Straightening Balance Pivots, Straight

From The American Horologist magazine, January 1942

Straightening Balance Pivots, Straight

D. E. OVERSTREET, Kiowa, Kamas 

I use R. E. Dorrington pivot lathe, fastened to front edge of bench, using 20 x microscope that I fastened to a heavy base that extends 6 inches back of microscope tube. When turning wheel in lathe and at same time watching through microscope, one can be sure of pivots truth.

I have a brass arm 4 inches to right of lathe, that I turn up, to rest one end of heavy steel pivot tweezers against, as a guide, grip pivot tight and turn lathe. Repeat this until pivot spins perfectly true.


I have tested this and' proved it on railroad watches, then bringing to the official 6 seconds in 72 hour rate test. I find many a watch that pivot looks true until tested by turning in lathe.
This also burnishes and smooths pivot. I use the above 100 per cent if pivot is cut or damaged, and I replace it with a new staff.