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if you make a start on the broken screw with a drill so you just have a shallow hole this will give a sharpened screwdriver blade something to bite into so you might be able to back the screw out. Sharpen the driver something like a tapered triangle or square. Never mind forget making the driver just use a tight fitting broach in the hole you made. Voilà one screwextractor

This indicates its still ticking? can you hear it ticking? which indicates the fork is kicking thus its running away, perhaps from you for fear of getting ruinned , guess by who. Regds

I guess this depends on who you are doing the job for as much as anything else. If it is for your own collection, and only for a few hands, then these ebay kits probably will work fine. If you are doing this for a customer, and you are offering any sort of warranty, then you might look at using a known reputable supplier like Cousins in the UK, as they are likely to have better quality control. However they are probably more expensive. I have used inexpensive luminous powder from ebay. (Much cheaper even than the kits you listed), using PVA wood glue or acrylic nail polish as a binder and it does work pretty well too. However the grain size of the ebay powders feels slightly more coarse (this may be my imagination). Ebay offerings comes in a huge variety of colours, so if you are looking for something a little different, this might be the way to go. See here for my latest examples of how this worked out -> .. and here ... I also have some "proper" watch grade powders and those work too, and they feel slightly less coarse grained. You obviously need to use modern strontium aluminate based luminous materials, as they are non radioactive.

did you know before the universe was online yes it's hard to believe there once was a time where we were not all plugged in an online. So in those dark days before the Internet there used to be other ways to get things like horological associations a lot of them would have meetings with sales of tools and stuff. For instance the national Association of watch and clock collectors has chapters all over the world I think mainly in the US their local chapters would have what they call a Mart. each chapter is different ranges from almost nothing to incredible fantastic things. Then various chapters will come together and have a regional meeting. Over the years that was mainly where I picked up my stuff. Then once a year there's the national meeting in the old days before the Internet I think the biggest one I ever went to was like 1000 tables I think that was the one in Chicago. There are still big but they're not 1000 tables anymore. So at the various chapter regional national meetings depending upon the seller this stuff would be fantastic deals all the way to the other extreme that we hope their coffin is big enough is or got take it to the grave with them with the prices they charge. Then in the UK of course you have the British horological Institute. They have chapters I don't know how friendly they are towards hobbyists and there may be a can't quite think there's another horological association I think more for collectors in the UK. Don't know if their chapters have stuff for sale. I believe the BHI also has a annual meeting or at least they used to. then yes the BHI headquarters is interesting I've been there at one time long time ago. Or yes I know eBay's nice sooner later everything comes the bed at least that's my theory maybe doesn't always come as to price we want to pay that sooner or later everything will show up as long as were paying attention it doesn't slide by because we weren't actively checking. then there's things like the company at the link below look what they sell? But more interesting is the next link they like to show up someplace. Our dear you just missed out on something at that place now you have to wait until July. someone once asked about the clock fair sounded like was really nice place to go and sounded like the tool dealer brought all sorts of interesting stuff to the fair. Oftentimes they'll bring the stuff that maybe needs a little DIY or something things they might not sell in their store perhaps. https://pennyfarthingtools.co.uk/ https://pennyfarthingtools.co.uk/events-diary/ https://www.thebirminghamclockandwatchfair.com/

How lucky was i ? While sorting out storage for the balance staff stock i noticed a staff container with around 50 of the AHS 43 staffs i had been looking everywhere for on the net, yey staff stock comes in to play . This was my first go at replacing a friction fit staff, easy peasy. The hardest part was lining up exactly the roller cresent with the impulse pin. This was done from both sides of the staff, firstly free hand from underneath by loosely staking the staff down on to the balance wheel so as to line things up. Then to flip over to tap the balance wheel down. Fitting the hairspring back on and to install the balance assembly left to do, fingers crossed I've made a fair job .

Hello, I would dry over watchmaker paper, less chance of debris getting on the parts. Two things watchmakers fight the must, dust and magnetism.

I use a Balance Screw Holder. The cheap version from Cousins works OK for me £3.80. Or you can buy the Bergeon version £52.70

A new balance complete is the way to go. In case the balance wheel got hit by the screwdriver, its out of poise now. On this forum, you can learn rebuilding it to a balance complete. Regds

...something like this is probably your best option for the arbor.

I would not use mine that way. I doubt the pushers were designed to to be pounded as a stake is pounded. You need a classic staking set.

your mainspring is a nice pretty blue color. That tells me it's probably set it should be replaced once you take care of the other problems. But of course you don't really know until you take it out occasionally blued steel Springs will still looked beautiful but only occasionally and typically they do have to be replaced.

Not much to see at the moment...

Eyup watch peeps. As we all know buying watch tools is never ending and can be extremely expensive for specialist item such as jewelling and staking tools. But it is possible to find great items at a good price if we keep looking and finding an honest seller that deals regularly in the same kind of gear can help make that happen. Here i have some cracking ones, one probably a bit more collectable than useable. A tiny staking set in a lovely walnut burr container, two steel lapping plates and an ancient hairspring vibrator which does need a good clean up and a new hairspring grip. Total cost 28 new British pounds at todays prices thats a carvery lunch a cuppa and a pudding for me and the missus. There was a bit of work involved as well though i missed the postman knocking at my door to deliver and ended up having to chase him round my neighbourhood in my van for 10 minutes. Good fun and a great start to an otherwise boring day off.

