LUCKY DAY--an old watch bench with stuff inside!!

[LittleWatchShop]

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!

Edited May 6, 2022 by LittleWatchShop

[Nibbler]

Great Find!

[LittleWatchShop]

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

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

[grsnovi]

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

[Kalanag]

36 minutes ago, LittleWatchShop said:

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

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 May 6, 2022 by Kalanag

[LittleWatchShop]

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!

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

[grsnovi]

The bottom tool is a set of proportional dividers. See here.

[LittleWatchShop]

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.

[KarlvonKoln]

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.

[LittleWatchShop]

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.

[KarlvonKoln]

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!  ♡♡♡♡♡

[Kalanag]

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.

 

[grsnovi]

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.

[Paul80]

Nice collection for next to nothing.

As the old song say, some guys have all the luck 

[Marc]

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 May 7, 2022 by Marc
acknowledgement

[Michael1962]

Lucky bar steward. <envious>

[RichardHarris123]

Why don't I get so lucky? Pleased for you. 

[LittleWatchShop]

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.