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Showing content with the highest reputation on 11/02/18 in all areas

  1. I just discovered a couple of weeks ago that in August this year that Henry B Fried's book 'Bench Practices for Watch Repairers' has been reprinted. It is a facsimile copy of the 1954 edition with no changes, updates or corrections. Its is a paperback edition, but the printing is good and best of all it costs a fraction of what you would pay for an original copy. I just received mine today, it goes into great detail of hairsprings, replacing them, fitting hairspring collects and studs, vibrating hairsprings, replacing regulator pins, jeweling, repivotting, replacing barrel hooks etc. So it is an advanced technique book, most of it beyond what I can do at the moment, but still a very valuable book. On book depository it is just shy of $22 AUD with free delivery, which is a bargain for any new book on watchmaking. If you haven't already got a copy of this book I suggest getting one. https://www.bookdepository.com/Bench-Practices-for-Watch-Repairers-Henry-Fried/9781684222483?ref=grid-view&qid=1541151369972&sr=1-2
    2 points
  2. This is the watch I am wearing today. My son bought it for my birthday just the other day. Really like it. I changed out the watch band.
    1 point
  3. Just acquired this for less than the cost of a bar meal. Unmarked stainless steel top and back and chromed centre. Measures 28mm across the crystal so it's small by todays standards. Model 1761Y - 88 It was running quite fast. I demagnetised it which slowed it down a bit and am now in the process of regulating it. I wonder does the 88 refer to the year of manufacture?
    1 point
  4. picker up a small lot of watches yesterday and this was among them I have it running again but, need to replace the crystal too. The one in photo is just a touch to shallow and the tip of the seconds hand hangs up. Of course a month ago I would have had 100's of spare crystal to select from but decide to clear some draw space and sold them off. That is what happens when you try to down size!
    1 point
  5. So far, the kit that Eland posted seems to be a good option for someone who doesn't want to start from scratch. I will pick one up when I'm in Germany later this month, and give it a try. The thing I like about it is that it doesn't use a proprietary part. The LF351 is generic, has multiple sources, and has been around for a long time. I just haven't had any experience with it before now.
    1 point
  6. Hi, yes, searching can be cumbersome. Microchip makes a few, e.g. mcp6002 or mcp6402. But their max allowed supply voltage is much lower than of lm358 . You will have to study the datasheets for details. Frank
    1 point
  7. G’day all, Here’s my little collection of watches. Some are complete, some are not Some years ago, with saved up birthday and Christmas money, i bought an 1877, key wind, American Watch Co. Full Hunter; Stirling silver English case (that’s a few years older than the workings), engraved balance cock and 9ct gold balance wheel. This is my everyday watch, when it’s not too hot to wear a waistcoat A Swiss Acurex, 17 jewels, bought for a few dollars from an Op Shop (Ozzie version of a Thrift Store). This has seen service for when the above mentioned temperatures arrive. Unreliable now, so probably needs a service. Not worth paying for one, so will wait until my knowledge and skills are high enough. A Smiths pocket watch, pin lever, some of the wheels are just stamped out. Bought it a couple of years ago figuring that it might be a, non precious, watch to learn on. Plastic lens was all scuffed. 40mins of sanding and polishing cream fixed that. Balance wheel was sloppy as all else, and my dad said that one of the balance pivots was probably a screw. The one up under the dial was, so I fine tuned it. Within a week it had come loose again, so I put a dot of Lock Tight on the thread, re-fine tuned it, and left the dial off in case of recurrence (the dial’s only held on with bent tabs). Sits on my desk in a wire stand as my desk clock. Recently my Wife and I found a little shop in a nearby town that has the remains of retired watchmaker’s stock, both working watches and parts ones. I’ve been raiding his $5 tub. So far I have two fusee works, both missing the balance wheel and pallets, and a couple of other bits on each. One is by John Anderton of Huddersfield (found him on a list and he had his shop there in the 1820’s), and the other one is R. Cunningham of Liverpool, with an older style of regulator. No dials. Hope to tinker, and make parts and dials for them over time, but even if I can’t get them going, just having watch works that were made 200 years ago, and at $5 each I love hand work and engraving. The next 4 watches and works, also from the $5 tub, started ticking when given a gentle rock. In fact the first one, the workings of a Lombard Vernon & Co. pocket watch, that were sitting in a zip lock bag, started ticking away when I turned the bag over. I haven’t been able to find anything so far on the ‘net about them, and the main brass chassis, with the regular ‘works in it, has a white metal 1/2 plate on top with a collection of damaged springs and cams on it. Wondering whether it was a chimer or something. Missing winding stem (and anyway it’s grotty so running it is probably a bad idea in it’s present state). Quite a few jewels. The Odd Ball watch of the lot: A wind up ‘digital’ pocket watch! I had not seen this sort of thing before (though have now looked them up on the ‘net and seen some Very expensive versions, mostly wrist watches. ‘Liga’ brand, Swiss made. Pin lever. Ticked when rocked in the shop, but wouldn’t wind (no resistance or click). Thought it might be a broken mainspring, but $5 what’s to lose In the car I popped off the back with a screwdriver to find the clickspring rattling around loose. Found where it was supposed to be, fitted it, and, hey presto, winds and runs under certain circumstances. Have largely cleaned it, including the grotty celluloid window, and hope to get it going properly soon. A nice watch to learn on as it doesn’t have as many wheels as a conventional hands watch. Love watching the hour wheel flick over (a pip at the ’30’ position on the Minute dial engages a star wheel under the Hour disk). Have, since the photo, put the front watch case on my lathe and finished it with a fine grit, leaving a nice, subtle, radial polish. Heuer stop watch. Will run for a few seconds at a time. Very clean inside. No winder or crystal. Missing movement restraining screws (what’s the official name for those?) Generic Swiss made watch. The hour hand was bent around the minute hand, and once dis-entangled the watch spontaneously ran for a 1/4 Hour. Hour hand didn’t survive No winder, but apart from that, a new crystal and making an hour hand, it may be a goer without much work. Marathon over. Hope you enjoyed it. Cheers Duncan
    1 point
  8. I went down the path of broaching, little at a time and lots of checking. I possibly broached it a tiny more than what would be considered perfect, but I think it will be ok, time will tell. The clock is now assembled and running, amplitude around 230 degrees, beat 2ms error which could be improved on, but will leave it as is for now. Keeping time between -1 and +5 seconds on the timegrapher. I'll let it run over the weekend and see how it is performing after that, but I'm reasonably happy with it. Next will be my Waltham aircraft clock...
    1 point
  9. Thx for response. Thats why I posted a request for a repairer that knows this clock and has parts or knows where to possibly get parts. Actually I would love to get both going. I only have 1 wood stand but that can be made. I know on 1 clock , I need a balance staff so far. Enjoy the picture
    1 point
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