Waltham 1899 model

This is an American Waltham 16 size movement, 15 jewels, 1899 model, grade 620. 

This is a good view of the "shipper" mechanism a lot of Walthams have for their "keyless works". When a pusher inside the winding arbor moves in and out, a clutch is activated changing to either turn the winding parts, or the setting parts.

Here are some images showing the serial number stamps on this 16 size Waltham pocketwatch; on the top plate, under the bottom plate, under the balance cock, and under the pallet bridge.

A Nice Escapement Animation

Take a look at this nicely done animation for a great explanation of some complexities in an unusual pocketwatch!

http://redfernanimation.com/

Find more horological and related videos here.

One Hundred Thousand

First thing this morning, the Watch Projects Collection on Google+ reached 100,000 followers!

Although it is pretty certain that the number of actual, real, engaged readers is very much lower, it's still a nice milestone. If you have not seen it, check it out here!

Google+ is worth a look. It is a vastly superior system to Facebook with high content quality.

Hamilton 992B

This is a Hamilton 992B. It's a 16 size, 21 jewels, lever-set, movement, made about 1964.

I always liked the look of the large bridges these have for the pallet fork. They're very stable and durable.

Find more Hamilton watches here!

Two Elgins

These are a couple of interesting watches, in great condition, in for service. Stay tuned...

Waltham 1883 Model

Here we have the center wheel from a large, 18 size, Waltham pocketwatch. This is a fairly large part, right in the middle. It drives the minute hand.

This watch has a "safety pinion". The pinion on the center wheel, which is directly engaged with the mainspring barrel, is threaded on to the shaft. In fact, the threads are left-handed, meaning they turn the opposite direction from usual. This protects the rest of the train if the click gives way, or the mainspring breaks, causing a sudden, powerful, force to transmit down the gears in the opposite rotation from normal. This opposite force will turn the pinion on these reverse threads causing it to rise up the shaft until it move out of the way and disengages from the mainspring barrel, thus cutting off the power.

Clever...

In this case, it has at some point "fired" but there was such force that it has jammed at an angle and wedged itself on the shaft. So far I have been unable to budge it. In addition, one of the pivots on the next gear down the train, the third wheel, is broken so probably some amount of force got through. Usually it's the escapement that gets damaged.

This watch is lever-set. Here are the various parts that live under the dial.

Here are those parts installed.

This is a tool for squeezing the hairspring collet tighter. I changed the balance staff on this movement and the hairspring was too loose on the new staff.

This tool has a limited range though. If the collet is too loose, it has to be changed.

This 18 size Waltham is an old one, and a fairly rare model. It was made about 1887.

I had quite a bit of trouble with the mainspring on this one. It wants to come unhooked from the center arbor. Although the arbor really does look OK, I finally jut replaced it with one that I altered a little in the lathe. The replacement has a large hook. I think the spring that this watch takes (at least according to the documentation) is very strong. A weaker spring would likely be just fine.

See more about the American Waltham Watch Company, and the watches, here!

Waltham Grade 210

These are a few details of a Waltham style motor barrel. In a motor barrel, the center arbor is fixed to one half of the barrel. The two halves turn separately, one winding and the other powering the train. A "going barrel" is wound by turning arbor and the whole barrel turns to power the train.

 Many Waltham pocketwatches have a winding/setting mechanism called a shipper, pictured here. It's a little harder to assemble than a typical Elgin design. The shipper spring has to be handled with care.

On this movement the click and click spring are one piece.

The click spring was broken. Here it is with the replacement parts.

 Here is the click in place.

 The pallet fork...

This watch is a American Waltham grade 210, 12 size, 7 jewels, 1894 model.

See more Waltham examples here!