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Showing content with the highest reputation on 02/06/21 in Posts

  1. Just received my original 1978 Timex Falcon Eye. This blue dial is hypnotic. The battery had indeed leaked, but the corrosion was confined to the battery itself. I carefully removed the battery and cleaned the muck left behind. I carefully brushed out the rest of the crumbs and the dial with a clean dry paint brush. Absolutely nothing was corroded other than the battery itself. I popped a fresh battery in, gave it a wiggle and the balance took off running. It's been running since and keeping great time. The movement, I believe, is a M63 quartz regulated electro-mechanical model. I'll polish the crystal next week and clean up the rest. Considering how pricey the vintage models are going for, I did pretty food on this one, less than $30. Miraculously, the band fits PERFECTLY! I guess now that I own one, Timex says it can help me to carve stone horses, SWEET! Just what I always wanted!
    2 points
  2. He has probably been doing that for a long time but familiarity sometimes breeds contempt. It only tales one moment of loss of concentration and the damage is done.
    2 points
  3. Try this supplier https://drillbitsunlimited.com/
    2 points
  4. The only demonstration of a English pattern mainspring winder I can find is this one on a BHI site quite alarming to watch all I can say this man must have the strength of pop eye in his hands note also not a glove in site. I suggest no emulation of this. https://www.slbbhi.co.uk/?page_id=2663
    2 points
  5. Haha. I know what OH will say, "I still have both eyes and all my fingers."
    2 points
  6. Hi All Time (no pun!) to introduce myself. I'm Mike, a 50-something hobbyist tinkerer - as the loverly wife calls me. Long story short, my first career was with a certain Gerald Ratner (until he made his famous speech), moving around with Ernest Jones and others until early 2001. I gained an appreciation and passion for mechanical watches during this period, although my 'tinkering' at that time was limited to battery changes, bracelet adjustments and the odd mainspring release (incorrectly, as I've now learned!) Now frontline NHS I've spent the last six months building up a nice relaxing, therapeutic hobby as a release from the daily madness. It's been something I've thought about for a long time. In Autumn of last year I took the first of Mark's courses, then promptly blew the budget on purchasing equipment & tools and setting up a DIY work area. Photos available if anyone is interested ? I've a real interest in the late 1990s Oris watches, having sold them for a number of years along with the big Swiss players (not at Ratners!) I've a small collection of Swiss and Japanese mechanicals which I plan to learn to service properly myself. Also a couple of gorgeous Garrard stopwatches, and a 'Services' Army pocket watch on which to learn my skills. I may have some questions in due course with the latter; pin-lever movement and original - broken - mainspring and glass to consider. The last few months have been brilliant - I love it. Should have done this many years ago! All the best, Mike
    2 points
  7. We have a cat and a dog. Lovely animals both of them. Our cat catches all our mice and is very people oriented. She is friendly and deadly in the right measure. We also have a dog. She is friendly and intelligent. Guards us against the evil squirrels, who dare encroach. Thinks she is a 70 lb lap dog when not defending the manse. Here's the thing. The cat sheds everywhere and likes to sit at the center of attention: like on one's work-surface. The dog demands her share of attention as is likely to demand a pat on the head just as one is about to set a second hand on a watch face. So WRT: which is it? Which animal has the best sense for when you are at the most critical part of a repair? And if your answer is a gray parrot or a kimodo dragon, then I want a good yarn to go along with the claim . . . ?
