WAY overpriced. Those russian watches, and some older American watches can be bought from any reputable eBay dealer. You should be able to get a fine, running timepiece, for under $200.
DintWD, there’s probably no need to go to e-bay to look for a good price on a watch that isn’t a ROlex, Cartier, Omega, etc.
I went over to The Sovietski Collection and found these:
Mechanical, 17-jewel “submariner-style” watch. They also have “paratroop” and “tanker” styles. Water resistant to 20 meters. $39.00
KGP Commemorative watch. Self-winding, 31-jewel, water resistant to 200 meters. $49.00
Cosmonaut watch. Mechanical 23-jewel movement, “almost identical to the one worn by Yuri Gagarin.” $169.00
Shturmanskiye watches. Another watch “mechanically identical” to Yuri Gagarin’s. 23-jewel mechanical movement, ehibition back, blue or white dial. $249.00
They have others, but I’m not going to list them all. Enter “watch” into the site’s search option for a full list.