Jump to content

Old school mainspring winder

OceanSprint

By OceanSprint
in Mainspring and Winding Tools

 Share

Recommended Posts

OceanSprint Member

OceanSprint

Posted
Posted

Sorry if this has been covered before. I see adverts for the type of MS winder in the attached photo. I can find no YouTube videos of how to use them. Are they an alternative to the more normal "barrel" type (e.g. Bergeon)? Are there any videos of how to use them? thanks.

Mainspring Winder.JPG

Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted (edited)
58 minutes ago, OceanSprint said:

Sorry if this has been covered before. I see adverts for the type of MS winder in the attached photo. I can find no YouTube videos of how to use them. Are they an alternative to the more normal "barrel" type (e.g. Bergeon)? Are there any videos of how to use them? thanks.

Mainspring Winder.JPG

With a clock mainspring winder which looks similar, the mainspring is hooked by its centre onto the interchangeable arbor at the front. The opposite end of the mainspring is held by the top arm in someway, on a clock winder there are various attachments that can locate into loops or slots in the tang end of the spring. This then holds the two ends of the spring which can then be wound by the handle. When the spring is wound tight it then has a sleeve placed over the mainspring to hold it . The sleeve has a cut out to allow release of the tang holding arm. The spring is unwound in the sleeve and the tang arm lifted out of the way.  The barrel can now be inserted over the sleeve, and the mainspring released  into the barrel. Phew. I think i have that right. Actually i have no idea if this small one works the same way. How does the drop arm hold the tang end of the spring ? And are holding sleeves required as the tang arm would be in the way of the barrel when inserting. Maybe the spring is just held and manipulated into the barrel by hand . I have one,the rest of  my afternoon will now be spend finding out how to use it 👍

Edited by Neverenoughwatches
Paul80 WRT Addict

Paul80

Posted
Posted

It does look like a clock spring winder but I have read that they did make a smaller version for watches, but by watches I suspect they were talking about large pocket watches rather than wrist watches.

I do suspect that something important is missing though and in the condition shown it's only the winding mechanism, the part that holds the spring is missing.

Perhaps one of our more knowledgeable or helpful members could confirm or deny my assumption that something is missing.

Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
39 minutes ago, rehajm said:

..I happened across this. Seems similar...

il_1588xN.4178383968_7tjc.jpg

That maybe answers it. A small clock mainspring winder ? The retainer needs to hold onto the far end of the spring somehow.  Some mainspring bridles do have holes, more suited to pocket watches. Could a mainspring hole punch be used to make a slot for the retainer to fit into ?

JohnR725 Distinguished Member

JohnR725

Posted
Posted

One of the minor problems with the discussion is exactly how big is that? So yes it could be a Winder for wristwatches but it really does look like a clock Winder and we don't have a proper size perspective which is part of the problem.

18 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Bergeon

Link below and picture from the website.

https://www.bergeon.swiss/estrapades-pour-pendules-avec-un-bati-en-fonte-vernie-se-fixant-a-l-etau-en-coffret-bois.html

 

clock mainspring winder.JPG

Neverenoughwatches Distinguished Member

Neverenoughwatches

Posted
Posted
48 minutes ago, JohnR725 said:

One of the minor problems with the discussion is exactly how big is that? So yes it could be a Winder for wristwatches but it really does look like a clock Winder and we don't have a proper size perspective which is part of the problem.

Link below and picture from the website.

https://www.bergeon.swiss/estrapades-pour-pendules-avec-un-bati-en-fonte-vernie-se-fixant-a-l-etau-en-coffret-bois.html

 

clock mainspring winder.JPG

Size perspective delivered. Total length from winding handle to the tip of the arbor is 95mm. The arbor measures 5mm and 3mm to insert into the winder. I would think the arbor could be manufactured  down to a 2mm if needed. The arbor on my progress winder for watches is 2.6mm,  i have seen a few with various sizes of arbors. So i am thinking these could do pocket watches easily. The retaining arm is missing on this one but making a new one to suit any size of spring should be possible. 

16704097041951193624042089877213.jpg

1670410449265987350266985088833.jpg

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.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • JohnR725
      A lathe with indexing that won't break the bank?

