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Lately I've been servicing a couple of German Watches, a "Kasper" and "Laco". Both brands were, among others, manufactured before the World War II in Pforzheim, a city located in the federal state of "Baden-Wüttemberg", southwest of Germany. While working on them, I asked myself why I hadn't heard more about German watches. Knowing that the Germans are capable of delivering very high standard quality products, what has happened and what's going on?? This investigation, or journey if you like, brought me to the World War II and an extremely interesting little booklet, written by Giles Milton: "Wolfram, the boy who went to war". Both intertwined and highly educative. Because of the watch industry, Pforzheim suffered the most devastating area bombardments of World War II, killing nearly one third of the town's population, 17,600 people, and about 83% of the town's buildings were destroyed. The booklet is a non-fiction story about a boy Wolfram (and his family) growing up in Pforzheim area, the rise of the Nazi-regime, his compulsory conscription into the German army and were he went through, including his family in Pforzheim before & during the bombardments ...... For sure, reading this booklet has changed my life. Nothing is as it seems ......... For a few Pounds you can pick this booklet up from eBay or Amazon; 2nd hand or new. Curious about any feedback .......

Hello, I’m a uk based watchmaker mainly working on early verge escapement pocket watches. Although they are, in principle, a lot less complicated than modern wrist watches there aren’t any spare parts available, so I end up having to make from scratch or adapt something. I’m now starting to learn a bit more about wrist watch work, mainly vintage watches, so have joined here for some tips and information. At the moment I’m cleaning and repairing my own Universal Geneve polerouter date, with a lovely caliber 69 microtor movement. Thanks for reading!

I think it for individually holding balance screws safely. This would to allow you to file small amounts off them when poising a balance.

The same method I use but the graver I use has a far greater angle and is a lot smaller. Also I have a Platax tool which makes the final pushing out very simple indeed.

I will look at this when I have more time.

I have looked at this a few times and I have never seen this type before. Sorry that is the best I can do.

I prefer to set hands at "noon/midnight" so that you can see the tip of the minute hand is on the zero marker and there is exactly the same amount of hour hand exposed on either side. I have heard of people using "3 o'clock" for setting hands too. With the hands directly on top of one another, you have the highest degree of accuracy possible- they are never closer than this at any point on the dial. It also allows you to evaluate the parallelism of the hands in relation to the dial surface. I prefer to hold the hand with a piece of rodico- tweezers, even well groomed and polished ones, can scratch the hands. This is a particular concern with newer white gold hands. Then press with the plastic tip tools. Once the hand is set, I clean the surface thoroughly with Rodico before setting the next hand.

Seiko use to recommend you have your watch serviced I think every 5 or 7 years. The servicing recommended replacing the barrel as a single unit. That is why with Seiko barrels they are not designed in the same way as others. You are not supposed to open them. Today because the units are obsolete, you have no alternative but to open and service, like any normal barrel. If you look after your watch and have it serviced properly by the recommendations then the problems you have pointed out should not happen.