    1 point
  8. I was in the garage cleaning up and found this clock. Mum & dad gave it to me when I was 5. So at least 53 years old.
    1 point
  9. I found this in my box-o-watches. I was a Scoutmaster for for about eight years and my son attained Eagle and I went on to district level to train adults...so this watch caught my eye. The crystal was horribly scratched and had a bad crack. Well, when I jumped into this renaissance watchmaking, I bought some bulk NOS crystals on Ebay. Yay, I found the correct crystal for this watch and installed it. It is running well as far as I can tell--keeping good time. Another watch to add to my collection--I might sell this one on Ebay. Not worth a lot, but I can use the money to feed my habit. PS, I would like to replace the crown but have not done the research on availability
    1 point
  10. The other day I was thinking about when I was a watchmaker and I was having problems with my posture and my neck. I was diagnosed with very sever spondylitis and was told the wear in the bones in my neck come close to someone in there 70’s I was only in my early 30’s at the time. My neck would lock and I was unable to move my head. The bones would rub each other because in some of my vertebral cartilage was none existent this also caused bad headaches and tightening of the muscles in my neck, it felt like my head was about to fall off. I had a Therapeutic counselor come around and have a look at my work shop. My work bench had to be a certain height so did all the other benches. One of the best recommendations for my posture and to help my neck was a ergonomic kneeling chair. It worked wonders for me and improved my posture and neck they are extremely comfortable. Here is the chair
    1 point
  11. As a hobbyist, I don't suffer for these particular ergonomic afflictions, but I do sit at a desk a lot, and that comes with its own hazards. My local yoga specializes in back care and in particular for scoliosis and herniation. I go to two back care specific classes per week, 90 minutes per class. They not only give you time to un-do the effects of bad posture during the class, but help raise awareness as to what your are doing wrong and what "right" feels like. I would highly suggest this if it is available in your area. I found two weeks of these classes much more effective than months at the chiropractor.
    1 point
  12. Hi watchweasol just watched the video he makes it look easy but i wouldn't trust myself with one of them i definitley would have lost a finger and he is not wearing gloves,
    1 point
  13. I don't know the make of that one, that's the style I have, it's similar to the Bergeon one which is still made today.
    1 point
  14. I'll admit, I'm watching too much YT, and doing too little. There are great talents, and very well equipped, that we all know. But what impresses me more is the likes of this:
    1 point
  15. I think what you are trying to say is, "Hey Noobs, quit running up the bids on all of the cool watchmaking tools on Ebay!"
    1 point
  16. Hello Everyone, My name is Ed and I am fairly new to Horology. My interest in Herology started when my father passed. He left/gifted me several watches that are currently not functioning. As my father was a very hands on person, I figured he would appreciate me taking the time to learn Herology to repair/overhaul the watches so they can be used and enjoyed once again. Regards, Ed...
    1 point
  17. Hi all! I'm a retired air traffic controller from Michigan. I stumbled across some of the great YouTube videos of watch repair and was hooked! Signed up for the watch repair course, got a few tools and am about to dive in!
    1 point
  18. HI there, horology fans! I dove into the world of watches a year or two ago, and quickly became a Seiko fan. I'm fascinated by these tiny machines that have so much style and engineering in them. My first Seiko was bought from Wish.com (you can see where this is going) and was a grade-a Feiko. I shared my story and a kind Reddit user offered to trade me my Feiko for his hand built 7750 clone chronograph. I was hooked. I've now modded a few Seikos and have begun amassing tools for repair. I've become the guy at work who can change batteries and fix bracelets. All in all it's been very rewarding. I've come here as a lurker plenty, but have a question today so I thought it'd be best to say hi here first.
    1 point
  19. Hello everyone I have a deep interest in vintage watches and watch repair and am trying to learn as much as I can about the subject. I normally service pocket watches but have recently started to service wristwatches too. Looking forward to hearing back from you all. ? Kieran
    1 point
  20. Hello, I'm Richard from Sheffield. I've been fascinated with proper watches my whole life, but until recently just from a wearing/looking at/collecting point of view. But having successfully dabbled with and tinkered and actually repaired!! several movements whilst on furlough, I seem to appear to maybe perhaps have something of an nack?? Anyway, one way or another my interest has definitely been pricked! But.......I have little or no actual knowledge of this field in general, other than snippets I've picked up on websites about the various types of movements and how they work. So I joined with you people to learn a bit more and.....well specifically ask about a silver 'trench' watch I came by recently that has a knackered cylinder balance. It's probably worth very little and maybe even not the genuine article, but it is a beautiful and attractive little watch and I would like to fix it and wear it. I'll be posting more about it, but for now thank you for reading and it's good to be among fellow watch lovers.
    1 point
  21. Welcome Richard from New Jersey, USA.
    1 point
  22. Brass wants zero rake angle. If you are turning it on a lathe that means that your tool will have flat top (or close to it) rather than say a 15ish degree angle for steel. With a drill, the rake is built into the twist. So, you do what's called "dubbing", which is to put a flat on the cutting edge that's in line with the body of the drill. You are making a zero rake cutting edge, and even if very small, makes a big difference in brass. If you don't do it, it wants to sort of screw itself into the work, grabbing and sometimes breaking, or with sheet brass grabbing and spinning it around to smash and slice your fingers. Just did a quick check to cheat and find some pics illustrating it and there's a vid by Clickspring! I haven't watched it but all his videos are fantastic so here it is.
