Job Number 180034 - Returned

This watch was returned to me with a mystery screw rattling around inside the case, and the watch running very slow or not at all.

The screw, which the owner returned with the watch, is one of two case screws that hold the movement in the case.

This swing-out case allows the movement to come out the front, as is typical. The heads of the case screws overlap the edge of the case and keep the movement in place.

In addition to the one screw the came out, the other case screw was turned to the cut side of the head faced the case edge. So it wasn't holding anything either.

I have no explanation for this. But a screw floating around in there would certainly find itself interfering with the balance and stopping the watch.

I didn't see anything else wrong, but I'll run the watch for several days again anyway.

Job Number 180083

This one is testing now after getting the case back from a specialty case repair by Peter Wuischard. Good work as always...

Job Number 160303

This type of Elgin is prone to setting/winding issues, largely because of how it is designed. There are a few springs, which work against each other, to engage winding and setting. These springs are prone to breaking, and just getting old and losing tension. There's an added complication here. It looks like someone has butchered the screw end area of this (by the way broken) spring. I'm not sure what's going on there...

This image is of a different watch showing the area shown above. This shows the spring arrangement as it should be.

This is a grade 117 Elgin, 6 size, 7 jewels, made about 1893.

Job Number 170065

This is an Illinois Watch Company 18 size, 15 jewels, lever-set, made about 1881. It's also a private label, "E L Thurber, Warrensburg, MO"

Sometimes I have to dig deep into various old part assortments for what I need, especially for something that isn't Elgin. In this instance I needed a balance staff for this Illinois. I found a vial of about a dozen in this parts case, once owned by some long ago watchmaker. Now since I know for sure what they are, I'll inventory them elsewhere in my more organized parts.

See the entire album for this project here.

Job Number 170063

This one is is Elgin's grade 417, 3/0 size, 7 jewels, made about 1916. 

The balance cock is pretty damaged from prior repairs. The threads on the stud screw were stripped and so someone put in a larger screw with a very uneven, worn out slot - very difficult to turn... Then the hairspring was damaged too, bent at the stud and a cracked collet. I just replaced the spring assembly altogether. These smaller Elgins are so difficult to get going.

See the whole album for this project here.

Find more content about vintage watches here.

Job Number 180091

This one is a military issue A11 wristwatch, a grade 557 Elgin, 15/0 size, 15 jewels, made about 1944. 

A-11 is a military Spec, not a specific watch. A-11 watches were issued during to Allied forces during WWII. There are several variations.

A-11 watches were made by Elgin, Bulova, and Waltham.

In this image we can see the black finished parts, and the distinctive extra exposed wheel not found on  typical watch you'll find on this blog (the gear partly covering the word "jewels"). This wheel is riding on the backside of the 4th wheel. The front side of the 4th wheel is were the sub-seconds dial and seconds hand are on a typical vintage watch.

But A-11 watches (mostly) have a sweep-seconds hand - that is the seconds hand is in the center of the dial on top of the minute and hour hands. This extra wheel transfers the motion of the 4th wheel to a pinion in the center, attached to a shaft that runs through to the front. The center wheel on a watch like this is a hollow tube, for that shaft.

Job Number 180091, Elgin Grade 557, A11 Model

Here's a look inside an A11 Elgin, grade 557, 15/0 size, 15 jewels, made about 1944, military wristwatch.

A11 is actually a specification. There are "A11" wristwatches from multiple manufacturers with different characteristics. Some of the best known A11 watches are Elgin grades. A-11 watches were also made by Bulova, and Waltham.

One difference in some military (A11) grades is the presence or absence of a sweep seconds hand. The sweep seconds hand is a hand turning from the center of the dial, as we are used to on modern wristwatches.

This grade 557 has a sweep seconds hand, as do most A11 watches.

Shown here is the extra exposed wheel on the back for the seconds hand, driven by the 4th wheel. The 4th wheel normally provides seconds (60 turns per minute) on an older style watch with an offset sub-seconds dial. That offset is not a style choice on an, for example, a typical pocketwatch, it is the physical location of the 4th wheel in the movement.

On this movement, that extra wheel drives a pinion in the center, attached to a shaft running through a hollow center wheel post though to the front where the long seconds hand rides. The movement is otherwise just like a movement with an offset seconds hand.

The extra seconds wheel has an odd number of arms, five. Removing it gives some watchmakers trouble an sometimes leads to a broken off post. Removing this friction-fit wheel requires a specially designed puller to pull it straight off.

Also notice the characteristic black exposed ratchet and main wheels.

There's the characteristic military description on the case back.

In spite of being widely used in the military, in the field, these are rather primitive wristwatches. They are fragile, lacking the features, not invented at the time, that make wristwatches practical as we thick of them today. For example, there are not shock protected jewel mountings, and very little protection from dust and moisture. In spite of their attractions, they make poor daily use watches for most people. A One good wrap on the edge of a table will break the balance staff.

Interesting, field repair of military watches did exist. It's hard to picture a watchmaker in a foxhole, but I guess it did happen. It's worth noting however that field repair consisted largely of replacing whole assemblies, or even the whole movement. It was practical, but not exactly "repair".

During WWII, the Elgin Watchmakers' College was essentially taken over by a military command and a curriculum suited to field repair of military watches was put in place.

See the album for this project here.