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Hi, thank you Jonathan and Geo! I have managed to fit levers at last! Small hairspring which is part of lever should press one lever arm (not go between arms) then enough space is released and lever fit into cut out. I had few moments of despair because this small piece of... metal :-)

Hi Mark, Most of us know that you are snowed under with work right now, this is felt with the lack of any new videos uploaded. What I would like to ask, if you have a minute, is to let us know what has been keeping you busy, any interesting projects, are you documenting any of them? We all miss your presence mate.

Nice job on that Sportmatic BL. Geo I reckon you earned that test drive several times over. I was out on site today so went for something a little more robust than I would for the office. Citizen Promaster, a nice big solid reliable chunk.

Thank you ro63rto!! I need to get an order together for Borel anyway and may save on shipping.

i struggled getting this on the first time, but it does fit, see if this helps http://watchinprogress.com/poljot-chronograph-vintage-overhaul/ look for the pictures once the lever was installed. If not ill take a look at some of mine when i get a chance.

I'm rather enjoying this thread. It's making me think a bit more about the watch that I put on in the morning. Today it's an Audax.

I recently bought a watch cleaning machine from a retired watchmaker, when I collected the machine the jars already contained solution, the watchmaker told me the rinse jars contained isopropanol. I did ask him what effect on the shellac holding the pallet jewels would the isopropanol have, saying I would be worried that it would dissolve. He said he had used it since Benzine had been unavailable to use, and as long as I rinsed for no more than 15min in each wash there would not be a problem. He also said it was very quick to evaporate in the drying stage and left no residue. I have ordered new cleaning solution and rinse solution from Quadralene and intend to use these. I have though cleaned 4 watches last week in the solutions in the machine and have not had a problem. Today I decided to test and see how long it took to actually dissolve the shellac, The image above shows 3 Russian and one Swiss set of pallets and the shellac can clearly be seen. I have been using the solution for 15min each rinse and have not had a problem so I put the pallets in a isopropanol rinse for 1hr to see what effect it had On the Russian pallets it has greatly degraded the shellac and almost totally washed it away on one, but on the Swiss pallets it has not even touched the shellac on those. I will not use isopropanol again in a cleaning machine and intend to try a similar test with the Quadralene rinse to see how shellac friendly that is because the data sheet doesn't specify what ingredients are in it, but quadralene did tell me they have many watchmakers who buy their rinse and have not had any problems.

Interesting... I have just such a radio across the room from me as we speak... a 1937 RCA 811K, with a Tuning Eye tube. Gryf

Now that's different, but how do you know what time it is? It reminds me of the "magic eye" on my gran's old valve radio that indicated when you had tuned into a station properly. I quite like it though! :)

Today's offering, Swatch Irony Aluminium. A departure for me as although I do own a few I don't usually wear a quartz. This one though I really like. It's high contrast display is just so readable, and being all aluminium it is incredibly light and very comfortable to wear. This was a £1.50 car boot find. Non running and stained orange from rust coming off other stuff in the same rummage box. Thankfully the old battery had been removed so no leakage damage and all it needed was a clean up. A really nice grab 'n go watch. @Will, lovely Gruen. Reminds me that I have a WGP Gruen tank of a similar vintage sitting in my "to do" box that I must get around to sorting out. @mk3, like the Timex. I don't think we see enough of them.

All this watch of the day stuff got me going back over my collection to choose one for the next day or three. So, dear members, may I present... the Gruen 370 Precision Curvex!

I'll play. I picked this one up a few months ago for just over £20 as I just fancied a manual wind Citizen. After a full service and a spruce up it has become a regular wearer. I just love the lollipop seconds hand.

Yes it is great, I love it! It looks to be in "mint condition" (pun intentional!) I found a Mcdonalds watch not long ago, not a happy meal one and a Burger King watch. I've also found a nice Fedex watch, a Best Buy Watch and many others. They are fun novelty items I think, I know that many of them have very little commercial value but fun to own or wear on occasion, I must confess that I wore a Mcdonalds happy meal Hello Kitty watch for a day a few months ago. Commercial advertisement watches would maybe make an interesting new thread.