Jump to content

National Electric Watch Cleaning Machine


Recommended Posts

Hi

I have an old (very old!) watch cleaning machine that has recently been sparking a lot from the motor and cutting out. I took out the carbon brushes which are worn away - photos below. Given the age of the motor I don't see the point looking for genuine replacements, I thought I could get some generic off EBay or use some spares from another motor and shape to fit. I've no idea how long they should be though, and whether it matters providing they fit. Can anyone advise me? Thanks.

Stephen

 

post-373-0-35227300-1434870698_thumb.jpg

 

post-373-0-01046500-1434870714_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With the colour and the timer in the base, It looks so like the Elma I bought recently. :)

It'll soooooon be Friday! ;)

 

Right on Geo, it's very Elma like in structure and appearance. I really pleased about the condition, almost "NOS" in watch terms. Can't wait for it to arrive.

 

And I can't wait until Fridayyyyyyyyyyy!!!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Arrived today, just managed to get home and catch the courier.

 

Unpacking is the best part 

 

Cleaning up is the worst part.

 

I'm amazed and pleased with the condition, it really is as good as brand new, still has all of the parts and even the instruction leaflet.

 

With formal Retirement Day tomorrow I'm looking forward to this weekend when I can do some serious work with this.

 

post-1141-0-71725300-1435803389_thumb.jp

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well done Jim.

Of all the purchases I have made the best is without doubt the cleaning machine. I had an L&R refurbished *

Cleaning is now almost a pleasure. If I have a really dirty watch I give it a pre-clean first & it saves the cleaning solutions. 

 

PS Enjoy your retirement 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bet you can't wait to get started. Have you got the cleaner and rinse? what are you going to use.  Looks a fine machine.

 

I'm ready to go, but don't have any cleaning fluid left. Got 4 litres of Zenith "Drizebrite" rinse and waiting on a delivery of L&R Extra Fine Watch Cleaner. But it has to come from Brisbane by road, 1,700 kilometres away, hopefully here tomorrow or Monday.

 

I looked at all of the wiring and it's an eye opener. Everything is well insulated (1950s style) and as we say in Oz, "built like a brick sh!thouse".

 

The three jars had a lot of dried residue in the so I put them in the dishwasher. They came out like new, all sparky clean!

I just hope Annie doesn't notice the slight chemical smell in the dishwasher, maybe I'll get one of those lemon scented things and slip it in there tomorrow  :D  

 

More to come..............................

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm ready to go, but don't have any cleaning fluid left. Got 4 litres of Zenith "Drizebrite" rinse and waiting on a delivery of L&R Extra Fine Watch Cleaner. But it has to come from Brisbane by road, 1,700 kilometres away, hopefully here tomorrow or Monday.

 

I looked at all of the wiring and it's an eye opener. Everything is well insulated (1950s style) and as we say in Oz, "built like a brick sh!thouse".

 

The three jars had a lot of dried residue in the so I put them in the dishwasher. They came out like new, all sparky clean!

I just hope Annie doesn't notice the slight chemical smell in the dishwasher, maybe I'll get one of those lemon scented things and slip it in there tomorrow  :D  

 

More to come..............................

Did the same had to run the dishwasher with dishwasher cleaner to get id of the smell before you know who found out  :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Saturday here, the other half was taking her God-daughter to the flicks so I had the place to myself.

I received the 4 litres of L&R  yesterday so this morning I charged two jars with L&R and one with the Zenith rinse.

I had a movement stripped down so I filled the little baskets (even the cap jewels) and started the test.

 

Ran 5 minutes on the first clean and spun off the liquid and then into the second clean for 5 minutes, and then on to the rinse for a couple of minutes and into the dryer.

 

Aside from seeing wisps of smoke coming from beneath the machine (immediate "kill power" enacted) there were no problems. I think the smoke was either some fluff and dust I hadn't managed to blow out or possibly some rinse dripped down onto the heater plate. I'll make sure I spin after the rinse a bit longer next time.

 

Final result?

 

All parts nice and clean (even under the 'scope) so I'm very pleased with the outcome.

 

My next test will be to clean a Seiko 6309 movement that hasn't see a screwdriver for about 30 years.

 

All in all, a good outcome.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

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

    • Does anyone knows what size case a need for a dial diameter 20.60mm?
    • Sounds like the story with my Rolex. Poor (expensive) job done by an official Rolex dealer with an "in-house" watchmaker, hence I learned watchrepair and did the servicing myself. Same story as I learned with the Omega 861, again poor job by an "in-house" watchmaker by an official Omega dealer. Once your watch goes through that back-door, you have no idea what is going to happening to it 🫣 Quite nice that the sent back the parts which had been replaced !
    • yes that's definitely not right at all. I have a picture one of my friends has a Omega coaxial there was having issues to lose asking me where he should send it. As that's a specialty watch I suggested the service center. When he got it back he sent me a picture so the replace the dial as you can see the hands the mainspring barrel and I think the price was really quite decent considering all the stuff they can replace. So I do know they do change the barrels but the other person I worked at the service center when I would ask questions and unfortunately I can't remember all the answers. I think a lot of the changing a parts is at the discretion of the watchmaker. Plus I don't know enough about the chronographs and whether that would be considered a vintage watch? I take some of the vintage watches may have been sent directly to Switzerland or another service center. Obviously with a watch like the one down below they probably have a infinite supply of parts is its relatively modern vintage stuff becomes more interesting even the watch companies don't have necessarily infinite supply of parts. But no matter what the watch shouldn't disintegrated six months that's definitely an issue.        
    • glad it worked out, those ESA movements are obsolete but new old stock is still out there, now that you know the make/model you could also do a cross reference to see if something more current would line up with the dial feet and hands...for future use if needed 👍
    • I wish they would have done so in this case. The whole story went like this: I sent my speedmaster to an omega service center about 10 years ago (at that point of time I haven't even started watchmaking). After the watch came back to me it had only about 6 months wristtime until january 2024 (not fair for this nice watch but the other pieces of my collection want wristtime too 🙂). So my conclusion is that the barrel was already faulty when it came back from service, can't imagine that amount of wear in 6 months wristtime. In january 2024 the performance on the wrist was quite bad, so I decided to have a look by myself. I have to admit that I didn't check the barrel close enough as I thought it must be ok, couldn't have issues after official omega service. That was a mistake, I will learn from that. Follow the golden rule: Nothing is certain except death and taxes.
×
×
  • Create New...