Elgintime Vintage Horological

Job Number 260043

Ready for a few days of testing...

Elgin number 5900802 is a grade 113, 0 size, 11 jewel movement, made about 1895.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2WBv9tYzCyxhWk3b9

Job Number 260043

It's running better than these small ones usually do, so that's a good sign. But there's still a lot of adjusting to do.

Once they're ticking, I let them sit and run for a few hours at least, if not overnight, then check out the rate and banking error.

Elgin number 5900802 is a grade 113, 0 size, 11 jewel movement, made about 1895.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2WBv9tYzCyxhWk3b9

Job Number 260043

Elgin number 5900802 is a grade 113, 0 size, 11 jewel movement, made about 1895.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2WBv9tYzCyxhWk3b9

Job Number 260036

This one went OK for a couple of days, then behaved very erratically. Re-cleaning select parts...

Elgin number 21877232 is a grade 291, 16 size, 7 jewels, made about 1919.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/b1MF6AuTr9rCKVBC7

Job Number 260041

Elgin number L105924 (43105924) is a grade 539, 8/0 size,

19 jewel, wristwatch, A-11 military. Black dial with sweep

seconds.

Follow the album for this watch here:

Job Number 260040

Testing for a few days...

Elgin number 41758229 is a grade 581, 21 jewel 16 size, made about 1942. This is a military B.W. Raymond model with sweep seconds and a GCT dial.

Follow the album for this watch here:

I replaced each gear in the winding/setting mechanism one at a time to try to get at a specific rough spot in clockwise setting. I turns out that the minute hand squeezes the cannon pinion enough that it causes clockwise setting issue. I can't loosen the minute hand or it will falloff. I can't loosen the cannon pinion any further or the hands will slip and not move at all as the watch runs. I will have to work very carefully to alter where and how the cannon pinion grips along the center wheel shaft.

Just to make things extra complicated, there is barely enough space on these to allow the hands to pass each other, and to pass over the second hand, without colliding. The special issue with these Elgins though is that, as in the case with the keyless works, other manufacturing tolerances are not high enough to make these adjustments go smoothly. For example, the minute hand finds much less clearance above the hour hand on this watch when the hands are both down near 7:00.

Elgin number 4592421 is a grade 118, 6 size, 11 jewel, made about 1892.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QbpEMAq8b8P2qucn8

Job Number 260040

The broken balance staff was not riveted on, or least it wasn't secure. I noticed it was loose while taking the roller parts off. The staff just pulled off, so I suppose that saves some time.

There's a two-piece double roller and the main part was very tight. I was afraid it would crack! I polish the staff body quite a bit (nice shine) and then went very slowly. It went on fine.

Sweep seconds...

New staff, now running well...

Elgin number 41758229 is a grade 581, 21 jewel 16 size, made about 1942. Military B.W. Raymond model with sweep seconds...

Job Number 260040

This has a broken balance staff, but also, oddly, the two-part roller table is not aligned. Not sure how that could happen...

Elgin number 41758229 is a grade 581, 21 jewel 16 size, made about 1942. Military B.W. Raymond model with sweep seconds...

Job Number 260038

So as not to leave any problems out (this watch is determined to have all the problems), the sleeve spring in the neck of the case was worn out. It's not broken, but is not tight enough. I replaced it.

Now the watch is finally ready for testing.

Elgin number 18167905 is a grade 294, 18 size, 7 jewels, made about 1915.

Job Number 260038

The roller jewel came loose, so it all had to come apart again.

It is reassembled and ticking though. We'll see how it goes.

Elgin number 18167905 is a grade 294, 18 size, 7 jewels, made about 1915.

Job Number 260038

A number of watches are giving me a hard time over the past week or so. Job numbers 260036 and job numbers 360012 are also bogged down.

On this one, I guess there must have been an undetectable crack in the balance pivot. The movement was left running over night but when I returned to it, the upper pivot was broken. I can't fully explain that but it has happened a couple of times before.

I know everyone is waiting. These things are a lot of work, and things move very slowly.

Replacement staff in progress...

Elgin number 18167905 is a grade 294, 18 size, 7 jewels, made about 1915.

Job Number 260038

This will need a fair amount of adjusting, I can tell already. Nothing is broken though.

Elgin number 18167905 is a grade 294, 18 size, 7 jewels, made about 1915.

Job Number 260036

Now ready for a few days of testing...

Elgin number 21877232 is a grade 291, 16 size, 7 jewels, made about 1919.

Job Number 260012

Reworked it again, now back to testing...

Elgin number 4592421 is a grade 118, 6 size, 11 jewel, made about 1892.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QbpEMAq8b8P2qucn8

Job Number 260036

The hands were in rough shape but I managed to save the hour and minute. The second hand was broken so I replaced that,

Elgin number 21877232 is a grade 291, 16 size, 7 jewels, made about 1919.

Job Number 260036

Cutting off the hub of the old staff off to remove the balance wheel...

The new staff is riveted on.

Both pivots had to be be reduced on the replacement staff but it spins feely.

The double roller assembly is seated down securely and the hairspring put in place and adjusted next.

Ticking well. I will let it run overnight then make further adjustment to the beat and timing.

Elgin number 21877232 is a grade 291, 16 size, 7 jewels, made about 1919.

job Number 260036

This will need a balance staff next. Nothing else appears to be wrong though, so far.

Elgin number 21877232 is a grade 291, 16 size, 7 jewels, made about 1919.