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First time I hear about this free of charge 14 months watchmaking course in Delaware but only for veterans. https://youtu.be/9SUo7Ek4Cs4

I am now trying to match a balance wheel from another 10.5 lignes movement to the balance cock assembly! Desperate times call for desperate measures...

I feel all your pain, I've had trouble with these and I found out the hard way about checking for the hook on second hand winders. I'm expecting to see a tutorial pop up from @jdrichard on how to knock one together soon (and although I'm joking I wouldn't be too surprised, there doesn't seem to be a lot that man can't manufacture!)

Welcome to my corner MrRoundel.

How do you keep from permanently bending the bridle on an automatic??

Oh well never mind. You have been part of this forum for some time. So you better stand in the naughty corner.

The crystals on watches inevitably get scratched or damaged so replacements are readily available in most sizes for most watches. Same deal if the one on your (pocket) watch is missing ... you just need to buy a new one. For instance: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-BRAND-NEW-41-5-ACRYLIC-POCKET-WATCH-CRYSTAL-TO-FIT-SMITHS-INGERSOLL-SERVICES-9/163484960530 may hit the mark. Obviously measure the diameter of the recessed area on your watch that will hold the crystal to double check the diameter before you buy; if this link isn't correct for you then search for a pocket watch crystal of the correct diameter. As to the 552M this is almost certainly just a model number. [Your logic is a good guess but this would imply there should be, say, a 551M for a January production but Ingersoll and 551M do not come up as a match in a web search].

Hey we all have to learn and I went through it about 30 odd years ago, lots of mistakes, however they are the things you learn from. This is just a suggestion, start with a time only movement, work out what is wrong with it, fix it, nice and easy. Next get a time and strike, do the same process , it is a little harder. Next the Westminster chime same process a lot harder as you have to work out the sequence and every company have their own way of doing it. I will give you any help I can as you go along. I wish you all the success, as for me, working on my hobby every day is not working at all.

Fascinating, even though I am neither a veteran, nor anywhere near Delaware. This slide was very telling too. Around seven million Swiss mechanical watches sold in 2015 and 2016. Those numbers are quite surprising. If we factor in a similar or larger number of Chinese and others, not to mention the millions still around from the heydays of mechanical watches, that makes for a lot of watches that will need the attention of a good watch maker in the future.

Sorry had nothing. Have looked around and seams difficult to find.