Been working on another Vulcain Cricket. This is a rebuild from a rusty start and a donor watch (also a rusty watch). The hand was floppy on the cannon pinion. Not sure how that happened--was not my fault--the watch came to me in pieces (the last guy gave up I guess). In one of my watchmaking books, there was a mention of using a jeweling tool to close the hand tube, so that is what I did. Of course...as delicate as I was, I overshot and ended up having to use a staking tool to open it back up slightly. Got it now. I have two of these Seitz tools. One has a base hole of 3mm and the other 4mm. I only had one solid stump and it was a 3mm one. I prefer the 4mm tool, so I just let the stump "float" for this exercise.

unfortunately new to watch repair means that there are certain lessons you haven't learned yet. important lessons that will keep your friends your friends one of the ways I like to think about watch repair is similar to learning to become a doctor. Initially studying reading and a lot of practicing. oh and everyone on this group is still practicing the same as doctors are still practicing every single watch you do you will get better hopefully. For instance suppose we decided to take up brain surgery and we get a book and I wonder how well it's going to work out for us. What happens when the patient dies would anyone be upset. What happens to this watch if it has a similar outcome? typically doctors or take up surgery get the practice on dead people they don't have to worry about the patient dying. But what happens this watch if it dies we you still have a friend? thinking of vintage I really wish you'd taken a picture some better pictures did you notice that the cannon pinion was really really hard to take off and no having a remover would not help. I can give you pictures of what you have but I'm not going to yet I need a picture of the cannon pinion. Does it look like your normal one or does it look a little different did it require a heck of a lot of force to come off and I need a picture the bent part. If I'm right you won't need a new center will but I'm really keep you in suspense until I get my pictures. On the other hand I might be wrong he might use center wheel but I don't think so.

Hi there, just by the look of the labels on the bottles those oils look vintage. I would be hesitant to use them in a watch I wanted to keep or held any value to me. However, I don't see any reason not to use them for practice on a movement(s) you are just practising and learning on. If this is the case then if just for practice I don't see any issue in using either on your pocket watch if is just a practice pocket watch. If the pocket watch is a keeper then I would use new oils, there are lots of threads on this forum which will point you in the right direction in this regard. Hope the above helps

Aliexpress has some microscope stands that are quite affordable too. https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrFgKLw

But, there are some where you only have the 4 tabs. crazy I know!

I found this video that might answer some questions.

Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum. We all look forward to your contributions and continued involvement. I always suggest to new members who are starting out to practice on pocket watches first, they are just like a slandered watch movement only much bigger, it will help you to learn how to use your watchmakers screwdrivers correctly, your tweezers ( you will need at least two pairs one for normal work and the other for fine work) and your eye glass ( you will need a few with different strengths) Don't need to worry about getting the movement to work just keep taking it apart and putting it all back, get to know the parts and what they do. You might find this helpful. Do not undertake Fusee pocket watches they are very different. 704789946_TZIllustratedGlossary(2).pdf

As we all love tools ( except the price of them ) i came across this curious device on ebay. I'm not buying but i thought some of us might be interested to see it. Its description from the seller is a mainspring dynamometer ???

I'm sure many of you have seen one of these before, but I was looking through some things this weekend and stumbled upon the patent record for this from the early 1900's. I find it amazing the design of this, and the fact that someone is not making these now. Anyhow, here is a link to the PDF for the Patent application with a really nice drawing and two pages of write-up on it's design and how it is used. Possibly I am the only one who finds this interesting, but possibly others will too. Gaston Pallet and Roller Jewel Setter Patent BTW, if you go to this LINK you can see over 100 other tools in the same category (G043D/045).

In my office. I will post a picture My hot-air workstation and desoldering station got moved to the garage...lol orphan children! When I first came back to watchmaking with only my Dad's bench, it was hard to wrap my head around how he had his bench organized. I wanted to leave it that way, but eventually I had to make some modifications--moving tools around from drawer to drawer and moving a few things out of the bench. BTW...I HAVE ANOTHER WATCHBENCH IN THE GARAGE!!! I am restoring it. But once restored, I have no place for it.

John and James Harrison's clock.

I found this info for you. It is a swiss movement. The term Ancre Ligne Droite had a specific meaning. The Swiss styel lever was emerging as a standard form in the 1860-1880 time frame. It mean that the three pivots, escape wheel pallet lever and balance were in a straight line. The English style had the three pivots in a triangular lay out.

Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum. We all look forward to your contributions and continued involvement.

Hello and welcome.

Hello and welcome. We have all broken things, to many times for most of us.

Here is the start of the ST 96 manufacturing process.

If you are sourcing a replacement part you have nothing to lose attempting a repair. If you consider this part having value then practice on something less so first.

I had one of these years ago, yes it's to measure the force of the spring as it's wound and unwound; it attaches directly to the barrel arbor. I got it just as curiosity, and it only had one collet so I eventually sold it. Neat little machine. There are much larger industrial versions that are about a meter long, and use a calibrated spring blade that carries a pen and makes a trace on a long piece of paper; those have been replaced with digital equipment now.

So I understand, the second link lists alternative balance completes? That would be great since the 500.1327 is difficult to find and about 50% of what I paid for the watch. I did remove from the balance cock and staff. But before that I mistakenly tried to unscrew the regulator spring when my screwdriver slipped and destroyed the spring.