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I like to pick out a watch from my collection from time to time and give it a check and run to make sure it's working OK. I was wearing a particularly tight (round the wrist) shirt and sweater the other day, which make checking my watch difficult, so remembered I had a nice 1950s Marvin Hermetic on a Bonklip strap. The Bonklip was designed to be worn outside a shirt or jacket in cold conditions where it had to be referenced easily without constantly pushing up clothing - hence its popularity in aviation. Anyway, I checked out the movement - the regulator is bang in the middle - and have been wearing it for several days now. Perfect time running; a little stiffness when changing the time indicates a clean and lube is probably in order at some stage.

Well, finally she lives! Found a complete FHF908 movement (watch head), picked it up from the post office earlier. Out the case and ready for stripping. Stripped it down, cleaned everything and built back up around my original main plate. Used the centre wheel jewel from the donor movement (as this was one of my possibilities for the locking up) On the way back up Everything free (see the escape wheel spinning) Balance back in and she sprang to life, jewel out for cleaning. Back in and oiled Self winding back on Dial and hands And re-cased Time set and on the wrist in the sunshine

I just returned from Canton Ohio, (birthplace of Dueber Hampden) and had an opportunity to visit Wm. McKinley museum for some extended research. Lo and behold, there was the clock movement from one of the towers at the factory. It's a E. Howard & Co. and refreshed with a John Deere tractor green colored paint! As the locals say after the factory was demolished in 1958, it was stored for several years at somebody's home. I don't know who did the restoration, but it looks brand new. (and it works)

I know what you mean (I'm 73 this year). I've seen some incredibly expensive, amazingly designed watches with innumerable complications - that did everything but display the actual time efficiently! That's why, for example, I would never buy some skeleton watches - the background of the movement distracts from the time display. The Marvin is on the small side, compared with today's gas meter dials - around 32mm - but I don't mind dial size as long as the watch is comfortable and elegant.

If its like mine1) Pull off plastic reservoir2) unscrew holding screw3) Pull out old needle4) Reverse procedure

Just purchased a vintage demagnitizer and it did not work. So into the guts I went. I disassembled the demagnitizer and found that one of the power leads that was previously soldered to a plate had detached. So to repair it, I drilled a hole in the plate and prepped the cable (cleaned) into the hole; then soldered it into place. It now works. Discount on next purchase:) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Looking good eh? But lets take a closer look! Notice the part close to the middle was not grinded. I was not grinding long/deep enough. The grinder did not touch this part of the wheel. I missed this before started grinding the external circle. I could start the grinding again but it will do in this watch, since the wheel is mounted with a plate hiding that part.