Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted (edited)

I saw an old watch bench pop up on FB marketplace and it was about 50 miles away, so this morning I was on a mission to get it. I did for $250!! It is not in great shape, but it will be an easy restore.  Then I started opening the drawers.  Wow.  I am showing just some of the things I found.  The two watches: one is an omega, and the other is an A-11 military watch.  The name on the omega face is odd, but I opened the watch and it is an Omega movement. There are no chips on the poising tool!!  I found WW collets (some rust but can be refurbished), a genuine Crocker sharpener.  There must have been a lathe but it was not in the bench.  I have asked the seller to look for it, so maybe there will be more to come!

2022-05-06 11_46_39-20220506_113123.jpg ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 11_48_42-20220506_113158.jpg ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 11_48_14-20220506_113136.jpg ‎- Photos.png

Edited by LittleWatchShop
  • Like 5
Posted

Here is the Omega.  Cannot find this exact movement on ranfft.

2022-05-06 12_29_52-20220506_122838.jpg ‎- Photos.png

I just think Ranfft only shows the sub-second variation and this one is sweep second.  It is either a 302, 310, or 311

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
36 minutes ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Here is the Omega.  Cannot find this exact movement on ranfft.

2022-05-06 12_29_52-20220506_122838.jpg ‎- Photos.png

I just think Ranfft only shows the sub-second variation and this one is sweep second.  It is either a 302, 310, or 311

See this (scroll down)!

https://www.catawiki.com/de/l/41580103-omega-rare-military-style-16-jewels-cal-r17-8-2327-herren-1901-1949

and

https://share-usa.com/blog/2016/12/29/23686

Edited by Kalanag
  • Thanks 1
Posted

Wow @Kalanagthat is amazing.  Mine even has a omega signed crown.  BTW, the second link did not work for me...timed out several times.  Could be me.

Here are some of the other tools.  Even includes a cannon pinion breaker!

2022-05-06 16_45_08-IMG_8583.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_44_58-IMG_8580.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_44_47-IMG_8581.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_44_40-IMG_8579.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_44_30-IMG_8578.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_46_23-IMG_8588.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_46_15-IMG_8589.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_46_08-IMG_8586.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_46_01-IMG_8586.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_45_35-IMG_8585.JPG ‎- Photos.png

2022-05-06 16_45_19-IMG_8584.JPG ‎- Photos.png

That last tool has me baffled.  It is not a watchmaking tool...perhaps for scribe something or another.

  • Like 2
Posted

Based on ebay prices, I am guessing the materials in the bench value between $500 and $1000.  The watches are another thing.  It appears they may be worth something the A-11 is missing a balance assembly but still worth something on ebay.  I will be in the hunt to find the balance assy and complete the watch myself.

  • Like 1
Posted
9 hours ago, grsnovi said:

Great find! What's with the letters on the Omega dial where numbers would be?

Somebody named "Henry  C. Miller" had a custom dial made.  You would see that more often with pocket watches, but a few jewelers and watchmakers would still do it years later.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Posted
2 minutes ago, KarlvonKoln said:

Somebody named "Henry  C. Miller" had a custom dial made.  You would see that more often with pocket watches, but a few jewelers and watchmakers would still do it years later.

Yup, I had my Dad get me a new dial for my avatar watch and send it to a dial refinisher to have them put my name on it.  Kept the numbers as is, but replaced Wittnauer with my name.  I have since had it changed back, but the dial refinisher screwed it up...lol...still waiting for the fix.

Posted
2 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Based on ebay prices, I am guessing the materials in the bench value between $500 and $1000.  The watches are another thing.  

It's like 2nd Christmas!  ♡♡♡♡♡

Posted
8 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Wow @Kalanagthat is amazing.  Mine even has a omega signed crown.  BTW, the second link did not work for me...timed out several times.  Could be me.

 

138F2919-AD41-4DE7-9DAA-D05D4C7CE3E3.jpeg

Posted
2 hours ago, KarlvonKoln said:

Somebody named "Henry  C. Miller"

Funny, I guess starting with the last "r" and moving clockwise, I just didn't see it. Now it's obvious.

Posted (edited)
14 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

That last tool has me baffled

It's called a proportional divider and it's a drafting instrument. You use it to scale drawings up or down. By setting the pivot point to the ratio (enlargement or reduction) that you want you can then scale off the original and mark up at the new scale.

Oops!! should have read the whole thread before replying, @grsnovi beat me to it by a country mile..... 🙂

Edited by Marc
acknowledgement
  • Like 2
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
Posted

I have refinished the top and made new rails. Obviously, I could not remove the stains that are deep into the wood, but I sanded it down, stained it, and put on a poly clear coat. It is not a perfect job but it is a major improvement.

I am debating on whether or not to sand down the front.

It is in the garage now and I do not have a place for it yet.  My watch room (The Little Watch Shop) is full with five watch benches and one electronics bench.  Not sure what to do...I will ask my therapist.

2022-07-01 07_26_44-20220628_091252.jpg ‎- Photos.png

  • Like 3

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Hello all, just disassembling to service, but I can’t figure out the working of the calendar work…it’s not operational the jumper and spring are ok, but the operation of the driving wheel has me at a loss. I can’t see a cam to drive anything. Is something damaged or missing? Help please!
    • Believe the relume (not a fan) was done a long time after the damage. 
    • I can only think of some chemical reaction to reluming
    • I have a little milling attachment for my WW lathe, but very rarely use it and not for wheel and pinion cutting. For that I use a small Sixis 101 milling machine. I normally do direct dividing, but sometimes have to do an odd count and use the universal index which also fits on the Sixis.   Back in the day when I didn't have a mill, I would cut gearing on my Schaublin 102. It has a universal dividing attachment which fits the back of the spindle. Both it and the one for the Sixis are 60:1 ratio, and with the set of 4  index plates I can do almost any division. When I've had to do a strange high count prime number, I print a disc with the needed division and just place the plunger on the dot. Any position error is reduced by a factor of 60 so still plenty accurate.   The machines are a mess in the pics as I'm in the process of making a batch of barrels for a wristwatch 🙃.   This is the Sixis. The head can also be placed vertically, as can the dividing spindle.   Dividing plates. The smaller ones fit another dividing spindle.   Universal divider for the Sixis. I put it together with parts from an odd Sixis spindle that takes w20 collets, like the Schaublin 102, and a dividing attachment from a Schaublin mill.     The dividing attachment for the 102. The gear fits in place of the handwheel at the back of the headstock.   And the little milling attachment for the WW lathe. I just set it on the slide rest to illustrate the size, you can see from the dust on it it really doesn't get used much. I think only when I change bearing in the head, to kiss the collet head seat (grinding wheel still in the milling attachment).
    • I read a lot about the quality (or lack thereof) of Seiko's 4R, 6R, 8L  movements...or more specifically the lack of regulation from the factory. Especially when compared to similar priced manufactures using SW200's or ETA's. I thought I'd ask those more in the know, do the 4R's and 6R's deserve their bad reputation, is it fairly easy for someone with minimal skills (or better yet a trained watch mechanic) to dial in these movements to a more acceptable performance.    For background I spent more on a 1861 Speedy years ago, expecting that the advertised 0-15s/d  would probably perform more like 5-7s/d. In reality it's been closed to 2-4s/d. 
×
×
  • Create New...