Jump to content

Newbie - Watch Repair Advice

Ross95

By Ross95
in Watch Repairs Help & Advice

 Share

Recommended Posts

Ross95 New Member

Ross95

Posted
Posted

Hi all,

Recently I have inherited a hand wound mechanical J.W.Benson watch from 1956 from my grandfather. It's looks in good condition, however it doesn't work. I have wound the watch but still doesn't work.

I would really like to repair the watch myself and get it working. Would anyone be able to provide some advice on how to get it working and were to start?

I would like to start doing this to other watches as well, can anyone recommend any tutorials on YouTube? Or books?

What oils will I be required to buy? After doing some research seems to be so many options! 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks 

JohnR725 Distinguished Member

JohnR725

Posted
Posted
32 minutes ago, Ross95 said:

Recently I have inherited a hand wound mechanical J.W.Benson watch from 1956 from my grandfather.

do you value this watch in any way? If the answer is yes then it's not going to be the first watch you repair your going to start on something disposable. On the other hand if you don't care about the watch that can be your first watch to repair. Everybody starting watch repair has an unfortunate habit of breaking things. It's part of learning watch repair and unfortunately breaking things especially vintage things usually does not end well.

then can we have a picture of your grandfather's watch?

  • Like 3
eric9000k Member

eric9000k

Posted
Posted

Hey!  I've been watching lots of videos of someone called Mark Lovik as he takes apart watches and puts them back together.  He's also got a four part course on watch repair.  I haven't taken it yet because I sort of feel like you should just buy all the tools first, as well as the practice movement, and probably a case and stuff to make a complete watch during the course.  Then I sort of found it was a little too distracting when I started just buying watches.

It's all on YouTube including a video on specifically what you need to get to build the learner watch.  Anyway you're supposed to buy a cheap Chinese movement that is a clone of a Swiss movement in order to take the course, and then he supposedly uses the same one.  You set up your work area, sharpen your tools, and very slowly start pulling things apart I guess.  It really looks amazing and its totally well reviewed.  You should do that.

Also, Mr. Lovick has a large number of videos of high-end watches being assembled as well as cheap watches.  Sometimes he even troubleshoots what's gone wrong, such as a clump of dirt left behind on the balance wheel,.  It's really amazing!  Good luck!

eric9000k Member

eric9000k

Posted
Posted

I think you will enjoy your new watch more if you have a professional get it working right away and then pursue the hobby in its own right that's just my opinion.

  • Like 1
Ross95 New Member

Ross95

Posted
  • Author
Posted
37 minutes ago, JohnR725 said:

do you value this watch in any way? If the answer is yes then it's not going to be the first watch you repair your going to start on something disposable. On the other hand if you don't care about the watch that can be your first watch to repair. Everybody starting watch repair has an unfortunate habit of breaking things. It's part of learning watch repair and unfortunately breaking things especially vintage things usually does not end well.

then can we have a picture of your grandfather's watch?

Thank you very much for the reply,

I'm not sure what the value of the watch is, however as you stated I will definitely be practicing before attempting to fix that particular one. I do have an old cheap pocket watch to practice with. However can you recommend what any other cheap watchs I can practice on and where I can buy them.

I will upload some pictures of the watch shortly. 

Thanks

 

ro63rto Distinguished Member

ro63rto

Posted
Posted
Hey!  I've been watching lots of videos of someone called Mark Lovik as he takes apart watches and puts them back together.  He's also got a four part course on watch repair.  I haven't taken it yet because I sort of feel like you should just buy all the tools first, as well as the practice movement, and probably a case and stuff to make a complete watch during the course.  Then I sort of found it was a little too distracting when I started just buying watches.
It's all on YouTube including a video on specifically what you need to get to build the learner watch.  Anyway you're supposed to buy a cheap Chinese movement that is a clone of a Swiss movement in order to take the course, and then he supposedly uses the same one.  You set up your work area, sharpen your tools, and very slowly start pulling things apart I guess.  It really looks amazing and its totally well reviewed.  You should do that.
Also, Mr. Lovick has a large number of videos of high-end watches being assembled as well as cheap watches.  Sometimes he even troubleshoots what's gone wrong, such as a clump of dirt left behind on the balance wheel,.  It's really amazing!  Good luck!
Mark started this forum [emoji6]
jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

