Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Some say Dr. Ranfft has passed away.  Others say the database is moving to another server.  I do not know.

Someone has reposted it here.

Last year, worrying about this possibility, I scraped the site so I have the entire database on my PC.  I dont have the search engine, however.

Posted
59 minutes ago, rehajm said:

Kaput, but yes, a dedicated soul is reconstituting the important bits…

I have thought about building my own advanced search engine, but it would be a lot of work.  Just building a web page with all the data like the github solution would be relatively easy, but redundant.

Posted
19 minutes ago, LittleWatchShop said:

I have thought about building my own advanced search engine, but it would be a lot of work.  Just building a web page with all the data like the github solution would be relatively easy, but redundant.

Yes, I briefly considered introducing the project to a local ud school as a challenge to some enterprising students. I think if someone were to make the effort, the good news is the data lends itself to search, yah? I rarely needed more than two or three inputs to find what I was searching for…

Posted
1 hour ago, mikepilk said:

I just hope someone can get it back and working. I feel at a loss without it.

The github link works although he is doing a refresh right now...will need another day to complete.

I have the database in an excel spreadsheet.  I think I can convert it to html and host it on my domain.  But, if the github works, this would be a redundant effort.

image.png.7b974a82f3df4d1a1e515716b32b8e93.png

  • Like 1
Posted
17 hours ago, mikepilk said:

I just hope someone can get it back and working. I feel at a loss without it.

yes the withdrawal symptoms of I want to see a picture of a watch because nobody will post their watch the working on as usual and?

but apparently it's been archived at this address. I did have the home page but I was like entering here with the complete list

https://web.archive.org/web/20200216123958/http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk

 

 

Posted
1 hour ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Nice find, but the server is SLOW

yes I was noticing the same problem but the same individual who gave me that gave me another link which I see as already been posted. sso apparently this is the new improved site to replace the other one  that is no longer in existence. It's one of the unfortunate problems the Internet one minute it's there in the next minute could be gone  and certain sites like this are extremely useful.

31 minutes ago, mikepilk said:

I followed the link, and it seems to be working https://ranfft.org/

 

  • Like 1
Posted
11 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Looks like the problem went away. RANFFT is back up now.

I'd still be interested in a copy, partially for playing with, partially in case it goes down again!

Only if it's not too much of a hassle though 😄

  • 3 months later...
Posted
31 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

I don't like the new site at all. 

Same here. I miss being able to see all the information and photos at a glance. Also the calibre family information is missing - this was really useful for learning about all the variations that existed.

Posted (edited)

The about page shows the moniker of who is doing this. This is a work in progress so give it some time. Says there the goal is to merge data sets including the original which isn't currently running...

Edited by rehajm
Posted (edited)

I have filled in the contact form and hope to get in touch with the owner.

Reading through the About document - this looks like a great initiative and I would be keen to contribute to a site that is open source and contains copyright free content.

Imagine if we had a site where you could submit a photo of your movement and it could identify it for you and tell you all about it.  Or one where you specify the movement you are working on and the part you need and it will tell you all the other movements that used the same part?

Edited by ColinC
  • Like 2

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.

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • I believe @nickelsilver has a setup like that.
    • I posted pictures earlier in this thread. My lathe and mill are two separate instruments. I think I have seen examples of putting a milling head on a lathe bed...but not certain.
    • Timex Camper, September 1994, new to me. Strap is an old perlon with "Germany" in script etched into the resin on the tail end. Not Horlon or Eulit I believe. History unknown, running strong, losing less than a minute a day. Goals for this: Wear it a ton! Buy crystal lift, clean out the gunk around the ring and under the crystal Eventually swap into a stainless steel case. I've seen a member who has swapped a Timex mechanical movement into the Timex J.Crew quartz field watch case.
    • One of the problems we would have with a watchmaker's lathe is they were made over considerable span of time and manufacturing in the early days probably wasn't as good as it was today. Then if you look at the older catalogs typically it was just the head a few collets and something to rest graver on. So basically a basic lathe with over time things acquired but acquired things may or may not fit. Order today you purchase a used lathe that all kinds of nifty bits and pieces from a seller that acquired from? This would come back to that the basic watchmaker's lathe was used for basic watchmaking like turning things with a hand graver. Then limited indexing is fine because you can make things like stems Which don't need a whole bunch indexing   In the link above the word vector is mentioned and at the link below you can purchase one. Then of course you're going to need the motor that's a little bit extra for the price. https://www.hswalsh.com/product/lathe-vector-watchmakers-48-collets-hl11. That you're going to need some bonus parts like these found this picture online show the classic way of classic gear cutting.   The lathe could have a much bigger indexing disk but it has to be mounted close to the edge. Otherwise you're going to have a whole bunch of smaller disks like this which I think has notches rather than holes. Then as wonderful as these pictures look actually cutting a gear with this is not entirely fun. Look at all is belts all pulling on things and this is a watchmaker's lathe lightweight with lots of bits and pieces attached. It would make more sense if you actually cut a gear with something like this and it tends to be it's not really the best way to do it looks nice on paper but it is not the best way to go. Reality for cutting watch parts would be a bigger machine is much better. Than getting rid of all those belts and pulleys also good. Here is an interesting channel I would've liked of found a different video but this was nice and short if you look at his video as he uses a stepping motor and worm gear assembly for the indexing plate. In this particular video it gets attached to the lathe at about one minute and seven seconds and it looks like it's hiding looks like he has a Sherline. I do know he's had other stuff you'll just have to go through his videos to find it. Then at about one minute and 22 seconds you find out if you set up things appropriately. It's always bad we end up with half a tooth at the very end. Then you will note big lathe yes he's getting a big gear but you could easily cut a watch gear with the setup. And it definitely way more stable than a watchmaker's lathe.         Oh here's a company they been in business since 1911 http://www.fwderbyshireinc.com/  
    • Hello and welcome from Leeds, England. 
×
×
  • Create New...