Balance bridge screw failure

[ZeKay]

Hi My name is Zbig, I am new to this forum. I am recently, very slowly getting to the watch refurbishement hobby. My interest is in pocket watches. I have few of them Walthams, Elgins, Burlington,Ermano, Meda, Doxa, Omega to name few. Its a very small colection I was able to find here and there...

I am trying to rebuilt/refurbish 1947 Omega 37.5 T1 (15 jewels) I thin Cal 140 pocket watch which I've acquired with broken staff balance. Couple of weeks ago I was able to find complete, used balance wheel with the hair spring for it. After removing and cleaning balance bridge, i was ready to attach the hair spring with the balance wheel to the bridge part.

After insertion of the stud in to the tringle shaped hole in the bridge (very tidious operation) next step was to tight the screw to secure both parts together .

  I was just about to make the last turn when the bad lack struck...the tiny screw holding the stud broke...

And here comes my dilemma:

- Should i try to remove this broken part of the tiny screw from the bridge? I removed this screw couple of times from this bridge and it had no issues.

- Look for new (used) balance bridge for this type and continue the process of attaching.

- Look for complete balance bridge - hair spring - balance wheel assembly which, I assume, would not be the easy to find. 

I am curious, what would be your advice how to go forward with this.

Thanks

Z

[Nucejoe]

Welcome to WRT forum.

  I would push the stud out and soak the bridge in Cocacola for 48hrs( rinse under tap water), the two little screws would then unscrew with ease. 

Next drop the bridge in a rich solution of alum-water, in day or two, alum will desolve the remainder of the screw. 

Good luck

[Klassiker]

Remove and replace the broken screw would be my first choice. The other options are there as a back-up, but the parts will be harder to find and much more expensive than a new screw.

[Michael1962]

Welcome to the forums Z. Enjoy.

Hope you can get the screw sorted out.