New Arrival, Job Number 260057


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New Arrival, Job Number 260043


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Job Number 260012

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.

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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...


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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...

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Job Number 260012


Reworked it again, now back to testing...

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Job Number 260012

Finally ready for a few days of testing...

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

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White 2137 Sewing Machine

And now for something completely different...

We found a sewing machine sitting free on the curb yesterday. It's a White model 2137 which as far as I can determine was in production in the later 1950s and early '60s.

I have no experience with these things, but after a light surface cleaning, it was easy to determine that the motor worked. I didn't see anything obviously broken either.
Cleaned everything up... As is so often the case with items from this era is was coated in waxy brown buildup from cigarette smoke.

I used silicone grease on its single plastic pinion and white lithium grease on all the cams. I opened up all the bearings and applied regular sewing machine oil. I used some rubber restoring stuff on the belt, and then made a couple adjustments. I didn't disassemble the motor, but it does go so maybe its best left alone anyway.

As fas as I can tell, it works! 


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Job Number 260034

Very minor dial repair of a small chip near the 7:00... At the least it will help keep it from getting worse.

Elgin number 5110070 is a grade 73, 18 size, 7 jewels, made about 1894. 




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Job Number 260030

The remaining issue on this watch is that the setting lever sits too far inside, under the bezel, to easily be pulled out. You can catch it with a knife point or tweezers, but only barely. It's really gets in there.

This is a good time to mention that American watch companies by and large, including Elgin, did not, for the most part, manufacture pocketwatch cases. The original buyer selected this movement and the case separately. Someone at a retail store probably filed out the notch for the setting lever - a little too tall in this instance, leaving the retracted lever almost unreachable given how broad the bezel is.

Trying to come up with a work around... 

Elgin serial number 6958332 is an 18 size, 7 jewel, grade 96, made about 1897.

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Job Number 260034



This mainspring isn't broken, but I can tell this watch will need better power. I'm replacing it.

Elgin number 5110070 is a grade 73, 18 size, 7 jewels, made about 1894. 

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