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:
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