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Match 14: Germany v Mexico - FIFA Confederations Cup 2017

Tokaido Cassette Tape

Here is another artifact from my personal collection.

A TOKAIDO cassette tape from the 1980s (most likely). Despite its Japanese sounding names, it is apparently a West German product.

Read the marvelous description of this particular sound reproduction technology:

TOKAIDO cassettes are manufactured to the highest demands of the recording industry and represent new advances in gamma ferric oxide and chromium dioxide formulations. Accicular magnetic particles dispersed in a unique binder system ensure improved maximum output levels (MOL) and provided you with lifelike sound reproduction over the range of modern recorded music.

Water Resistance Marks on Russian Watches

Not forgetting that this blog is to a large extent a watch and clock blog, here's again [re-post] a look at some water resistance marks on some of my watches, mainly Russian.

According to Wikipedia, Water Resistant is a common mark stamped on the back of wrist watches to indicate how well a watch is sealed against the ingress of water. 

Any water resistance mark is better than none. One assumes that, if there is no such mark, the watch is not "sealed against the ingress of water", with most watches being in this category even now.

It has to be said though that the whole water resistance mark thing in watches had resisted standardization for a long time until some recent past, and some claims of water resistance had to be taken with skepticism but now there are at least two ISO standards dealing with the matter, though they are not universally applied, even in this day and age. Which means that claims of water resistance in watches should be taken with a dose of skepticism now too as in the past.

Watches from the Soviet and now Russian periods may continue to use non-standard water resistance marks. Here is a look at such marks and what they mean on the example of some of my own watches.

This Slava 3050 says Водонепроницаемые on the back which literally means "water-proof" as in "impermeable to water". But in reality it at best corresponds to the current standard of Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only and NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkeling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly not suitable for diving.

Two Zaria 3105.01 moon phase watches. The water resistance mark here says Водозащищенные which literally means "water protected" and in actual fact probably means same as above - Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only. NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkeling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly not suitable for diving. 

However, I should note that the back on those Zarias is very tight requiring a watchmaker's press to snap it back after you open it and there is also a rubber seal and some water repellent lubricant in the crown stem assembly. You could probably take a shower wearing it with no consequences, except for the leather strap.

Komandirskie 2416b above. Says Водонепроницаемые as in Slava 3050 above. But in this case I am willing to bet it corresponds to at least Water Resistant 5 ATM or 50 m, that is, suitable for swimming, white water rafting, non-snorkeling water related work, and fishing but NOT suitable for diving.

I showered with it on once myself no problem, except it's not good for the pressed leather strap, even though it is supposed to be water repellent treated. 

Slava 2416 Flotskie, above. Marine-themed, as Flotskie means of, or pertaining to, Fleet or Navy. The water resistant mark here says Повышенная водозащита which means "increased water protection" and there's a picture of a cute little dolphin for good measure on the back. Water born- and sea-dwelling creatures are often used to indicate water protection and not only in Russian watches. In this case we have also only basic water resistance as in Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only.

My Sturmanskie Strela 3133 Volmax mech chrono. Says Водонепроницаемые 30м, that is, exactly this: Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, meaning splash/rain resistant only, and NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkelling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly NOT suitable for diving. 

Also it is a mechanical pusher-operated chronograph and mechanical chronographs and water typically don't mix in any combination with few exceptions. 

A whole bunch of three Vostok Amphibias. These are the most water resistant Russian watches (second only to military spec Zlatoust divers). The back says Водонепроницаемые 200 м, i.e. Water Resistant 20 ATM or 200 m, meaning suitable for professional marine activity, serious surface water sports and skin diving and suitable for skin diving. Some even claim that they are more than that and can be used as professional divers but I have my doubts.

My experience, however, suggests these watches are good for a hot tub, sauna, steam bath, swimming pool -- used them in all of those places with no ill effect at least in the immediate aftermath. Though I replace them after about 3-4 years of use but never service.

And here's a bonus - my Seiko 5 cal. 7s26 of 2001 vintage below. The water mark here is again the non-standard WP probably meaning "water protected" - the most basic water protection offered by Seiko probably again corresponding to the current standard of Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only. NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkelling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly not suitable for diving.

VreMax: Water Resistance Marks on Watches: Here's a look at some water resistance marks on some of my watches. According to Wikipedia, Water Resistant is a common mark stamp...

Ostankino TV Tower in May 2017

Here is the Ostankino TV Tower as seen from the Ostankino park in May 2017.

COLEMAN lookalike Portable Butane Stove - Unpacking, Setting Up, Lighting, Review and Culminating in a Boil Test

Here is my review of a version of the Coleman Camp Bistro single burner portable butane stove available here in Russia, including unpacking, setting up, installing a gas canister, lighting and a boil test at the end. 

 

If it ain't the same thing as Coleman's Camp Bistro single burner, it's still very much like it. 

A portable gas stove of a popular design; Coleman sells one like it, also other brands and no-names are available, including here in Russia.

Friendship of Peoples Fountain Moscow

Squirrels

Red squirrels in Moscow + one chaffinch.

Vostok 8K72K Rocket

The Vostok 8K72K rocket displayed at VDNKh.

I think I recorded it once on this blog already but these are different pictures and they are from April 2016.

The Vostok 8K72K was a rocket derived from the Soviet R-7 Semyorka ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme.

This and similar rockets launched the first artificial satellite (Sputnik 1) and the first manned spacecraft (Vostok) in human history.

Here it is seen at the VDNKh exhibition center in April 2016.

Spotted...cars in Moscow: Vostok 8K72K Rocket: The Vostok 8K72K rocket displayed at VDNKh. I think I recorded it once on this blog already but these are different pictures and they ...