1959 Bulova President "A" 11AF movement

[ManSkirtBrew]

I bought this guy off eBay, listed as "serviced and running."

Looked nice when I got it, but it felt pretty crunchy setting. I opened it up and it was a mess inside. Oil *everywhere*, dirt, wear, rust in the keyless works. I messaged the seller, and to his credit he offered a full refund or a generous discount off the offer he accepted from me, so I took the discount.

After a full service it's running very well. I was all proud of myself since it's the first watch I reassembled completely without checking my reference photos.

Which is a good thing, because I accidentally deleted them. Which is a bad thing, because I ended up with a screw leftover in my dust tray.

Thing is, I don't think it's from this movement. Does anyone know the 11AF or have a parts list?

And if it's not from this movement, where the heck did it come from?

 

You can see the rogue screw in the center section here with the pallet bridge. The other two screws are for the balance and pallet bridge.

 

The screw in question:

The head is large, like for a ratchet or crown wheel, but that shoulder makes me think it's for a yoke spring or something. I checked the keyless works, and there are no screw holes leftover.

It was also in the center section of the dust tray, which I reserve for the balance and pallet fork. So I'm at a loss.

And here's a short video of it running, because I never get tired of it.

 

[Kalanag]

It could be the weird screw that clamps the pallet bridge down:

It appears to be missing:

Edited December 28, 2023 by Kalanag

[ManSkirtBrew]

10 hours ago, Kalanag said:

It could be the weird screw that clamps the pallet bridge down:

That's EXACTLY what it is, thank you! Now I remember taking it off and thinking, "well that's weird."

One more request: these movements have a tiny spring on the stem that centers it in the case, preventing the movement from wiggling around. Both the President watches I have are missing it. Are they available anywhere?

[Jon]

1 hour ago, ManSkirtBrew said:

That's EXACTLY what it is, thank you! Now I remember taking it off and thinking, "well that's weird."

One more request: these movements have a tiny spring on the stem that centers it in the case, preventing the movement from wiggling around. Both the President watches I have are missing it. Are they available anywhere?

You can buy some spring wire and make one quite easily. I believe, It's made from stainless steel and doesn't need hardening and tempering. I use it for making replacement click and yoke springs. it comes in various thicknesses https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/spring-wire-for-catchesclasps?code=S47003

[ManSkirtBrew]

I had to uncase this guy recently because it stopped running. Looks like I'd pressed the hour hand on too far and it was touching the dial.

While I was in there, I took the opportunity to take @Jon's advice and make a little spring for the stem to keep it from rattling around in the case when it's in the setting position.

I had some thin stainless wire I got from Amazon for a different project. I found 0.3mm wrapped around a #64 drill bit seems to be the best fit.

A little cleanup on a diamond wheel in my shop, and I think it's pretty nice.

First try was too small.

Second try with 0.4mm wire was too thick.

Third try with 0.3mm and a larger mandrel was just right.

 

After cleanup.

[KarlvonKoln]

A spring!  Holy carp!  That explains why a Bulova President which I worked on a little while ago always felt loose in its case.  I wondered why the stem hole looked larger than it needed.

Thanks for showing that.  I honestly hadn't seen that before. 

[ManSkirtBrew]

I wouldn't have known it either, but I remembered seeing one while disassembling a President "P" and lost it.