Job Number 210159

This watch is an Elgin  grade 571, 16 size, 21 jewels, made about 1949. 

It's always nice to work on one of these in good condition. It all goes together nicely. The only small issue this one had was that the mainspring that was in there had its lower tab in the wrong place for the barrel. No problem, I cut the tab off. It will be fine.

The rate was good with no effort, but the beat error was surprisingly highly. That correction and a dial washer and it's ready to test run for a few days.

There's unfortunately some cross-threading damage to the back. It's tricky to get on straight, but it's not the worst I've seen.

On the 4th day of running well, the mainspring gave out. Or so I thought. It wasn't broken, hooked fine, winding was fine, just no power. It took me a minute find the problem...

The problem with this movement wasn't the mainspring at all. The center wheel arbor couldn't handle the strength and the rivet to the center arbor failed. The center pinion and arbor were just turning free as the watch was wound. At first glance this looks like the safety pinion might have triggered, but it did not.

It takes a very specific stake to repair this. I had to look in three different sets to find one just right. It's running again, but this one will have to have extra testing. It's an uncommon repair.

Album here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ddimtn5Ktr3GKCbK8