    1 point
  23. Today is the Alsta Nautoscaph Superautomatic re-issue #36/1975. Jaws is one of those movies I can watch any time from any point and I still enjoy it. Peter Benchley was a customer at the computer store I used to work for in the early 80's. He had and Apple ///. Terrible computer but it looked cool. I really like the watch too.
    1 point
  24. I would imagine the screws follow the Swiss norms, at any rate metric. If you go to Asco-Schurch they list the threads with pitch in the PDF (they are describing their taps but it's a handy reference- also has drill size for steel and brass!). They start at 0.30mm, with 0.35, then 0.40 end every 10th of a millimeter after. In the earlier to mid part of last century you would see some other in-between sizes, 0.45, 0.55, 0.65, but fairly rarely. As you've measured 0.018", that comes to 0.457mm; screw threads tend to be slightly under nominal, so to me you want a 0.50mm thread.
    1 point
  25. Another Seiko, 7625-1990 from 1965. 7625A version with fixed balance stud. VID-20210205-WA0009.mp4
    1 point
  26. OK, I am gonna call this one "done" for now at least. I cleaned up the case, polished the crystal, installed a battery. It ran all night and kept perfect (to my resolution. This watch does not command any value on Ebay, but it is a very nice movement and kinda pretty. I set it to the right day, but did not want to have to go around to the correct date.
    1 point
  27. I'm allergic to both (what most people consider badly allergic to dogs, and super seriously allergic to cats), but have always had dogs until just over a year ago. My last dog I got in college, and he died two weeks after my daughter was born. He was old and blind (no eyes). Sweetest, friendliest dog ever. Did not discriminate; everyone was a friend and worthy of being ran into softly (his version of a hug). My wife's office is dog friendly (or was when people went there), and he was very much a favorite. Even other dog owners and emphatically non-dog people told her he was their favorite office dog. There was a painting of him on the wall, and they named a software library after him at the company. Flowers were delivered when he died, and we live in the mountains... deliveries don't happen here. He was always very quiet and chill. The most vigorous he'd get for attention involved him sauntering up, putting his chin on my leg, and wagging his tail gently. He would have been a great watchmaking buddy save for the husky half of him shedding everywhere. Still, I'd happily clean those little black hairs out of every movement if he were still here. Best dog I ever had. A young photo when he still had eyes and could see.
    1 point
  28. The watch of the day for me is my father-in-law's 1957 Bulova Sea King, not be confused with Seamasters of the same vintage lol. After he passed we had it serviced and it runs very well. It was given to my eldest son who wore it for awhile until he decided that 32mm was too small for his muscular early-20s shot-putter's "guns" (arms). I keep it in the rotation on my wrist, patiently ticking away the seconds until he decides that is is cool again; maybe a few decades form now. Then it will return to him.
    1 point
  29. I’m starting off in the hobby. I’ve got the generic Chinese repair kit and I tackled a large pocket watch movement last night. I’m going to need a loupe and headband to go with it though to work on the seiko 7s26a that I purchased for repair. Any tips on which one to buy and where to buy from. I’m trying to keep a budget so I don’t break the bank right out of the gate.
    1 point
  30. Seiko meca quartz movement. Quite impressed for £50
    1 point
  31. I always advise to make sure you have the correct posture. I don't want anyone ending up like me.
    1 point
  32. Rodico works. You can also put the watch+movement holder inside a clear plastic bag, punch your tweezers through the bag to work on any fidly flyer. Mastering this ends loosing springs.
    1 point
  33. Picked this up on ebay NOS in box etc. It's got some kind of electronic movement that is awkward to set! Really like it though.
    1 point
  34. Through a generous donation of a stellar OEM timex bracelet from a fellow WRT member, I now have a nearly pristine 1978 Timex Falcon Eye! It looks and runs like a dream. It's honestly one of my best time keepers! Not too shabby for 42 years old! A huge shout out and thank you to @yankeedog for the kindness! My old cruddy one on top So much better!
    1 point
  35. Hi Have joined specifically to find a part number for my Landeron movement .
    0 points
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