      By JohnR725 · Posted

      You're asking a pretty broad question and you didn't specify the machine but yes it's simple especially if you have the right machine. The question has problems but I'll take it as it is. Is it really that simple yes especially if you have the right machine. So in the video below he's making a screw and yes it really is that simple but pay attention to the machine it is not simple at all probably wasn't cheap but it is small it will probably fit in your garage. Unfortunately wouldn't fit in my garage as it's far too cluttered up with things. In the video he talks about making a screw and pay attention to the machine. The machine has lots and lots and lots of cutters and lots of things to do lots of machining all-in-one machine conceivably one step after another all programmable. If you look at his channel lots of CNC's stuff and there are several other videos related to this machine. He goes to the factory where they talk about it and show all the other machines they make in Switzerland.  I did look up the specifications the machine I don't recall the price it's not going to cut wheels I think it has a maximum diameter around 11 mm basically it's really good for making small diameter watch parts. Then in one of the other videos he goes to a factory that used to make parts with waterpowered machinery been in business for 100 years and everything they now make is made with CNC machines including this one. What was interesting with the factory photo was that when they make some parts they can put them on a optical comparator comparator compares with whatever the reference is and the machine can be programmed to adjust its cutting to make sure everything is actually being made to specifications. Oh and then somewhere in all of this there was at least one picture of a balance staff can't have a CNC Swiss machine without making balance staffs.   It would be really nice if we had pictures of the machine. Then yes if you look at the page for wheel cutting you can enter parameters and it will generate a G code but he left out things? Notice he has a picture of a complete wheel but the G code isn't making a complete wheel it's only cutting the gear teeth I don't see whereas the program for crossing out the spokes? Typically when you see people cutting gears once the teeth are cut most the time the spokes are cut by hand. Occasionally someone will mill them out but typically not with the program which seems strange if you have CNC capability for instance one of my friends fill it used to design assembly line equipment or things to make things. So his hobby was to continue to make tools to make things like clocks. Very interesting and clever clocks but his true fund was making the machines to make the clocks. Then machine is not controlled by G code like we would typically find today as the stepping motor controller he has was made a long time ago and the individual controllers used a textbased program. So the company had a editor you could write a program to cause each the stepping motors to do something. So basically once you figure out how to cut a gear he would just change the parameters for different size gears so here's an example of a gear as you can see we have the teeth and the spokes. Then we have a picture the machine which sucks because it would've been so much nicer if I could've taken a picture when it was cutting a gears so we can see things better. Then yes there is a worm gear stepping motor indexing this is a mini lathe and the indexing is at the end of the lathe head hiding. The basic operation of this machine would be brass sheet not cut to a specific diameter size not even round mounted on the machine. Then it turns and a milling cutter will cut the diameter. Then the gear would be cut with a gear cutter. The same mill cutter for the diameter although conceivably change the size I don't know but basically the same milling for cutting the outer diameter would be used to cut the spokes. I really can't remember how he did the center hole but whatever it was was very precise.          
    • JerseyMo
      Does a lighter fluid trick actually work on vintage mechanical Timex watches?

      By JerseyMo · Posted

      Yeah I know the site and the creator of it.  the two video clips are good examples of the quicker method and a full tear down.  the quick method will work in many cases. But not always and not for all the different movements.  I strongly suggest to not bend the four tabs as was done in the first clip.  Instead there are three tabs that insert into the top plate, Much saver way as to not break a tab.
    • JseTay
      Lathe motor advice

      By JseTay · Posted

      I found a motor that is 3/4 hp and another that is 1.2hp. They come with speed controller. So I don’t think I would need a wiring diagram. But I sure appreciate you offering your help! Do you think 1.2 hp would be too much for a watchmaker’s lathe?
    • stm
      Seiko 6139: Unable to remove winding stem because of corrosion

      By stm · Posted

      At the moment I have neither EDTA solution nor Evaporust, so I tried with a citric acid solution. This gave satisfying results for most of the parts, except for the ones that are really heavily corroded. I will see whether I can acquire one EDTA or Evaporust and try that next.
    • GuyMontag
      A lathe with indexing that won't break the bank?

      By GuyMontag · Posted

      This guy (Minimachining) has a playlist of him setting up and using various attachments on his Sherline lathe.   I know nothing about CNC machines but had a question about making screws. Watchguy.uk has a section on his website where it allows you to enter parameters for screws and wheels and then 'generate code'. Is it as simple as that sounds, can you 'tell' the CNC machine to cut you a screw (or stem) by giving it the code for a particular screw or stem and it happily makes one for you?
×
×
  • Create New...