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Posted

One of the interesting problems that I wrestle with occasionally, when checking out watches for purchase or purchased, is the identification of movements. There are two aspects to this:

 

1. In many cases, the seller doesn't know the movement make and calibre and, although there might be a very good photo of the movement in the auction, he/she doesn't know the details.

 

2. If I take a punt on a watch - and, for me, the movement design and engineering is just as important as the dial, case, etc. - I'm reluctant to do any dismantling just to get under the balance staff to ascertain a calibre.

 

Ranfft is very useful as a movement database, but the sheer quantity of data in it means that it might take hours and hours of guesswork to locate a particular make and calibre.

 

So, my question is: is there a way of using the broad design of a movement - the shape of bridges and plates, for example - to identify (broadly) whether a movement might be FF or AS or ETA, etc.? Even a rough narrowing down of this sort might make Ranfft (which is not 100% complete either) a little easier to use?

 

A friend of mine - an amateur but skilled watch service man for over 40 years - has an old book of movement parts, in which a calibre can be identified by placing a setting lever exactly over a corresponding drawing in its pages. A great work of reference but, once again, not much help if you don't want to tamper with a perfectly good movement!

Posted

Aha - I hadn't spotted this one! The Ranfft home page is not particularly well laid out, so I must have missed this.

 

Thanks for the heads-up, Geo, I'll dip in and get cracking! :bow:

Posted

Just tried it out on a couple of incoming cheapies - I managed to identify one as an AS 1194 (Rodania), but the other, an Elco, is still a mystery.

 

But I'll keep plugging away!

Posted

Glad to be of assistance Will.

I found that a few months ago when I was trying to identify a movement in a Sully triple date moophase watch that I bought. It's a great search facility, but I still didn't manage to identify the movement. Hopefully all will be revealed when I haul it apart!

Posted

Just tried it out on a couple of incoming cheapies - I managed to identify one as an AS 1194 (Rodania), but the other, an Elco, is still a mystery.

 

But I'll keep plugging away!

Posted (edited)

Just tried it out on a couple of incoming cheapies - I managed to identify one as an AS 1194 (Rodania), but the other, an Elco, is still a mystery.

 

But I'll keep plugging away!

 

Will your friend is probably using  BESTFIT books which I use now & then. I have volumes 1 & 2 (see pics) They come up now & then on fleebay. With the older vintage watches you like these books would be invaluable

 

post-234-0-74521700-1422355069_thumb.jpg

 

post-234-0-26498500-1422355079_thumb.jpg

Edited by clockboy
Posted

The bestfit books are excellent. They provide more information than just movement ID as well. They are a very good resource to have especially for vintage calibers.

Posted

 

Will your friend is probably using  BESTFIT books which I use now & then. I have volumes 1 & 2 (see pics) They come up now & then on fleebay. With the older vintage watches you like these books would be invaluable

 

attachicon.gifBestfit1.jpg

 

attachicon.gifBestfit2.jpg

 

 

 

BestFriend indeed, i have a backup aswell!

Posted

As a follow on to the BESTFIT books does anyone have the definitive guide on how to use them.

I get by, but I suspect there is a lot more information in these books than I realise.

Posted

Hi guys,

 

Any particular way to search for those books on ebay? ISBN number, edition, markings or other? I get different books and parts...some are really expensive!

 

Thanks in advance, Cheers,

 

Bob

Posted

HI GUYS, I USE THESE VOLUMES FOR IDENTIFICATION THEY DONT SOLVE ALL PROBS BUT I FIND THEM VERY USEFUL, I HAVE THEM ON PDF SOMEWHERE SO IF ANYONE WANTS A COPY PM ME, ALTHOUGH THE BESFIT CATS DO COME UP FOR SALE THEY ARE EXPENSIVE SO IF ANYONE HAS ONE ON PDF I WOULD LIKE ONEpost-618-0-71495300-1422382322_thumb.jpgpost-618-0-77243300-1422382325_thumb.jpgpost-618-0-42494400-1422382329_thumb.jpg

Posted

Hi guys,

 

Any particular way to search for those books on ebay? ISBN number, edition, markings or other? I get different books and parts...some are really expensive!

 

Thanks in advance, Cheers,

 

Bob

 

Search for "Bestfit watch book" should return a result. They are getting a bit rare these days.

Heres one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BESTFIT-111A-Encyclopedia-of-Watch-Parts-/371239782208?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item566f9d8740

Best to find both volumes if you can though.

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