Ad-Hoc Parts

Antique watches have very long histories of ad-hoc repairs. On this one it seems a proper case screw, or case screw washer was apparently not to be had. Someone has used an old star wheel an a plate screw to hold the movement in the case.

I was once asked if I use only factory new parts in watches. This question is off base in a couple of ways. One is that parts for these watches have not been manufactured for 100 years or more. There is no one you can just call up to order something or other. Secondly, parts were often not made in a factory to begin with. I see quite a lot of hand-made parts in watches. Even for machine made watches like Elgins, in the 18th century in particular it was much more cost effective to make a part than to have a "real" one shipped from the factory.