Elgintime Vintage Horological: January 2023

New Arrival, Job Number 230010

Find the album for this project here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sRYVgdzVq2hzKp7f6

Job Number 230002

This grade 355, 0 size, 15 jewel Elgin, made about 1912 was a completely uneventful project. The best kind!

See the album for this project here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CtSNUs4eeBu4S4nX6

Job Number 220094

Here'an Elgin grade 479, 12 size, 17 jewels, made about 1925.

A broken mainspring was the only problem.

This 17 jewel Elgin 12 size is one of their "slim" models. It's thinner, but also has some unusual features (for a 12 size Elgin), such as an intermediary wheel in the winding mechanism and a detent.

The white gold case has a slim bezel for a modern look.

See the album for this project here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uxapx1hQLxKiChBn8

JS110

Job Number 220092

This one is a nice looking grade 344 Elgin, 12 size, 17 jewels, made about 1927.

The movement needed a balance staff. I put the balance assembly in the lathe to cut away the broken staff and realized that the wheel was very loose. In fact it had never been correctly secured on the old staff. I just pulled it free. It's hard to believe this watch ran ok like that, even before the staff broke.

Reassembling the balance, properly riveted...

The threads for the balance cock screw were stripped, in fact completely gone. Elgin screws just dropped free into the hole.

I got out a jar of screws and found one with different pitch but a close diameter and length, and cut the head down to fit. I had to reduce the diameter of the head quite a bit, and also under cut it so the screw would reach down further than the original. It grips.

The timing screws on this were not just off but wildly wrong. So time consuming working to pull that sort of issue back into a reasonable rate...

I went to tighten the cannon pinion on this and a tiny flake of what looked like CA glue popped out from inside. Everything worked smoothly after tightening the cannon pinion properly.

I found a stem that would work as a replacement on the case. I did have to shorten the square end a bit though. The case is a pretty compact style.

The case is pretty unique. I'd hate to have to find a replacement crystal for one of these.

See the album for this project here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oVJAdAonJuoSUxZU7

Job Number 220090

This is a grade 575, 16 size, 15 jewels, made about 1952.

Hairspring repair....

Dial side...

I had to make a final adjustment to the hairspring after seeing it in the movement. I don't often use a stand like this but it was a good choice in this instance since the adjustment was right at the stud.

No problems with this one aside form the hairspring. It turned out running well.

The album for this project is here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CrMSJRht8AX7UFN8A

Job Number 220088

This is a movements I've seen before multiple times, including after a trip through the laundry I'm told. It's getting a follow up light service.

I felt like I should be seeing better performance and so replaced the lower balance jewel, on a hunch. There's nothing visibly wrong with they old one, but this helped. That happens sometimes.

Formerly job numbers 110068, 150225 and 210131

See the album for this project here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5pMCCoJecr57U1Np7

Modern Style Technical Diagrams of Vintage Watches

I'm sometimes asked if there are things like exploded diagrams of vintage watches. Usually there are not. There's reasons for that.

I remember once when I did not know anything at all about watches, and I mean nothing, my grandfather was showing me how things are disassembled and reassembled. I asked the pretty basic question of how he remembered where everything goes. He said, "well it only goes one way." Which is almost always true. But it wasn't until years later that I understood what he was saying, after reading some of the works of my grandfather's teacher, who was a well known watchmaker in his day. He advised that students should study and completely understand how something works before doing anything. What I realized is that the best way to know what's going on with all those parts is to fully understand how the mechanism works. Then the question doesn't even arise.

It only goes one way.

Do you have a vintage watch to be serviced?

Maybe I can help. Take a look here for information - specializing in Elgin, Hamilton, Waltham and other antique American makes.

http://www.elgintime.com

Elgin National
American Waltham
Rockford
Hamilton
New York Standard
Illinois Watch Company
Hampden
And Others

Jeff,
I received my grandfather's watch which you restored for me yesterday. It is gratifying to see this watch in action after many years. It has probably not been working since 1912.
R. Z.

Hi Jeff!
Thank you so much! My watch looks great! The CD is great too…again,
Thanks so much,
Anna

Hey jeff. I got the watch safe and sound and the cd today. The watch looks better than I had anticipated. Another good job again.
Steve

Thanks Jeff, I am so happy I found you for repairs on my watches.
A. T.

Hello Jeff
The watch came today works great, it`s neat to hear it run. I wonder how long its been since it ran, my great grandfather who owned the watch died in 1925. I want thank you for bringing it back to life
J. S.

Dear Jeff,
My Elgin pocket watch arrived today. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. My family will treasure it.
D. L.

Jeff,
Just a quick note to let you know the watch is back home. It is an absolute joy to see and hear it run again after all these years. It was extremely emotional for me. I remember playing with it as a small boy, and never known it to work. My father would be very proud and humbled to know it was working again. I'm sure he knows. Thank you.
S. Welsh

Jeff,
Watches look fantastic, run great. I can see why you're in high demand, you're a class act. You provide detail historical summary and preliminary review of watch prior to work, fair estimate, provide post work summary, along with high res images of watches to boot. Thanks again and will certainly share your name around.
Thanks!
D. H.

Jeff,
I received the watches today and must say I couldn't be more pleased. Thank you so much. It was wonderful to wind them up and here them tic again.
G. M.

I'm very pleased with the outcome and want to thank you for a job well done. The watch looks and runs great, and the hands you replaced are very much more in keeping with an Elgin watch of this time period.
As you might imagine, to send such a precious family heirloom all the way across the country to someone who I really didn't know, or know anything about, took a lot of faith and courage. You really measured up to my expectations.
Thanks and best wishes,
B. H.

Good Morning Jeff
I got the watch back and I'm thrilled! I really appreciate your professionalism and workmanship. It's really nice to have the watch back in working order! Especially since the local repair indicated that it couldn't be fixed! Thanks so much for everything. I'll certainly be back in touch when it needs maintenance.
M. H.

Hi Jeff –
I just received the watch you repaired for me. It’s absolutely fantastic! Thanks so much for your excellent service.
A. C.

Welcome!

Classic watches, watchmaking, antique tools, history, vintage ephemera and more!

Learn about mechanical timepieces and how they work, the history of the American watch industry and especially all about the Elgin National Watch Company! Check back for new content daily.

Although this is technically a blog, the content is not generally in a time-based sequence. You can find interesting items throughout. Down the page some is an alphabetical word cloud of keywords used here. A great way to dig in is to look through those topics and click anything you find interesting. You'll see all the relevant content.

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Elgintime Vintage Horological

New Arrival, Job Number 230014

New Arrival, Job Number 230012