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I think marc is close, but it goes further back. Here you frequently see old wooden boxes with 5 compartments, and several smaller compartments in those, which were used to hold movement kits that were being finished. The finisher would mark the parts to keep order among the 5. If you pay attention you'll see IV, or II, or V etc. on different compartments. Sometimes it's little dots. There was a lot of hand work on old Swiss stuff.

I have seen similar marks on various watch parts in the past, some of which suggest that a watchmaker has cleaned parts from several different watches in the same basket at the same time and has marked the parts to show which parts belong to which watch. Either many of the parts from the same watch that I have been working on have the same mark (1, 2, or 3 lines, or a v) or the calibre has been scratched onto a part. I have even seen the marks duplicated on the case. It is just speculation on my part that this is the rationale behind these marks, and if I'm correct then it has to be acknowleged as being a pretty poor practise if not out and out vandalism, but the marks always seem to me to have been made as part of a service procedure, they don't look like they were marked up during manufacture or assembly.

so here is what i am wearing today sorry the picures are bad i am working on getting a camera

Here is a description of the replacement of a broken curb pin. https://watchguy.co.uk/how-to-replace-a-broken-curb-pin/

Pins are available on Cousins: https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/hairspring-collets-pins-wristwatch The punches I used I bought on ebay and I see a lot of them for sale in 'job lots' of old watchmakers tools... I'll add some photos tomorrow unless someone else can point you in the right direction beforehand (if they're even needed).

Thanks for the welcome guys. As requested here are the photos of the Coventry Astral. From what I know it was original made in 1916, then was repaired in 1938, then further serviced in 45 and 49. I think it is a Swiss movement made in England with a patent. I tried to photograph all the super fine and tiny inscriptions inside the ALG Dennison case. Thanks

How wonderful to have such a history. I am probably the only one in my family lineage to take up watchmaking. And I too have a deep adoration for antique pocket watches. But I have not yet encountered an Astral. Could we talk you into posting pictures? And welcome to our forum!

So, in conclusion to the CousinsUK/EU/Brexit debacle I have found an extremely efficient way to get my stuff from CousinsUK to my home address in the EU vassal state of Sweden in 24 hours. I now always use the "UPS International Express Saver" shipping option. Expensive yes, so I always, if possible, wait to place my order until the order value is at least £100 but usually more. So, no more single mainsprings, etc. which is really sad. The way this works is that UPS sends me a text message telling me exactly what to pay to get my package delivered, and they have the option to pay these fees (tax, VAT, handling, etc.) via "Swish" which is a mobile app used in Sweden. When its time for the delivery the UPS guy calls me and asks me if I'm at home. If I am he simply knocks on the door, I hold up my phone to show the Swish receipt and he hands me the package. I've tried this three times now and on all three occasions the package has been in my hands within approx. 24 hours. Fantastic! If I know ahead of time that I'm not going to be at home for the delivery I print out the Swish receipt, tape it up on the front door, and when the UPS guy calls me I simply tell him to leave the package outside of my front door.

What is so keen about Vostok watches, is that they are inexpensive, have rugged simple ( and per some accurate) movements, and highly moddable. You can change straps, bezels, probably hands too. Basically you can customize the watch to fit your personality. Small wonder they have a cult following. You may call it a gateway fiending into horology and watch collection. And these watches due to low prices can be addicting. And that is not a bad thing.

