Throwback Thursday – 1961: A young boy is rowing his boat...

Jan 29, 2015,00:05 AM
 

Friends,

 

This Thursday will be “Throwback Thursday” and I like to share a photo I came into my possession of

 

The year is 1961; an American tourist is on a South Pacific trip. Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

In one of the places he takes out his camera and snaps a shot…

The young boy is smiling. The small row boats, motor boats and ships…

The memories are forever saved in his camera.

In the middle of the photo is a tall building and on top of that building is a sign…

smile

 

50+ years later the photo finds its way to a crazy GP collector in Sweden…

And ends up here in our forum!

smile

Does anyone of you recognize the harbor? Is it Hong Kong? Or…

Why did he take this photo? Was it to capture the harbor… Or was it because he was wearing his Gyromatic on his wrist…?!

 

This we probably never will know, but I find this a nice memory I like to share here in the forum, even if it is not mine…

 

Any memories to share?

Please don’t forget to join our WristScan later today – this week’s theme is Watches & Food!

smile

 

Best

Blomman

  This message has been edited by blomman on 2015-01-29 00:07:10

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Comments: view entire thread

 

How cool is that shot! Looks like HK, not sure.

 
 By: amanico : January 29th, 2015-00:10
Great idea to gather the picture and the Watch. Sure, both of them have a lot of stories to tell! Best, Nicolas

If only they could talk! :)

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 29th, 2015-08:11
That would be an conversation I would not like to miss...! :) Best Blomman

Great photo

 
 By: crown comfort : January 29th, 2015-00:57
perhaps this can convince GP to put up a similar sign on the today's highest building in HK :) I'm not sure this is HK, looks further South-East Asia to me. Thanks for digging these things out! CC

You always find small bits and pieces....

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 29th, 2015-08:13
Here and there... :) And as a crazy GP collector I love to put them together in a context... Best Blomman

Once more ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 29th, 2015-03:20
I like your spirit and passion. Bravo! Oliver

Thank you, my friend!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 29th, 2015-08:15
That means a lot comming from you! Your posts are always full of both! :) Best Blomman

It looks to me..

 
 By: fernando : January 29th, 2015-03:20
like a fishing village in one of the outlying islands in HK. The young boy is actually a girl by the way she is dressed. :) GP was a household name in those days as they advertised heavily on TV and the like. One of my first if not the first watch was a G... 

It's a girl?! :)

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 29th, 2015-08:19
Thank you for the insight, Fernando! So, GP was big in your area already in the 60's? Do you still have your first watch? My first watch was a "Svalan" got it at the age of 6. Lost it many years ago... :( Best Blomman

Lost mine too :( [nt]

 
 By: fernando : January 29th, 2015-20:23

Too bad.... [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 30th, 2015-05:58

My guess is an old Sai Kung harbour in the new territories in Hong Kong

 
 By: ik2000 : January 29th, 2015-11:22
I guess Hong Kong because of the two chinese characters underneath the 7 up sign, and the right character is the number 7.... so I am guessing that is the chinese characters for the 7up drink, and google seems to agree. A young European boy, without famil... 

I should add... I love these photos of SE Asia in the 60s....

 
 By: ik2000 : January 29th, 2015-11:26
I guess it was the very first taste of exotic travel, and the lengths an American or European would have to go to plan the trip, itinerary etc.... if we look back now... 1. No Tripadvisor/ GoogleMaps/ Mobiles/ Laptops /online check in/ etc etc.... How I l... 

You are quite the detective! :)

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 29th, 2015-13:11
Thank you for your input! Yes, agree - it was more of an adventure before all apps and Google.... ;) Best Blomman

Err...I think it's not a boy...from the costume...those buttons

 
 By: Clueless_Collector : January 29th, 2015-15:45
go all the way up to the neck line...it's a typical Asian kind of "Cheong Sam" (Cantonese)...long shirt or blouse as you call it...but its for female. Nevertheless, it's awesome to go back in time. Rgds Raymond

Thank you for the clarification, Raymond

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 30th, 2015-05:59
Yes, it is nice to look back and imagine how and why...! :) Best Blomman

cool trip down memory lane

 
 By: ongch : January 30th, 2015-18:02
An alternative maybe Macau? That GP has quite a similar feel to the British 6B design. Except for the dauphine hands?

Yes, very enjoyable! :)

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 31st, 2015-02:15
The British 6B design (and other British MIL) uses straight numerals, while this GP has more of Italic font. But, yes - the case is similar! Best Blomman ...  

Wow, what a quartett, my friend!

 
 By: amanico : January 31st, 2015-02:21
I definitely need to find a good Mimo to match with some of my military watches, too... Surprisingly we seem to have almost the same watches! ;) Best, Nicolas

I need to take a new shot including some other MIL's....

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 31st, 2015-02:24
Thank you, my friend! :) If we trade the IWC to the JLC Mk 11 - we could do a foursome double shot! ;) Best Blomman

If YOU trade... :)))) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : January 31st, 2015-02:27

Yes, you have lost track! ;)

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 31st, 2015-02:55
But the question is - did you ever found my track...?! ;) I bit my lip every now and then, just to make you confused! ;) Best, my lost friend Blomman

Indeed! ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : January 31st, 2015-02:56

Pretty sure it's Aberdeen Harbour, Hong Kong

 
 By: Horologamist : January 30th, 2015-19:49
My money's on Aberdeen Harbour Hong Kong. I've only been in Hong Kong for 25 years, but I'm attaching a picture from 1974, which I think shows the same backdrop (much more built up by then, of course). As you can see, Girard Perregaux has been replaced by...  

It's for sure! Aberdeen Harbour

 
 By: Horologamist : January 30th, 2015-20:04
Hi All Comparing the pictures more closely, the evidence is pretty conclusive - see the white building on the left and the building with the Coca Cola sign on the top. God bless the Internet! Best wishes Horologamist ...  

Excellent work! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : January 30th, 2015-22:37

Thank you for the confirmation! :)

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : January 31st, 2015-02:20
I tried to find confirmation before posting, but I didn't see this shot you used. Do you still live there? It would be fun to see a shot from today! :) Thank you for pinpointing the location! Best Blomman

The price of progress

 
 By: Horologamist : January 31st, 2015-19:33
Here's a photo of the location now - thanks to Google Earth. We still live in Hong Kong but these days armchair travelling is more convenient than getting in the car! As you can see, the backdrop is very different now. Although the Jumbo floating restaura...  

Wow! It really changed!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : February 1st, 2015-01:13
I was in Hong Kong back in 1997. A lot have changed since...! Thank you for the update. Best Blomman

Wow, how Aberdeen Harbour has changed!!!!

 
 By: ik2000 : February 2nd, 2015-02:57
Great comparison pics, thanks a lot!!!! I guess the original picture was pre-vietnam war, so the boat refugees were not there at the time, and hence Aberdeen looks so peaceful!!

Yes a lot of changes....

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : February 2nd, 2015-10:47
Hard to believe it is the same place! :) Best Blomman