As mentioned in the newsletter that introduced these new monthly updates, there are some limitations with the Substack platform that make it challenging to control the way historical articles are presented.
When we do the "Zoom" meetings (no idea which technology we will use yet), I think it makes perfect sense to commence each one with a wrist check, and a "what's in your glass?" check 🍻
Any thoughts on one day, someday, compiling the previous TGSG content (with expansions and emendations as needed) into a proper, brick-like coffee table book?
I'm likely an outlier, but I always prefer the persistence of print media to paying for access to an online archive that may one day disappear (in whole or in part) without warning. Through no fault of your own, mind; just the nature of the digital beast.
It's something that I've wanted to do for a looong time, but there is so much work involved in doing a project like that properly. Realistically, it would need the support of Grand Seiko to pull it off.
Hey Gerald, am I right in saying that moving forward only paid subscribers will be able to access the database of all vintage Grand Seiko references that ever got featured in the vintage catalogues? Or will free subscribers be able to access this information as well similar to someone being able to access that information on The Grand Seiko Guy's website freely previously?
Correct. Everything will go behind the paywall, including the catalogue articles. I've never put together a 'proper' database as such (like Anthony Kable's superb one on the modern watches). Maybe one day...
The challenge for a vintage one is more in the completeness of the individual records rather than structuring and presenting the data. Now that everything is going behind the paywall, probably time for me to give it some more thought :)
I have almost all the following data for 158 distinct vintage pieces -
Movement, Case/Movement-case code, Catalogue number, Dial code, dial colour, description, case material, strap/bracelet, case width, lug to lug, lug width (actually I have a horrible feeling I may have just lost those dimensions when deleting the old website. Doh.), functions, catalogue appearances (including price), appearances in Seiko News/Sales (including price).
Photos (my photos) of around 120 of them, every catalogue page scanned (but not individual crops of the watches), incomplete scans of the appearances in Seiko News/Sales. It's the work involved to get these done that will probably be most time consuming.
Of course it's a very small amount of data. I used to build and wrangle massive multi-dimensional datasets for multi-billion dollar turnover companies with hundreds of simultaneous users, so this is a walk in a park compared to that. But I'm not getting billed out at $2,500 a day for the work here!
It's on a to-do list somewhere, but I don't tend to look at my to-do list on a very regular basis. Hahaha.
Aye. Gotcha. Well we can chat it up once when everyone is lazy then. Biggest thing I can say is AI for scaffolding and scripts. You basically talk to yourself and get smarter each time. I haven't done DB work in years besides queries for integration. Might be fun to talk to the computer on zoom and see what happens 😃
I’m not even a GS aficionado, but I dig what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. FWIW anyway. Plus I learn along the way. Thanks 🙏
Okay, the decisions have been made and sufficiently explained. Looking forward to the possibility of some raucous meetings
When we do the "Zoom" meetings (no idea which technology we will use yet), I think it makes perfect sense to commence each one with a wrist check, and a "what's in your glass?" check 🍻
Wrist check? Guess I won’t be wearing my daily then, you guys will be wearing your most interesting. Guess I’ll also wash a glass
Ready for both. Expect east meets west. Japanese watch and Caribbean drink. I sit right in the middle btw.
Any thoughts on one day, someday, compiling the previous TGSG content (with expansions and emendations as needed) into a proper, brick-like coffee table book?
I'm likely an outlier, but I always prefer the persistence of print media to paying for access to an online archive that may one day disappear (in whole or in part) without warning. Through no fault of your own, mind; just the nature of the digital beast.
It's something that I've wanted to do for a looong time, but there is so much work involved in doing a project like that properly. Realistically, it would need the support of Grand Seiko to pull it off.
Hey Gerald, am I right in saying that moving forward only paid subscribers will be able to access the database of all vintage Grand Seiko references that ever got featured in the vintage catalogues? Or will free subscribers be able to access this information as well similar to someone being able to access that information on The Grand Seiko Guy's website freely previously?
Correct. Everything will go behind the paywall, including the catalogue articles. I've never put together a 'proper' database as such (like Anthony Kable's superb one on the modern watches). Maybe one day...
Do you have a link to the database you're referring to? I could probably help you figure out how to build a proper database.
Anthony's one for the modern era Grand Seiko references is here - https://www.plus9time.com/gsdb
The challenge for a vintage one is more in the completeness of the individual records rather than structuring and presenting the data. Now that everything is going behind the paywall, probably time for me to give it some more thought :)
Yeah I would assume there are way more properties and variables for the vintage grand Sekio. I will ponder
I have almost all the following data for 158 distinct vintage pieces -
Movement, Case/Movement-case code, Catalogue number, Dial code, dial colour, description, case material, strap/bracelet, case width, lug to lug, lug width (actually I have a horrible feeling I may have just lost those dimensions when deleting the old website. Doh.), functions, catalogue appearances (including price), appearances in Seiko News/Sales (including price).
Photos (my photos) of around 120 of them, every catalogue page scanned (but not individual crops of the watches), incomplete scans of the appearances in Seiko News/Sales. It's the work involved to get these done that will probably be most time consuming.
Of course it's a very small amount of data. I used to build and wrangle massive multi-dimensional datasets for multi-billion dollar turnover companies with hundreds of simultaneous users, so this is a walk in a park compared to that. But I'm not getting billed out at $2,500 a day for the work here!
It's on a to-do list somewhere, but I don't tend to look at my to-do list on a very regular basis. Hahaha.
Aye. Gotcha. Well we can chat it up once when everyone is lazy then. Biggest thing I can say is AI for scaffolding and scripts. You basically talk to yourself and get smarter each time. I haven't done DB work in years besides queries for integration. Might be fun to talk to the computer on zoom and see what happens 😃