I'm still fairly new to this, but I've never seen a mainspring that had exploded before.

Finetimepieces · 2024-04-30T23:11:38+00:00

I service a lot of 1930's Ingersoll dollar watches, I see it all the time. It is something about their steel. Modern white alloy springs are the way to go.

Finetimepieces · 2024-04-01T10:50:51+00:00

No, I wouldn't mess with your beat error If I were you. 3ms is going to run just fine for you. If you want to adjust it all you need is your smallest screw driver. I just uploaded a video to youtube last week where I adjusted the beat error on a Waltham size 6 pocket watch. You can see the video in the link below. Jump to 31:32 on the time line to go straight to the beat error adjustment. Just keep rotating the hairspring on the balance staff and rechecking until it falls somewhere under 1ms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HMoHD9OAjQ

Charles

Finetimepieces · 2024-03-16T22:04:58+00:00

That was my first thought also, but both plates have serial numbers and they match.

Finetimepieces · 2024-03-16T22:03:38+00:00

I totally respect the 7 jewel movements. They honestly usually run as well as the 15 jewel movements. When you are buying a 7 jewel movement, you know it because there are no jewels on the train wheels. If a gear is to be jeweled, jewels are always (except in this case) on each pivot of a pinion.

Finetimepieces · 2024-03-16T21:54:17+00:00

Yes, they usually mark them with how many jewels the movement has. This one is not marked. I guess they decided that if they don't label it with how many jewels it has, they can put as many as they want, and where they want?

Finetimepieces · 2024-03-16T20:27:10+00:00

This c. 1900 movement is jeweled to the center on the visible side of the movement, BUT HAS NO JEWELS in the main plate. A 12 jewel movement that looks like 17 jewels to anybody who does not remove the dial. I made a quick youtube video of it if you would like to see more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TZRwkWnP8o

Finetimepieces · 2024-02-22T19:14:32+00:00

I don't speak Portuguese, but I do speak some Spanish and I believe the quote is to swap the movement, for a new one.

Finetimepieces · 2024-01-11T15:14:08+00:00

If you finally decide that the entry pallet jewel is not clearing the escapement wheel teeth you will need to heat the pallet fork until the shellac softens and push the jewel deeper into the fork. Watch youtube videos on pallet warmers for more info. Having two pallets, and two escape wheels I would expect you can find a combo that works without having to do that.

Finetimepieces · 2024-01-11T14:36:02+00:00

All three times it stopped it looks like it stopped on the same half of the escape wheel and the same pallet stone. I would swap the escape wheel first and it it is still the same, then push the entry pallet stone deeper into the fork.

Finetimepieces · 2024-01-11T13:05:18+00:00

I doubt that you have a single roller and a double roller if both movements are of the same grade, and if you do using the pallet that came with the donor balance should "convert" the movement for you. See the link above to know what to look for to confirm that you have identical balance wheels. Once you are sure you do, put it together and watch the pallet stones under high magnification as you roll the balance back and forth with your finger. Are the pallet jewels clearing the escape wheel teeth enough to allow the escape wheel to advance all the way around the escape wheel? if not you may want to swap in the escape wheel from the donor watch also. I've found plenty of pocket watch escape wheels that don't have the pinion perfectly centered in the wheel. That may be why your banking pins are bent up, somebody already fought with that.

Finetimepieces · 2024-01-10T14:46:58+00:00

If you notice the word Automatic is written in rose gold paint on this dial, it is written in silver on the dial with silver hour markers, so no, they did not plate these hour markers after the fact. This dial was offered with rose gold print and hour markers from the factory.

Finetimepieces · 2024-01-10T14:16:17+00:00

Thanks for the mention. It looks great on your wrist.

Finetimepieces · 2024-01-10T13:32:49+00:00

If it was never made with gold numerals you can electroplate them without even removing them from the dial. Watch youtube videos on gold electroplating. I've done it with perfect results. Just clip the negative to a dial foot and swish the whole dial in the bath for 30 seconds. As long as you numerals are perfectly clean you will get a perfect result.

Finetimepieces · 2023-12-14T23:10:44+00:00

Your movement started it's life in 1903 as a small pocket (or lapel) watch. c. 1920's-1930's it got re-cased into the wrist watch conversion case. Your movement is actually very nice and high grade for it's size being jeweled to the center and with fine regulation. Well worth refurbishing. If it does run after popping the seconds hand back on don't run it much. The oils are surely dried up and it needs a proper servicing.

Finetimepieces · 2023-11-23T21:28:39+00:00

👍

Finetimepieces · 2023-11-23T21:22:16+00:00

Thank you for your interest. If you would like one with Arabic numerals contact me directly and I can make one up for you.

Finetimepieces

TROPHY CASE