Pocket watch Mainspring barrel

[BillF]

Hi 

Have this 36mm antique pocket fob watch, not come across mainspring barrel like this before has a toothed wheel on bottom and an best describe as al apple she plat on top, one obviously has to come off to be able to remove the spline through middle and the barrel cover to get at spring. But cant find out how it comes apart have tried soaking it to see if can get apart but without forcing and damaging not sure how comes apart

Thanks 

 

[nickelsilver]

You have a Geneva stopworks there, missing the second piece. This is a common occurence. Making or finding a new piece is time consuming in either case, and the watch will run fine without it. The ratchet wheel looks like it should pull off of the arbor, stout hand levers are good here. Some watches have the ratchet integral with the arbor, with the trick that the "bonde" or part that attaches to the mainspring is threaded on and unscrews to release the arbor/ratchet wheel. If that is the case, there will be 2 holes on the "bonde" to fit a tool to help unscrew it (but you can grasp it with very stout [nickel or brass] tweezers. In your case I think the ratchet wheel comes off due to the undercut around the square- that would be next to impossible to create by even modern machining methods.

[BillF]

Hi nicklesilver 

Thank you very much for your kind help 

dont suppose you would have a pic of where the missing part is ?

Do you have any other info about the movement as having trouble identifying it tried best fit encyclopaedia but cant find any setting mechanism to match. 

and no identifying marks other than on case ? 

Would be nice to know maker etc is geneva stop works the maker ?

Thanks very much

Bill 

 

[nickelsilver]

If you Google Geneva stop works you'll find loads of info and pics. To find out the maker (it's not Geneva stop works) post some pics of both sides of the movement.

[BillF]

Great thank you :0)

[bigstrobe]

awesome information.  I have the "other" part of the geneva stopworks on a watch I just got into, and I was scratching my head that SOMETHING had to contact that gear.   Found a great video that explains it in detail per the google search.

[LittleWatchShop]

I have seen the Geneva stop on clocks, but not on a watch (but I have limited experience).  Here is an image I found.

[JohnR725]

On 9/12/2022 at 4:11 AM, BillF said:

tried best fit encyclopaedia but cant find any setting mechanism to match.

one of the problems with books like bestfit are there specifically designed to identify watches that parts are available for them. Or at least parts at one time were available. Then they tend to be time-limited of how far back they will go they don't cover pocket watches to the beginning of time unfortunately.

then as the other problem of there were so many watches over time made that they just don't cover everything.