Hi all, New Guy warning!

[Timorbloke]

Hi folks, hope you are all well.

I'm going to guess that I am a common occurrence here in that I found watch repair videos on YouTube fascinating and such a relaxing way to pass an hour or so that I started to think about taking it up as a hobby. It doesn't look like the kind of thing you jump into without backup and expert advice, so after much looking around, here I am.

I have a military aircraft engineering background (23yrs) and have good basic skills and engineering principles, which I hope will help me understand the mechanics etc. I have some basic, good quality tools for now and am looking for the best way to start.

My aim is to eventually (one day) have the skills to renovate my grandfather's Timor (issued to him after he fought with the 8th Army in N Africa, he received the watch in 45 or 46, I'm not sure which). I wore the watch through the Falklands, Gulf War1 and in Bosnia - where it stopped working. It is dear to me so I have much to learn.

Anyway, thanks for letting me join and I look forward learning from you as I go.

[HectorLooi]

Wow! That watch sure has a bit of history. It deserves a rest and a total makeover.

Is the strap original? Do you know what movement is inside?

[haratua]

Welcome!

And pop the case back open and let us take a peek please.

[HectorLooi]

Be careful doing that. In the Forties, the luminous paint would definitely contain radium. 

Would you consider getting The Nekkid Watchmaker to do the restoration. He does very good work.

He'll make a video of the restoration and all of us will get to see it. 

[Waggy]

10 hours ago, Timorbloke said:

My aim is to eventually (one day) have the skills to renovate my grandfather's Timor

I too am an engineer of 25 years and about a year into this hobby and I have found that whilst engineering knowledge is a help it only goes part of the way, for example it has taken me this long to get used to handling tweezers without things pinging away and spending hours on my hands and knees looking for parts. But it is all worth it when that balance springs into life (pun intended), a bit like golf, that one good shot in a round makes up for the other 99 bad ones and keeps you coming back next time.

I think you have a good plan to build up your experience before tackling a watch with such sentimental value - I started by working on cheap movements my thinking was that if I junked them then it wouldn't be the end of the world. However, I would advise against this as these movements can be very difficult to fix and lead to a lot of heartache and frustration. Instead, I would advise you to get 2 or 3 new or newish movements, seiko NH35 and seagul and strip these down and re-build, at least you know they work and CAN be fixed and you aren't flogging a dead horse. Get a few wins under your belt and then move on to some ebay buys - I would start by using watches that at least tick so again you know they can be fixed, before moving onto 'non starters'.

just my free advice.... but I am always reminded of my friend telling me that "if free advice as any good they would sell it" 

Good luck and remember there are loads of people here eager to help and give free advice

 

[Timorbloke]

Thanks for that. All advice gratefully received!

My knowledge so far consists of having spent a few weeks learning names of parts, what they do and what they look like. I'm now studying how they work together to tick!

I have to say I admire anyone who can strip all this down and rebuild it confidently! My hat's off to you all and I'll get there slowly and steadily.

 

HectorLooii: I have never changed the strap but I don't know if my grandfather had. He gave it to me when I joined up in 77. It is rather stiff now but I'd like to keep it if it's not going to break.

I would love the Nekkid Watchmaker to restore it - he's the main reason I'm here! His videos are brilliant and he's comes across as a great bloke. It does say that he doesn't do commissions (he was my first thought on this).

Haratua: I won't open the back until I know more about risks and precautions for Radium dust. But as soon as I know what I'm going to do with it I'll post a picture for you.

Thanks again all. Especially for the warning - it hadn't crossed my mind. Best wishes to all.

[Timorbloke]

As suggested to me by Hector, I contacted the Nekkid Watchmaker. He sent a very polite and friendly reply to say that he didn't take on subscribers watches - I had said that I was happy to be a paying customer but he gracefulloy declined.

Since joining this group I have been going through the posts making notes and learning a lot. You guys have covered just about every watchmaking subject there is - I haven't had to post a single question yet! Standby though as I have received some of my tools this week and once I have familiarised myself with them and their correct use, I shall probably get myself into question asking territory pretty quickly, so don't go anywhere!

Great site, well done all.

[tomh207]

46 minutes ago, Timorbloke said:

As suggested to me by Hector, I contacted the Nekkid Watchmaker. He sent a very polite and friendly reply to say that he didn't take on subscribers watches - I had said that I was happy to be a paying customer but he gracefulloy declined.

Since joining this group I have been going through the posts making notes and learning a lot. You guys have covered just about every watchmaking subject there is - I haven't had to post a single question yet! Standby though as I have received some of my tools this week and once I have familiarised myself with them and their correct use, I shall probably get myself into question asking territory pretty quickly, so don't go anywhere!

Great site, well done all.

There is something to learn always, as  one of our most esteemed and experienced members always says “watchmaking is like being a doctor, always practicing “

 

Tom

[rossjackson01]

Timorbloke

I've been learning for 19 months now. Only now would I attempt something like your grandfather's watch. It may not be expensive, but intrinsically it is. I've loved every minute of the learning process. I made myself a promise, I own a watch purchased by me in 1966, to do a service. It's my watch, and I'll  not touch it until at least 2 years into the hobby. It is that important to me.

Mark Lovick's course was my base. I've learned the use by watching specialist rebuilds, but return to information videos by Chronoglide and Alex Hamilton (Watch Repair Tutorials) who specialises like Mark.

I'm good with Seiko (Mike - My Retro Watches) and can do a good restore on most. Still learning specialist work, but almost there. 

Why has it taken me so long. Well, I'm learning by internet and forum. No one to physically direct me. I learn from mistakes, and they have been plentiful. Unlike others I have a very limited income learning from cheap ebay watches. Get cheap watches to begin with, not movements. Then get movements for donor parts. I did it the other way round. I now have plenty of spare movements but no cases to put them into.

This forum has wonderful people who can give advice, and it is good. There is however, no advice that can overcome lack of practice. 

I've walked, not run. But if feels like a massive sprint. So exhilarating.

Hope to read more of your journey.

Ross

 

 

[Timorbloke]

Thanks Ross, I'm not rushing into anything - I think your approach is the way to go. I'm looking around house clearance sales and boot sales for cheap learning movements, seeking a first victim! I'll see if there's a thread where I can post my progress.

 

[oldhippy]

Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum.

We all look forward to your contributions and continued involvement. 

I always suggest to new members who are starting out to practice on pocket watches first, they are just like a slandered watch movement only much bigger, it will help you to learn how to use your watchmakers screwdrivers correctly, your tweezers ( you will need at least two pairs one for normal work and the other for fine work) and your eye glass ( you will need a few with different strengths) Don't need to worry about getting the movement to work just keep taking it apart and putting it all back, get to know the parts and what they do. You might find this helpful. Do not undertake Fusee pocket watches they are very different. 

704789946_TZIllustratedGlossary(2).pdf

[Timorbloke]

What an excellent document! Marvelous, thank you very much for that and your advice. Most welcome.