Posted
Posted
12 minutes ago, ro63rto said:

Mark started this forum emoji6.png

Started, managed, and funded it since the beginning. Considering that It would be just fair that beginners and others would consider enrolling in his excellent training at watchrepairlessons.com, or becoming a Patron. That much  I did myself too.

  • Like 1
jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Ross95 said:

However can you recommend what any other cheap watchs I can practice on and where I can buy them.

Please use the search box above, or even just browse around, to get most answers - including "where do I start from", without having to wait for other's answers, which will be always the same as given previously.

Marc Distinguished Member

Marc

Posted
Posted

Your watch is based on a high grade version of a Smiths Cal.1215 movement, having amongst other things, an up-graded jewel count from 15 to 18, and an up-graded balance with an over-coil hair spring. It is a really nice English made movement.

The case also appears to be solid gold so should have a hall mark which will date the watch, but I suspect mid 1950's. It's probably either a Dennison or a BWC.

This really should not be your first or second watch to work on as although not exactly rare, spare parts are not common, and less so for the variant that you have. It's also not a cheap watch. Check here for an idea of the kind of prices they can fetch.

It is a really nice watch though and represents the very best of English watch manufacturing. Definitely one to look after.

 

rodabod Distinguished Member

rodabod

Posted
Posted

What Marc said - that’s a very fine English-made watch. Quite valuable. Much less common than your average Smiths or JWB. 
 

I usually don’t try to put people off jumping in at the deep end, but in this case I am - you’ll struggle to find some spare parts for this if you make any errors. In particular, the balance/hairspring which is very rare and also the KIF antishock arrangement. 

 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • mbwatch
      Loose pinion

      By mbwatch · Posted

      Use probably the same key as you wound it with - on the end of the cannon pinion is a square that the minute hand is mounted to. You just need to turn the square, which will overcome the cannon pinion's friction and set the hands. That said, this could be the reason your wheel and pinion were separated and thread damaged. If the cannon pinion had been rusted or seized on and it was turned, it could have damaged the connection between the pinion and wheel. If it felt like your cannon pinion could turn on the center wheel arbor before and there is some grease under it, this should not be a problem.
    • dnhb
      Loose pinion

      By dnhb · Posted

      I've gone the threadlocker route having tried the material insert approach without success. The watch runs but I'm chary about winding it more than a turn or so in case the 'repair' gives way; still, there's an element of satisfaction in getting it going at all as it's a single bridge/plate design which I could only assemble dial side up & then flip over in order to be able to insert the 3 securing screws. The reassembly took a number of attempts over many hours but at least I got considerable manipulation practice & the experience will come in useful in future. I'm now faced with my ignorance about how to manually set the the time as this key-wound Waltham pocket watch doesn't have the usual pull-out stem facility. All I can think of doing is to adjust the regulator arm until it catches up with the current time & then revert to the central position.....
    • AndyGSi
      Omega Cosmic 2000 split stem question

      By AndyGSi · Posted

      So the crown should be a 0.9mm thread as you've ordered. How do you know the thread size is wrong if you've not removed the broken stem yet?
    • AndyGSi
      Where it begins

      By AndyGSi · Posted

      You'll need to be extra careful with the Citizen as Information along with Parts and Donors are pretty much none existing. You'll probably end up having to use a stem extender, that's hoping there's enough stem left in the movement.
    • Embezelled
      Where it begins

      By Embezelled · Posted

      Thank you! That's immensely helpful. I appreciate the trouble you've taken. The initial hiccup aside, I do hope to treat this watch with great care and respect. I've certainly learned one thing not to do, and also just the general need to start out very slowly and very carefully.    
×
×
  • Create New...