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A Finnish watchmaker I know gave me the recipe they used in school, I've used it for some time and am very happy with it. It's gentle and fairly nontoxic (don't drink it of course, but it doesn't contain harsh solvents). 1L 99% isopropyl alcohol 3L distilled water 50g oxalic acid 60g oleic acid around 80 grams of 24% ammonia In a stainless pot, heat the alcohol and 1L water, add the oxalic acid (powder) and dissolve, add the rest of the water and oleic acid, then add ammonia slowly. It will go cloudy, then turn clear. The ammonia is reacting with the oleic acid making a soap, when it goes clear all the oleic has reacted. This keeps the solution fairly safe for brass, as the ammonia now being a soap doesn't eat the metal like some other cleaners with higher ammonia concentrations. Rinse in hot water, with a final bath in alcohol before drying with hot air. I have never had a part rust with this, but the final alcohol rinse is important.

Got one finally. Been after one for ages but never wanted to pay the silly prices. Nice and chunky.

Mine was a stainless steel Tissot Seastar Seven Automatic that my Dad bought me when I started work in 1962. I still have it now and it started me on a lifelong passion for vintage Tissot watches.

I'll add- the oxalic acid is a mild rust remover. You might find it advertised for removing rust stains. And this solution won't magically clean a filthy movement. Some time with a small stiff brush and lighter fluid getting the gunk off prior and pegging holes after (and/or before) is still required. And as mild as it is, it can still eat certain lacquers. On a laquered piece I usually just hand clean with soap and brushes and water. Alcohol to absorb to water, dry in hot air, then check and peg all pivot holes. You only have to assemble one clock without pegging and see black gunk flow out when you oil to know pegging is actually a time saver.

I just thought of the fact that I may have seen "Traveler" marked on 1888 models as well. And I just verified this in "The Complete Guide to Pocket Watches". If yours is an '88 model, I hope you have a case for it. Like the '72 model Waltham, they take a special case. If you can provide an image, or at least the serial number, from the movement, the model can be determined. Cheers.

That should be either a model 1908 or 1899. There are few differences between them, and I'd guess that the hands are the same. Very common movement. I believe the Traveler, mostly a gilt finished movement, was made for export, with most being sold in Britain. Good luck.

So, I'm gonna try and post a couple of photos shortly, both Seiko of course for reasons stated earlier. The blue one is apparently called the "ashtray" bezel. It winds, works, keeps good time, over the last 8 hours anyway, the only snag being the day pusher function does not operate every time. The silver one is a Seiko deluxe which does not wind or work, in fact it makes a disheartening rattly noise when shaken, like something has come adrift inside. They were purchased as items for me to take apart and study, then hopefully reassemble, having cleaned and lubed. The ashtray arrived from India today, the deluxe arrived from Japan today, both were ordered last midweek. How easy these days to begin a new hobby, what with international freight, the Internet, and training vids on you tube. I may not even renew my porn subscription, this hobby could save me money!!! Next purchase will be a set of intro level tools, then to business.

Mine was nothing fancy. Bought with my very first weekly wage packet back in 1990 and I still have it. Works perfectly.

Engineer with a rather ropey bezel NOS crystal now installed

sorry to tell you but you cant buy these hands from suppliers. Ebay is the way to go but try searching based on movement size instead of hole size you will get more results. plus shipping should not be too much since most sellers participate in the global shipping program which allows you to ship an item to any country outside the US for the same cost as within. The items gets shipped to an exchange center in Kentucky where they ship the item to the destination country, its great because the exchange gives you a separate tracking number once it leaves their warehouse, and the shipping time is pretty much the same. I however may have some hands, i can list them on ebay for only the postage charge and this way ill ship using the GSP, which probably be like $7. what is the size of the movement? If i dont have them i can send a link to some ebay listings

are we talking about round wylers? the special crystols are hard to find. there were several colors. vin