This is a grade 82, 18 size, 13 jewels, made about 1895.
Here's something you don't see everyday...
One of the screws has a slot offset to one side. It's a manufacturing flaw. I feel like I have seen this before, but I couldn't say when. It's rare.
Like others with this type of lever-setting mechanism, the post for the idler gear between the main wheel and the ratchet wheel has been secured with a punch.
Divots have been made with a punch to close the screw hole for the balance cock. These holes are sometime found stripped due to way over tightening of the screw in the soft brass plate.
I have never seen divots this large and deep. Note that there are smaller divots too, probably made even earlier. This watch has a history...
The underside of the balance cock has been brutalized. There's extensive file marks to increase the clearance, done rather than properly adjusting the balance wheel. And there are divots made, filed off, made again and filed off again to change the height (end-shake).
There is no way to undo this sort of thing. This is why I am careful to avoid the word "restoration" in describing this work.
In spite of the divots, the screw used for the balance cock is an ugly one. It is much larger, with much more aggressive threads, than the original. I tried a few original screws, but they just fell right in - no chance.
This watch keeps surprisingly good time. I didn't adjust a thing.
See the
entire album for this project here.
JS095
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