Job Number 180028

This is an Elgin grade 316, 18 size, 15 jewels, made about 1909.

See the album for this project here.

This movement needs a new balance staff. The old one, with a broken pivot, is cut off in the lathe.

When the hub of the old staff is all but gone, the staking set is used to break it away. This leaves behind a little washer that is all that's left of the hub.

The balance wheel is riveted onto the new staff.

I find the hairspring collet needs to be tightened. It's way too loose on the new staff. This isn't unusual. Things don't just fit.

Ticking...

Job Number 180028 - Before

Here are a few of "before" images of the next watch up. Not the worst I've seen...

Follow the album for this project here.

Job Number 180038 (Formerly 130123)

Here's a quick dial repair before and after...

Number 180038 will now get tested for several days. It's starting out well though.

See the complete album here. 

Job Number 180023, and 180038 (Formerly 130123)

180023 is on its third roller jewel, and starting testin yet again today. As I usually say in these rare cases, I don't have an electron microscope, but I can find no fault. Once it stops the slightest touch starts it again too, so I have not been able to find the issue. Just trying things at this point...

Moving on to 180038, here are all those parts that go into Waltham's "shipper" keyless works.

This shows the parts in place. One can only image how many of those springs has gone flying, never to be seen again, over the years.

Find an earlier post about this project here.

See the complete album here.

New Arrivial

In for a broken balance staff...

Job Numbers 180023, and 180061

Every now and then, not often, I get a watch like this. Plenty of power through the whole train, near perfect beat, excellent amplitude, no knocks of any sort, no hairspring issues, hand clarence fine, dial clearance fine, completely free balance, good mainspring, no barrel issues, etc, you name it...

It runs for a couple days then stops at random, right in the middle of the escapement cycle! It isn't even at an interval that would make sense if it was a particular pinion leaf or tooth. And when I look in there it immediately because perfectly fine again at the slightest touch.

This one is approaching a record for still being here. But now it's time to start replacing good parts by educated guess. I'm starting with the roller jewel.

Also, here's a new a new 16 size Waltham in for service; job number 180061.

Job Number 180038, Formerly 130123

This watch was one that passed though on 2013. It's a Waltham 1908 model, 16 size, 7 jewels. It has returned with a broken balance staff.

Many American watches, and quite a few Walthams have a friction staff. The staff is not riveted in, as the Elgins are.

It's really important not to chunk one of these up in the lathe and start cutting. The hub is actually part of the balance wheel.

In these first two images you can see the the hub is blued steel. This is a common (but not universal!) signal that we have a friction staff.

Here is the old staff with a broken pivot, pushed out of the balance wheel using a staking set.

Pushing in a new staff is a quick and easy job using an "Inverto" staking set, where stakes can be reversed into the base. But it is really important to use the right size stakes.

Quick test spin, looks good!

The watch has also suffered a broken roller jewel. I'll be fixing that and giving the movement an overhaul, which should be no unexpected trouble.

Job Number 180036 and New Arrivals

Some watches really drag on. Every time I thought this one was finally OK, it would mysteriously stop again. This time I've dissembled it again fully, and cleaned the pallet assembly again. I feel like there must have been some residue grease on a stone face or something.

We'll see..

Also, here are two more new ones in for service.

Verge-Fusee

Assembling a verge-fusee pocketwatch...

 

Job Numbers 180023 and 180026

Number 180026 ran for one 24 hour test, then had one of those magical hand collisions, out of nowhere, on the second test. Back to the drawing board, or work bench anyway...

Number 180023 just can't seen to get through. I thought it was going to make it this time, but it suddenly decided to go into over-bank state and stop. The escapement has to be re-adjusted from the top and testing start all over again.

Job Number 180032

Next up is a wath very similar to the last one.

Each of the major parts of Elgin movements are stamped with the serial number, using a prefix. In this case the prefix is an 'R', for the first two digits, 35.

Hardly a tool mark to be found. This movement has been well cared for.

This is an Elgin grade 10, 18 size, 11 jewels, made about 1890. 

See the album for this project here.

New Arrivals

In for service...

Job Number 180021

Here's a grade 82 Elgin, 18 size, 13 jewels, made about 1885. 

The first time I assembled this completely, in the case, the mainspring popped loose on the first wind.

Some of these 18 size Elgins are prone to the barrel cap coming loose under tension, and it has to be tightened.

Getting it apart again was a pain though because the crystal is very tight, to the point of maybe being a little too big. Fortunately, it's plastic so it can be flexed a little and the tension will hold it without adhesive. I's pretty much impossible to get the bezel off without popping the crystal out. The second time it was a little easier, but the first time it took me a good 30 minutes to get it in the bezel all the way around.

Interestingly, when I began the crystal had glue all the way around, I guess because it was actually not fully in the groove all the way around. I removed all the adhesive. It's fine without it.

The world is running out of pocketwatch crystals. Please be careful with them.