Well... That took forever... I have very very bad internet (<.5 mbps on a good day and very unstable to boot), so I don't like to upload photos very often. We're having some work done on the house in preparation for winter, and my wife took the baby away to not be around potentially infectious strangers, so I have the whole half meg to myself! Over the last few months, I've managed to score enough 404 wins that I haven't been able to find a gap when there wasn't something en route since the last photo I posted! I obviously have a type: All stainless, fully jeweled, European movements. I've taken a stab here at a Russian and Indian movement, and will probably try to find a Chinese one just to round it out (I've got Japanese covered already). Being a little picky keeps me from drowning in the things, and hopefully gives me a shot at making a few bucks on these when and if I ever get around to putting some finished ones up for sale! Here's the whole lot since that red jump hour a month or two ago. Ignore the Slava. I thought it was 404, but I stretched for it, and the photo is already uploaded. Everything is flipped, and otherwise in the same orientation. Ditto, now open. HMT. A little corrosion on the ratchet wheel, but otherwise this is the cleanest watch I've come across superficially. Technically, I cheated a little, and won the auction at $9.50, but that included free shipping, so I'm counting it anyway. If this one regulates out OK, I may not mess with it much. If this Clinton cleans up OK, this might be a handsome enough watch to hold onto, at least for a while. I'm a sucker for cushiony cases, and I need something a bit dressier than my daily driver for those occasions. This is an interesting one... "Garuda" is the name on the dial, but it has the Seiko "5" logo. Came out of China, which may explain the pretty obvious trademark infringement. From what I was able to find while no one was outbidding me, the brand used everything from jewelless pin levers up to mid-level Swiss movements. I took a gamble on it as there were no movement photos in the listing, but 21 jewels and an all stainless case seemed promising. That said, the movement is supposed to be 21 Jewels, but it looks like the cap jewel plate is missing so I may have been ripped off for some jewels. It's possible I have another watch somewhere with the same movement that I can salvage from if need be. Also, I can't see the escape wheel, but the balance is real chintzy looking, and it might be a pin lever escapement. The crystal has some interesting faceting as well, but I'm just going to replace it and not really spend any time trying to polish it up or find a matching one. Interesting watch. I think it's the only one of the whole lot that doesn't run at least briefly. Full disclosure, this one is not technically a 404, but the photos are uploaded... I've wanted to fiddle with one of these double mainspring high jewel Russian movements for a while, but I can't stand plated brass cases that every. Russian. Watch. Ever. is cased in. This is an export model, and is either in really good shape, or all stainless. Big modern size too. This one is a Frankenwatch... The case back says it's all stainless, but upon receipt I discovered that the case is actually plated brass. Formerly plated in a number of places as well. Lame... No bid deal though, because 404 and.... This guy has a pretty rough looking movement, but is actually stainless! I might just swap the Canoe movement and dial over, and have a decent enough watch in the end after all. And, because it's 404, no sweat! Last and probably least is this guy. All stainless and fully jeweled, so it's got that going for it. Handsome enough as well. I don't think it runs for more than a few seconds, and I'm not sure what's going on with the movement/dial. The dial is loose and turned a few degrees. It was straight in the listing, but arrived askew. At least it's not glued in place or something. Also, I think the movement is also loose in the case despite the spacer. Probably another frankenwatch, but won't know until I get into it. If the dial feet are broken off, there's not much I'll be able to do immediately. I might have a movement spacer, but it might go into the parts tray. So that's what I've been up to lately. I often only have an hour or two in the evening to screw around, and trolling eBay every few days for 404 fodder is a great way to while away an evening. Almost as great as reviving them!

Hello, I thought I'd share my Casio watch, which got me on the slippery slope of watch tinkering. This is the watch I've owned the longest, somewhere around 25 years, it's been on many adventures. It was retired some years ago in favour of a more expensive watch which since broke. Having rediscovered it a year and half or so ago, neglected and with a flat battery I thought I'd pass it on to my son. However as with so many forgotten watches the battery had leaked in a catastrophic way ruining the module. So it sat for a while longer, until I discovered (after a bit of interweb research) that a module swap could be done to resurrected it. The '388' module was used in a number Casio's of that era. With nothing to lose and having managed to find a couple of very tatty Casio's but with working modules, I proceeded with the transplant. It's been working ever since, not that it goes on many adventures now, but still proud to own it. Does anyone else have a special Casio still?

A Casio MQ-504 is on its way, heading to the 404 club.

Hi everyone, Im new here Just get back into pocket watches after selling out 5yrs ago. Acquired this nice RR watch a week ago, it is now getting a full cleaning, oil, adjust service in NYC...likely another week till I get this beauty home. 23J Illinois Bunn Special Illinois 18-size 23-jewel Bunn Special w/ DS Montgomery dial. 1913 date 25- year,Gold-filled Keystone re-case, glass crystal. i am now retired and dabbling with Idea of online watch repair training...really to the basic tear down Cleaning adjust, replace spring level.

So, i received some distilled water today and cleaned a watch with it, and now the parts are all clean and shiny, no more whitish deposit. Im very happy with the result. These old Elma machines are really rock solid and do a pretty damn job, still after 50 years