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1920s Unicorn watches


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Yes I know how Rolex in the 1920s used another manufacturer to make the Unicorn movements, so they are not real Rolex's, just kinda Rolex's by association in that Rolex had these made for them to be sold as cheaper watches.

Below are photos of my Unicorn watch which I can date pretty well due to it being engraved 12/8/1927.

Going by this website the movements were made by BTC ' Beguelin & Cie SA, Manufacture de Montres Damas et Tramelan Watch Co '

http://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/movements.php#BTCo

If anyone can provide more information on these movements that would be great as I am looking for a new hairspring, although I'm guessing to fix this watch I will need to learn a new skill of fitting a new hairspring and regulating it to the watch.

The watch also needs a new balance staff but I plan to attempt to make this.

dial.jpg

dial_side.jpg

unicorn1.JPG

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A piece of the broken HS helps selecting a new one, so far as thickness, stiffness color and appearance, the main issue is the available space in the movement.One with collet already attached and fits is prefered.

Is it a breguet overcoil or flat one.

If you don,t have access to proper tool to fly the balance wheel with HS, you can fly it inside the watch.

Just go as you regularly instal a HS on a movement. Read timing on timegrapher to get an idea of where you are, if runing fast, nothing you can do, but to try another HS.

Adding material to the BW or material removal is not an option, do not touch balance screws.

Only a HS runing slow can be vibrated to produce the desired beat, you keep shortening the HS to get to the right beat. 

Do not cut the extra piece of HS, until the desired beat is obtained.

If you have no TG, time the watch itself on bench.

Keep in touch for advice especially when you get to selecting and shortening the HS.

Regards joe.

 

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Hi Nucejoe, Its not a Breguet overcoil, just a flat one.

Yes I do have a timegrapher, but this watch is currently on hold as my cheap Bergeon roller table remover won't remove the roller table, So the watch is on hold until my next order from Cousins when I will be the Bergeon staking type roller remover, or I manage to pick up a new (to me) staking set off ebay which has the roller removing stakes and anvils as my current staking set does not.

The balance also has a broken pivot but the whole reason of wanting to make this my next project was to make a new balance staff for the watch as I'm wanting to make a staff for a wristwatch.

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    • These types of hairsprings become weak with age and very fragile. Which I expect it is that giving you trouble, and that wheel is not the correct one, if it were not bent I don't think the movement would run as the teeth are not the correct height. The problem you have is price which depends on you. It can be repaired but is it worth it to you, because there is little value in the clock. A wheel can be made and hairspring replaced. Or hang on to it and keep looking on ebay which is your best bet for replacement parts or even a complete movement but it will be like finding a needle in a haystack. 
    • I did that also for a few movements - well, mainly in/around the train jewels. I made big efforts to epilame the mainplate WITHOUT getting Epilame into the Pallet fork jewels (where it's not supposed to be, right?). I made litte barriers with Rodico around that jewel and used drops from a syringe to apply on the rest.  However, I've now stopped doing this. For three reasons: 1. It's a hassle and consumes more of this liquid gold. 2. I didn't see the need when using HP1000/HP1300 lubricants and grease for most part. The two places where I'd use 9010 (i.e. escape wheel and balance) receive Epilame in specific places... or the cap-jewel-setting of the balance suspends the oil sufficiently be capillary action (see my "conflict" about using Epilame on the balance jewels).  3. Lastly, and here I really wonder about yours and others' experiences: I felt that applying Epliame to the train jewels left them looking hazy (borderline dirty) compared to the (painstakingly achieved) sparkly clean results of my cleaning process. I just can't help but think that the Epilame residuals would mix with the oil and cause more friction/wear. I don't know.    simple: it'll stay there. It won't move any further. That's exactly what is happening if you epilame a cap stone. You end up placing the 9010 right on top of the epilame and the oil will sit nicely on that spot.
    • There are some parts on Ebay for the seiko 6020A, it may just be a waiting game for someone to strip one down, NOS will be more scarce . K would strip your movement down to the module then start looking at other seiko movement to see if that coil is used, then seek out a seiko part dealer. Also Retrowatches youtube owner Mike may give you some advice try him on his site . He also hangs around amateur watchmaking groups.
    • I would agree, in order to work harden something you need to exceed it's yield strength when it moves from the elastic zone to the plastic zone and you get permanent deformation and work hardening which is fairly close to its failure point, relatively speaking and dependent on the material/alloy of course. In theory you can load something constantly within its elastic range and not suffer work hardening issues.
    • Probably easier to get a complete new movement - but CousinsUK list it as discontinued. Maybe someone on here knows a substitute movement ?
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