Old school mainspring winder

[OceanSprint]

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.

[Neverenoughwatches]

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.

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 December 6, 2022 by Neverenoughwatches

[mikepilk]

Thought it was a starting handle for a Morris Minor 

I assumed these were just for clocks, but would like to hear the answer

[Paul80]

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.

[rehajm]

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

[Neverenoughwatches]

39 minutes ago, rehajm said:

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

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]

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

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

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

 

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. 

[watchweasol]

I think these tools would have been in use when Old Hippy was a lad, before the "modern" types. Hopefully he can enlighten us.