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Selling Off Parts From Watchmakers Desk - Questions

BlakeL
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BlakeL WRT Addict

BlakeL

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I've started listing some of the items that I found from inside the watchmakers desk and bank of drawers.  I found that a lot of the NOS parts like balance staffs have some surface rust on them from sitting for so long.  This was even the case on some that had clearly never been opened. They were stored in the original little paper envelopes/tissue type paper vs sealed plastic.  Do you guys think these would actually be worth selling?  I'm still in the process of going through everything especially the tools since there are quite a few that I have no idea what they are.  I'll probably post some pictures of those at some point to get clarification.  I'm hoping to make enough money to help fund what I need for TimeZone Level 2 (course/materials).

 

Examples of the rusted parts below.  

post-453-0-26409400-1426259462_thumb.jpg

post-453-0-63663700-1426259463_thumb.jpg

WillFly Distinguished Member

WillFly

Posted
Posted

I'm no expert but, to me, the rusting looks a little too far gone for a delicate item like a balance staff to remain true - even after cleaning. Hopefully, someone will prove me wrong!

clockboy Distinguished Member

clockboy

Posted
Posted

Agree with Will really not worth the chance of fitting as the poise will be almost certainly out. Might be good as a template if no balance and the balance is of a known caliber. 

BlakeL WRT Addict

BlakeL

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All of the parts are labeled so I at least know what movement they're for but seems like I might be tossing them  Pretty sad because I've almost filled a whole sandwich sized bag which are mostly staffs and stems.

 

post-453-0-27153100-1426264489_thumb.jpg

WillFly Distinguished Member

WillFly

Posted
Posted

It's a shame if the Hamilton balance staffs aren't usable - I don't know about their wrist watches but Hamilton pocket watch staffs are moderately fragile and can easily be broken if the watch is dropped. And they're not easy to resource, so - if you have them in good condition - they're worth  selling for a reasonable price.

BlakeL WRT Addict

BlakeL

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It's a shame if the Hamilton balance staffs aren't usable - I don't know about their wrist watches but Hamilton pocket watch staffs are moderately fragile and can easily be broken if the watch is dropped. And they're not easy to resource, so - if you have them in good condition - they're worth  selling for a reasonable price.

 

I'll have to go through and inspect each one to see if there are any that are free of rust.

anilv Distinguished Member

anilv

Posted
Posted

If you advertise them correctly and wit photos then the decision will be the buyers.

 

Re poise- any weight loss will be close to the axis = negligable impact.

 

If there is any rust on the pivots, this would be a good reason not to use.

 

 

I would say that the staff in the first picture, where there is a lot of rust on the pivot, is trash. The one in the second picture is OK..\

 

Anil

BlakeL WRT Addict

BlakeL

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Finally got around to cleaning up most of the miscellaneous tools. What's worth keeping vs selling? I don't know what half this stuff is besides the screwdrivers that I'll sell since they're pretty small.

 

DSC03894.JPG

BlakeL WRT Addict

BlakeL

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Man I wish this forum had drafts because I typed and labeled what 90% of it is, and then it disappeared when I linked an image.  :thumbsd:

 

Were you ever able to recover your post?

BlakeL WRT Addict

BlakeL

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Yeah, I know some are clock tools, just don't know what they're called.  I actually have a whole bag of random clock parts, mostly random gears and large springs.  Not really sure what to do with it since nothing is labeled and most parts have surface rust.

bobm12 Distinguished Member

bobm12

Posted
Posted

I don't know, being a pack rat myself, but is it possible to "clean up" the parts and store them for a rainy day (well preserved)? In my very little experience, most of the time when a part or a tool is needed it is the one we got rid of...and usually very hard to find again!

 

Just a thought...and considering their precedence is from another watchmaker, I wonder if further down the road they could be useful.

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

BlakeL WRT Addict

BlakeL

Posted
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I don't know, being a pack rat myself, but is it possible to "clean up" the parts and store them for a rainy day (well preserved)? In my very little experience, most of the time when a part or a tool is needed it is the one we got rid of...and usually very hard to find again!

 

Just a thought...and considering their precedence is from another watchmaker, I wonder if further down the road they could be useful.

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

 

I feel that way with some of the watch tools/parts if they'll be useful but I have no interest in clock repair.

Mark Distinguished Member

Mark

Posted
Posted

post-1-0-44408900-1427399365_thumb.jpg

 

  1. Looks like a gem setting claw tool
  2. Sleeve Wrench?
  3. Ring cutter (Broken)
  4. not sure
  5. Graver
  6. not sure
  7. sleeve wrench
  8. counter sinkers
  9. not sure
  10. custom pliers
  11. Wheel truing tool
  12. same
  13. Diamond gauge possibly
  14. Pin vice
  15. sleeve wrench
  16. screw drivers missing the blades
  17. roller removers
  18. mainspring winders
  19. pin vice
  20. broaches
  21. not sure
  22. not sure
  23. hammer head

 

  • Like 1
Geo Distinguished Member

Geo

Posted
Posted

I think 9 is a cam lock hand vice, 4 is a pallet stone warmer for setting pallet stones in hot shellac. 21 might be a tool for soldering on dial feet.

Just my thoughts.

BlakeL WRT Addict

BlakeL

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Thanks everyone for the responses. I'm going to determine what I want to keep then I'll start listing the rest on eBay.

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