Mount Everest & Rolex...................Meine Quest! ;-)
Liebe Freunde, hoffe Ihr verzeiht mir das ich das ganze nicht in Deutsch übersetze!
Intrigued by the mystery around '52 & '53 Expeditions I started doing research since some while I'm studying the Rolex watches that where used on Mount Everest expeditions to come to a more 'logic' overview from what exactly happened. Being in the fortunate position in having excess to all sort of close related info, I starting archiving all serial numbers, references and dial versions so at first I start with a question towards the RLX Leser!!!
---> Dear all!!, PLEASE to reply to this post with ANY!! close related '52-'53 dated Rolex for this topic!! You would do me a GREAT favour for archiving it properly!
In this quest to find more logic and information about what exactly happened around 1952 Swiss Expedition,
fully sponsored by Rolex turned out to a big disappointment for Hans Wilsdorf as the Swiss Team led by Roch
didn't made it till some 200 meter from top, even their second attempt failed dramatically but it created a great
friendship between Lambert & Tenzing as he was treated as full member of the Swiss team from the beginning!!
Inspired by the great "Hans+Wilsdorf+lost+dream" post by *philip* from the 'VRF Archive' "The History initially imagined by Hans Wilsdorf was that the Everest would be conquered by a team of climbers wearning Rolex... but a Swiss team not an English one! (that is when we have to remember that Wildorf was a marketing genius even before being watchmaker). More than a swiss team, the 1952 crew was made only with Geneva area climbers. A Geneva team on top of the world with Geneva made Rolex watches, that was Hans Wilsdorf initial dream. "
- http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...orf+lost+dream
- http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...ry+%281933%29-
Quote:
"To comeback to the historical facts, both 1952 Swiss Expeditions sponsored by the Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research and Rolex were including Tenzing Norgay and Raymond Lambert and both attempted the summit via the South-East Ridge route."
Question:
So what was Tenzing then wearing on this picture below one could start thinking when we know Tenzing was not a member of '53 expedition ? And thus not one of the 13 that got a sponsored Rolex for the 1953 expedition?! ;-)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ng-lambert.jpg
I started from there. Some of the Everest Rolex's have been come to auction, some are with collectors and some off course are still with their original owners or their children. Fact is, the British Mount Everest Expedition succeeded with Sir.E Hillary & again Tenzing Norgay to conquer the Mount Everest on 29 May 1953. Also this expedition was sponsored by Rolex, but also by the UK clock- and watchmaker Smith English Clocks. The last also delivered 4 x " Travel Alarms in ecrase case" I noticed ;-)
So my first quest was to find any Rolex papers related to Mount Everest that showed they where involved. A great journey brought me to George Band, one of last living '53 members.
Lucky shot ;-)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t.../6204/GB-1.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t.../6204/GB-2.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t.../6204/GB-3.jpg
His incredible information not only about his 2 x original Himalaya Oysters he had but also about suggestion where to
find mor info as his anecdotes of other team member was ultra interesting and got me even deeper into detail when I met
with Jane Morris, the lucky correspondent of The Times, Newspaper that not only covered the whole 1953 journey but their
Times money sponsoring was of vital needs to succeed the enormous preparations. So I met her with some close friends in
Wales for lunch when I stayed at the legendary Hotel Pen-y-Gwryd --> http://www.pyg.co.uk/ & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pen-y-Gwryd
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...janemorris.jpg
Their reunions signatures on the ceiling....
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...n-Y-Gwryd6.jpg
Inside the grail vitrine with important Everest '53 memorablia....
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...n-Y-Gwryd2.jpg
Now, I enjoy this 'vibe' all enormously, so since all effort we've made I come to the reason why I wanted to share this with you my friends.
I believe that when you really want something, it's going to happen...so after the 'discovery of Tenzings - Rolex', yet another dream came
thought! I found the invoice!! ;-) of Rolex send to the British Mount Everest 1953 Team where they state the delivery of their watches!! For
privacy reasons i removed ALL sensitive data of following scans so I can still show it to you guys ;-) ......
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...olexBMEE-1.jpg
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...olexBMEE-2.jpg
Much more of my quest in detail I'll share soon ;-) Until now I want to THANK my close old friends in particular & recent made new friends that helped me so far!!
Best to you all!
Rg.Philipp
PS After reading below Rolex add, next one is having a great line of text that shows deep involvement by Rolex & the respect their watches gained!!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...IMG_3504-1.jpg
"Doing Well. No stoppages. No complaints!" --> BRAVO Rolex!!!!! BIG Respect!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ne-everest.jpg
;-)
