What to do with my Timex Marlin ?

[Vinpetrol]

Hi All 

I’m hoping you may be able to help me. I’m looking for advice for a watch I have . It is a 1977 timex Marlin with a purple/dark blue face no date . It has the m24 movement. 
It was belonged to my father and he wore it daily . He had it on the day he died in 1985 and it has a bit of damage from that day. 
I have just buried my Mother and before the funeral I spotted my dads old watch and as we were burying mum with him I decided to wear it . 
I really like the watch and it also has a lot of sentimental value to me so this has inspired me to try to get it repaired. 
I’d like to know what my options are and what would everyone do with it if it was there’s ? 
I’d really like to get it to the condition where I can use it . It has a bit of damage to the glass but I’d consider keeping that as it is . 
the case is a bit bashed and I’m assuming that other than a clean nothing can be done with it .

I think the movement has been overwound it’s an m24 . Are these repairable ? 
If not can they be replaced ? 
Is it an option to replace an m24 movement with an automatic battery one (I’m aware this might be sacrilege in the vintage watch world ! ) 

I just really like the watch and it means a lot to me so I’d love to get it fixed . I’m also happy to get my hands dirty if it’s doable by an amateur . 
many help or advice will be greatly appreciated! 
 

cheers 

Vin

[Marc]

A good clean, replacement crystal, and basic movement service and that'll be good to go. It's also doable yourself, however, given the sentimental value that it has I would suggest that you get hold of another old Timex to practice on first if you've never worked on a watch before. There are plenty of people on here who could guide you through the process. If you find that it's too difficult then you would have to find someone to take it on. It may help if we knew where you are located.

[watchweasol]

Hi before you decide to have a go at it I have attached the service manual for the M24, Have a good read through it and then decide.  As Marc explained these are not the easiest of movements for the beginner and therefore a bit of practice before delving in will pay dividends.

24 (2).pdf

[Vinpetrol]

Thanks for your reply’s guys . 
what did you think of my idea of putting a battery powered movement in it ? 
I’m in the highlands north of Inverness if that helps at all 

 

cheers 

 

Vin

[jdm]

18 minutes ago, Vinpetrol said:

What did you think of my idea of putting a battery powered movement in it ? 

Beside that doing that without carnage is not nearly as easy as you may think, that approach poses interesting questions.

What is that we want to preserve in a watch that is kept for sentimental reasons? The case and looks only? Actually most watch enthusiasts try al the time to preserve "full authenticity" and cherish mechanical movements. Is it to be worn everyday to preserve the feelings? Or just sometime to appreciate it even more? A mechanical watch works very well for that purpose. Other people are happy just storing having a faulty or modest piece, knowing that the judicious person that owned it wouldn't have spent excessive time and money just to keep it running.

[Vinpetrol]

2 hours ago, jdm said:

Beside that doing that without carnage is not nearly as easy as you may think, that approach poses interesting questions.

What is that we want to preserve in a watch that is kept for sentimental reasons? The case and looks only? Actually most watch enthusiasts try al the time to preserve "full authenticity" and cherish mechanical movements. Is it to be worn everyday to preserve the feelings? Or just sometime to appreciate it even more? A mechanical watch works very well for that purpose. Other people are happy just storing having a faulty or modest piece, knowing that the judicious person that owned it wouldn't have spent excessive time and money just to keep it running.

That’s an interesting point. I wore the watch for the first time this weekend without it working for the first time after owning it for 36 years . It was a very significant occasion and something prompted me to put it on . 
Wearing it felt right . 
up until this point owning it and looking at it occasionally was enough but now I feel I want to wear it working . 
My father wore it every day on building sites , to the pub in the evening and the church at the weekend . 
I suppose I need to decide do I want to wear it every day as he did or just keep it to wear outside of work or more of a special occasion.

I suppose my thoughts were if I wear  it for every day use then a battery conversion would be maybe more practical  but I think I’m already leaning towards keeping it original . It’s a 44 year old time piece . I had a 1977 mk 4 Ford cortina back in the day . If I owned it now I wouldn’t fit a hybrid engine in it I’d want it original . 
 

thanks for your thoughts , it’s much appreciated 

 

vin

[watchweasol]

 Hi Vin  The original idea behind the Timex design was it was a throw away movement and or was replaced as an entirety. Having said that they can be repaired and cleaned with out fully dismantling just removing the balance and cleaning the rest in ronsonol/benzine or isopropyl alchohol  and then drying,, lubricating  and refitting the balance, this works on most occasions but not all.  The attached service manual explains it better than me as it was written by Timex.

I am in St Combs Fraserburgh  not so far away. Been up Inverness way many times. 

1961_Service_Manual (1).pdf

[Vinpetrol]

10 hours ago, watchweasol said:

 Hi Vin  The original idea behind the Timex design was it was a throw away movement and or was replaced as an entirety. Having said that they can be repaired and cleaned with out fully dismantling just removing the balance and cleaning the rest in ronsonol/benzine or isopropyl alchohol  and then drying,, lubricating  and refitting the balance, this works on most occasions but not all.  The attached service manual explains it better than me as it was written by Timex.

I am in St Combs Fraserburgh  not so far away. Been up Inverness way many times. 

1961_Service_Manual (1).pdf 1.73 MB · 0 downloads

Thanks for the reply . 
I am a bit of a tinkerer , I do have a go at my cars and diggers but I think I’d be nervous having a go at my dads watch . 
Is it something you’d be prepared to have a go at if I could get it to you? 
would you be able to sort a new glass (or crystal I think is the right terminology) or should I be trying to sort the parts out ? 
 

thanks again for your help 

 

cheers 

 

Vin 

[JerseyMo]

Hi Vin -  I have a look on this site - https://heritage1854.com/   you will find a section with emails contacts for repairs.

These are all members of a small group of Timex collectors such as myself.   

[GregG]

Hi Vin, Timexes are different than usual swiss movements.  Unless you have some experience with watches in general, and preferably Timexes, I wouldn't attempt it by yourself.  Most watches only require you to line up 2 or 3 gears to their respective holes before you can screw a plate down and secure them.  Timexes require you to line up 8 things at once.

After some practice, you can really get it quickly, but never practice on something you want to keep. Practice on junk first.

However, the crystal is something you can change by yourself easily, assuming you have the right tool (a crystal lift, usually cheap ones are $20), and a replacement crystal ($5).  

But investing in tools might not be economical if your ultimate goal is to just fix up this one watch.

Let me know any questions you might have.