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You have to look at this and try not to laugh. My wife always told me I had a weird sense of humor. So do I.

I love watches with personal inscriptions on the back. I find myself often Googling the person cited to try and learn a little more of their story and that of the timepiece. I know they aren't popular with collectors but to me it's an added value; I'd rather hold in my hand a watch with history than an unloved piece which lived in a drawer.

Maybe there is an old pivot in the hole? Been there. Pushed it out from the other side with a staking tool and a very small punch.

Bulova Oceanographer, 333 ft.

Steve, you should find the information you require on page 13. http://www.chronomaddox.com/omega/manuals/English_Operating_Instruction.pdf

Well I've lost my fair share. It's funny how you can almost always hear where they land when they go missing though. I think it's a bit of a tease since I can never see the darn things even though I'm certain I know where they are! I've discovered that my four year old daughter has exceptional eye sight though. She's handy to have around. Probably the worst thing to happen to me is when I dropped a steel spring on the floor. I knew I never would find it with my eyes in the fibers of the carpet so I used a Neodymium magnet which picked it up like a champ. Of course then I foolishly plucked the spring from the magnet with my steel tweezers. That shut me down for two days before my de-magnatizer arrived from Amazon. My friends, education is never free.

Wow. I wouldn't touch that stuff with a ten foot pole. Just cleaning old watch hands produces enough anxiety for me.

szbalogh, hijacking a thread is considered bad form. Why not start your own?

P.S.: I am the OP (Original Perpetrator).

Your pocket watch is what's known as a five bar movement. Very popular with old watch repairs/makers. Your best bet is to find someone who has been it the trade for yonks or has had old stock handed down. The alternative is find a watch maker who has gear cutting equipment to make you one. The cannon pinon is fixed to a center spindle that goes right through the center wheel it needs to have a little grease to make the operation smooth when setting the hands. To remove the spindle you tap the front end and the spindle should protrude and you pull it out, make sure you remove the balance complete before you under take the task first or you could end up witha broken staff.

So the vacuum and the sock is the best idea I have heard yet for finding those fliers. I know not to practice coin magic over a vent. Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

I have always worn a apron but just lately I have been attaching it,s lower section to the underside of the bench with a couple go dog clips. Any fliers now just sit in the apron for retrieval.

here you go Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wot larks! Got this in a charity shop yesterday afternoon for £35. It's a Decca "Crescendo" portable wind-up gramophone from around 1930 or so - came with some rather battered but playable 78s. I must dig out the ones I have in the upstairs cupboard. Works a treat and is unbelievably loud. Beats an iPod hands down. Perfect for annoying the neighbours on a sunny afternoon while sitting out in the garden in my white suit, straw hat, drinking Pimms... don'cha know. Cheers, Will

Hi stroppy, As a collector, there is a point where all watches become "valuable" and "good"...my own experience, since I want them all! The truth is, no matter the "pedigree" of a watch, if it makes you tick -- pardon the pun -- you should get it -- if at all possible -- since the satisfaction of the watch lover is fulfilled that way. On the other hand, if you want a "true" watch -- considering we have cells and other gadgets that tell time -- you should focus on history and quality of the brand. Example: an Omega watch, no matter how cheap the components inside, it will never be even comparable (as of today), with and Aldi watch no matter how much care it has been put into the building of the later. Omega being better of course. Then, some exceptions exist to make our life more difficult but this type of example, IMHO, is the general rule. There is some more to the above: SEARS used to sell some stuff. Among them there were cheap pocket watches. Those watches were mechanical (ETA 6498 movement inside). They can still be gotten cheapish and they are the original UNITAS built. Nevertheless, nowadays it is, for most of us hobbyists and even watchmakers, a heaven of quality stuff...some 50+ years later! And what is best, newer ETA 6498-2 interchange, successfully, most parts with them. That said, I doubt there will be any quartz watch worth the trouble as we usually go about restoring mechanical movements like those. The beauty of quartz is that in most cheap watches -- and not so cheap ones -- we just change the movement when it breaks (if available), substitute the movement for a "compatible" one or simply thrash and buy new. One more reason to go the time honored -- and quality -- way. Also, about Aldi, we had them in the mid west -- maybe still do, it's been a long time -- here in Miami, they are not in my area so I wouldn't be able to have an opinion of their products...back then, in my home town, I never saw watches in their flyers...I don't even remember the flyers! But, I believe as a rule of thumb that quality and "expensive" workmanship (without the price tag), is something of the past (SEARS example, back then, it was cheap, now it is quality) and the more time goes by, more poor quality and run-of-the-mill products will make their way into our everyday life...the quality, reliability and durability are being dissolved in time! IMHO. I hope my opinion is not too far from the truth and if so, will be an eye opener to the watch lover/collector as far as what to wear on their wrist. Bottom line: if you like it, get it no matter the procedence but if you are picky about it, get whatever quality/good name is still being made...before it all becomes cheap garbage with inflated price tag! Cheers, Bob