Jump to content

Hello from Georgia


Guest

Recommended Posts

I am a soon-to-be 70 year old computer programmer, retiring soon.  Enjoyed my career immensely but I'm done.  The millenials can have it now.  Though I have never even taken the back off a watch before yesterday, I think I am fascinated by the same complexity and order present inside a watch that kept me interested in my programming career all these years.  I have a newly acquired book to learn from (Maintaining and Repairing Mechanical Watches: A Practical Guide, Wiles, Mark W.) and a pocket watch (Chronometre Jupiter) I picked up while on vacation in a little shop in Naples, Italy, to start working on.  Between these and the folks on this forum I hope to learn what makes this baby tick and how to improve the accuracy of the time it keeps (right now it gains a couple hours a day).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Loren

I am an electronics engineer and soon to retire. In the same way you describe I too find mechanical watch and clock movements fascinating so I decided to study and learn the art of service and repair.

Recently I watched a YOUTUBE video with the eminent George Daniels presiding over a meeting of the AWCI (American Watch and Clock makers Institute), where George explains in detail the creation of his co-axial escapement. Well worth a watch. He has a pleasing manner with humorous overtones. My favorite quote is where he describes the job in life of the battery of a quartz watch movement is to commit suicide at the first opportunity. You can clearly tell he is not a fan of quartz movements. Hope you enjoy the video.

Here is the link to the video. His voice is gruff, I think he may have had a sore throat.

 

 

  1.    
     
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the reply, Colditz.  I appreciate the link.  I actually watched a very interesting biography of his life, and the training of his apprentice, on TV last night.  Fascinating genius.  Maybe not the nicest person (arrogant, abrasive).  But clearly the grand master of watchmakers.  Imagine making those beautiful watches... EVERY single piece... with your own two hands.  Unbelievable. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Indeed.  That's the one.  They were an unlikely pair, I must say.  For both of them I admire the fact that it's not just about keeping time, but keeping time with elegance.  Having said that, I knew their watches would be expensive  but had no idea just how expensive.  Yikes!  :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess its the rarity value also. Roger doesn't make many watches 10 a year I think between him and his apprentice.

Still rather have a RS watch than a Rolex any day irrespective of price. I would like to know why Roger picked the Isle of Mann to manufacture his watches and not London.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/12/2019 at 1:24 PM, Loren said:

Thank you for the reply, Colditz.  I appreciate the link.  I actually watched a very interesting biography of his life, and the training of his apprentice, on TV last night.  Fascinating genius.  Maybe not the nicest person (arrogant, abrasive).  But clearly the grand master of watchmakers.  Imagine making those beautiful watches... EVERY single piece... with your own two hands.  Unbelievable. 

He was also a racing driver

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/15/2019 at 11:25 AM, yankeedog said:

Welcome...as a once upon a time electronics  tech whose  first computer  used mylar/ aluminum  punch tape,and whose "logic" was  clicking relays...welcome. 

Mine, a Prime computer at the community college I attended, all done with punch cards.  A lot of work just to get the sum of all prime numbers between 1 and 100.  :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/12/2019 at 10:20 AM, Colditz said:

Do you have a watch collection? If so what have you got?

Just got myself a half hunter Fusee to restore. It ticks but not for long.

 

 

I'm new to this, so my "collection" is small.  First the silver "Chronometre Jupiter" pocket watch I picked up while on vacation in Rome last month and about which I can find almost no information.  This is currently disassembled and cleaned but waiting on additional tools and supplies to be oiled and reassembled.  I have now officially spent more on tools than I did on the watch.  Apparently a well known occupational hazard for watch enthusiasts.  I have a circa 1960 Benrus wristwatch I acquired for its sentimental value.  One nearly identical was my first, gifted to me by a beloved Uncle, when I was maybe 10-11 years old.  Lastly (for now at least), another wristwatch having a Swiss hand-winding movement, identified as by Fontainemelon, which is reportedly working well. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover which has an inscription, 'To Dick from Cecil, Xmas 1923'.  Coming to me from the Worcestershire area of the UK.  I can't help wondering who Dick and Cecil were that they made it through The Great War alive.  Possibly too young or too old to fight.  Hopefully a larger collection in the future but for now I'm enjoying my new hobby.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My my, you will spend a small fortune on kit. I am always looking in antique shops for the odd tool that pops up now and again. In some cases they do not know what they have and you can pick up a bargain. The thing is 'patience'. I would love to get my hands on a Platax tool in good working condition at a reasonable price. Anybody got one?

The Fontainemelon is a lovely time piece - enjoy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Loren said:

Mine, a Prime computer at the community college I attended, all done with punch cards.  A lot of work just to get the sum of all prime numbers between 1 and 100.  :-)

My most effective  "alignment " tool was a rawhide  mallet. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • I suppose it would depend upon what your lubricating with those? for instance what does the manufacturer say about those lubricants? I have a PDF from the manufacture and a rather peculiar statement found on the bottom of the chart. my suspicion is the reason the recommending would be without epilam the HP oils like the spread except when they're in Ruby jewel's with steel pivots. tableEN lubrication 2020.pdf
    • 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.
×
×
  • Create New...