How to fabricate a set bridge for an old pocket watch Helvetia

[rodabod]

You will absolutely need to temper it. You can use a gas cooker at home, or a spirit lamp, or a blow torch for heating and then tempering. 
 

I’d rather let some of the more experienced watchmakers comment on what colour is best to temper to for a setting lever. You’ll find blue on some antique work, but that does not necessarily mean that it is the best hardness for the job. 

[jdm]

22 hours ago, Doreen said:

I should harden the steel first before testing the part on the watch or I should first make sure is working properly on the movement and than harden the new part steel? 

If you have not messed with that feeler gauge blade before cutting it I see no compelling reason to do that now, the steel is made to last and be springy, will serve its purpose well for the foreseeable future.

[rodabod]

Oh, it was made from a feeler gauge! Sorry, I missed that part. I agree with JDM. If the original feeler gauges feel like they have a good spring action and return to shape after deformation (and don’t snap!) then it may be fine to leave them as-is. 

[Brutus]

I have harden and temper the new steel  part. Just installed back and everything seems to work good. I’m very happy about it. To be honest I never tough I will be able to make it out. Thank you for so many good advices I received here; greatly appreciated.

This is embarrassing,... I just can’t find the shock spring anywhere. I know exactly where I put it; I just don’t know what happened with it. Perhaps my little princess (Ariana) got in to my desk. She love watching when I work on my watches. I search about 3 hours for it everywhere...no spring.
 

For now I managed to put a dial washer to keep the ruby on place...I know it is not ideal but it is just temporary until I manage to find one.  I start looking online but is no way I can find the model that I need...or perhaps I don’t know were to look for it.

If anyone have a spare to share, I will very much appreciated. I will attach some images with the style of the shock spring. It looks like a star(3 corners)with a tiny little hole in the middle...no idea of the model name. I measured the diameter where the spring has to get in to hold the ruby in place and is about 3 mm; so I assume the spring has to be a little bit bigger(perhaps 3.10mm!).

It may work the one I see on the second image (Seiko watch).

Please help me out...or point me in the right direction where I can find one.

Thank you

 

Edited December 13, 2020 by Doreen
Typos