Waltham Number 6553856, 6 size, 16 jewels, 1894 model.
Formerly job numbers 160020, 190139, and 230040... See the album for this watch here.
Job Number 260026
Waltham Number 6553856, 6 size, 16 jewels, 1894 model.
Job Number 260010
It's not one of those where divots have been previously raised under the part either. It looks pristine. I flattened out what looked like irregularities, set it properly, and (carefully) tightened the screw a little extra. We'll see how it goes now.
Elgin serial number 20361371 is a grade 313, 16 size, 15 jewels, made about 1918.
Follow the album for this project here:
Job Number 260022
Elgin serial number 922148 is a grade 81, 18 size, 13 jewels, made about 1882, G.M. Wheeler model.
Job Number 260024
Elgin serial number 6457374 is a grade 150, 18 size, 21 jewels, made about 1896.
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Job Number 260024, The Geneva Stop Installed
As a practical matter this is really not something that would make a notable difference on a watch like this, especially today. Other factors will impact the rate over its runtime to a greater degree than the slight variations in the mainspring strength.
As with everything in a watch, the key to installing the mechanism correctly is to understand how it works. The easiest way to do that is to carefully study it before it's disassembled.
For these, all of the leaves of the Geneva wheel are concave, except one. The cam can not pass the convex leaf. So with the mainspring at rest (unwound) the convex leaf goes just behind the cam that that the Geneva wheel will turn, as the watch winds, until the convex leaf comes around.
The install position also requires a small amount of tension on the spring to fit the cam. Thus fully run down, where the watch stops, is actually just short of the spring being fully relaxed.
Elgin serial number 6457374 is a grade 150, 18 size, 21 jewels, made about 1896.
Elgin serial number 6457374 is a grade 150, 18 size, 21 jewels, made about 1896.
Follow the album for this project here:
Job Number 260024
I suspect at some point Elgin stopped including this feature, even though they used barrels with the extra machining for awhile. But I also suspect in most cases watchmakers just didn't reinstall these parts when servicing the watch. Setting up the Geneva Stop correctly, so the watch winds to the desired point, is a little non-obvious. I'm sure many just didn't bother. Since it doesn't impact how the watch runs, not really anyway, their customer would never know the difference.
Elgin serial number 6457374 is a grade 150, 18 size, 21 jewels, made about 1896.
Follow the album for this project here:
Job Number 260022
Minute hand replaced, it's ready for a few days of testing...
Elgin serial number 922148 is a grade 81, 18 size, 13 jewels, made about 1882, G.M. Wheeler model.
Job Number 260022
Elgin serial number 922148 is a grade 81, 18 size, 13 jewels, made about 1882, G.M. Wheeler model.
Job Number 260022 - Before
Elgin serial number 922148 is a grade 81, 18 size, 13 jewels, made about 1882, G.M. Wheeler model.
Job Number 260020
New/old crystal added and it's ready for a few days of testing...
Elgin serial number 378425 is a grade 20, 18 size, 15 jewels, made about 1874, H.H. Taylor model.
Follow the album for this project here:
Job Number 260020
It can be tricky to get one of these to work.
Elgin serial number 378425 is a grade 20, 18 size, 15 jewels, made about 1874, H.H. Taylor model.
Follow the album for this project here:
Job Number 260010
The crystal replaced, it's now ready for a few days of testing...
Elgin serial number 20361371 is a grade 313, 16 size, 15 jewels, made about 1918.
Follow the album for this project here:
Job Number 260010
Old formulations of plastics did this as they also turned themselves green, yellow or even sometimes blue. Modern watch crystal replacements, that aren't glass, are plexiglass and don't have this problem.
Elgin serial number 20361371 is a grade 313, 16 size, 15 jewels, made about 1918.
Elgin serial number 20361371 is a grade 313, 16 size, 15 jewels, made about 1918.
Job Number 260018, Spade and Whip
Ready for a few days of testing...
Elgin serial number 17492696 is a grade 386, 16 size, 17 jewels, made about 1914.
Wristwatch Conversions
I don't want to sound harsh, I truly don't, people can do as they like with things they own. But I have to say I wish people wouldn't do this. Vintage pocketwatches and wristwatches are different. Pocketwatches were built to rest securely in a vest pocket and will not perform well swinging around on the end of an arm, to say nothing of getting broken by the first knock on the edge of a table. Vintage movements do not include features, invented later, that make practical daily use wristwatches as we think of them today.
The aside, I just don't get the appeal. Why? If you want a wristwatch, please just buy a wristwatch.
Job Number 260016
Elgin serial number 5710475 is a grade 109, 0 size, 7 jewels, made about 1895.
Job Number 260016
So far, this is running better than these small one usually do.
Elgin serial number 5710475 is a grade 109, 0 size, 7 jewels, made about 1895.
Elgin serial number 5710475 is a grade 109, 0 size, 7 jewels, made about 1895.
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