Elgin Serial Number Lookup, Followup
I managed to get the old backup server updated and in place in about 24 hours. That's not bad, but now I don't have a backup server. The one that failed was about 5 years old and had been running continuously. I think it is likely a bad power supply as it does nothing at all when I try to power it on.
The PC running the database now is probably a good 15 years old at least. It hadn't been booted since 2018. It used to be the primary host.
Look up your Elgin serial numbers here:
Elgin Serial Number Lookup
My Elgin movement serial number lookup database is currently offline. The server is dead. Unfortunately this may take some time to correct. The backup server has not been booted in recent memory.
Job Number 220084
These old springs are soft and touchy. They'll kink if you breath on them. Making corrections is a delicate process, one tiny move at a time.
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Job Number 220082
The movement is a grade 208, 18 size, 7 jewels, made about 1900.
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New Arrival, Job Number 220088
The album is here:
Job Number 220081
Follow the photos for this project here:
Job Number 220079
The back had been pried off, apparently at a prior repair shop.
I had to obtain the staff the movement needs and wait for it to arrive. It's not a rare part but they are getting more expensive. I was surprised that I didn't have any more on hand. That's happening more and more now. Good time to slow down on watch work. Parts are only going to be a bigger problem going forward.
Follow the album for this project here:
Job Number 220077
There was a lot of staining on the plates. Many watches have this. I have always assumed it was from tobacco smoke.
The first pass at cleaning takes quite a bit off but hand cleaning is called for in these cases.
The movement needed a balance staff. The upper pivot was broken. Funny thing though... The staff that's on here currently is not an Elgin part. It's has a hub more like a European make. This is the underside.
There's nothing at all wrong with making things work with what one has on hand, if the work is done properly. There's an old ethical rule in watchmaking; never alter existing parts to fit a replacement part. The end shake looks OK here, but hopefully the roller table and hairspring were not altered to work with this staff.
The old staff came off easily. The steel was softer than that of a factory part. I also had to reduce the pivot sizes, both upper and lower, on the replacement staff but everything came together fine without further adjustments.
The old staff and the snapped off remains of the hub, which forms a little washer. I always save these. You never know...
After adjustments to the rate and beat, new dial washer, balance staff, crystal and it ran well.
There's nothing at all wrong with making things work with what one has on hand, if the work is done properly. There's an old ethical rule in watchmaking; never alter existing parts to fit a replacement part. The end shake looks OK here, but hopefully the roller table and hairspring were not altered to work with this staff.
After adjustments to the rate and beat, new dial washer, balance staff, crystal and it ran well.
See the album for this project here:
Job Number 220075
The setting cam was replaced to fix a winding/setting mode issue, and a dial washer added, in addition to a new main wheel.
See the album for this project here:
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