A Smiths watch

[Neverenoughwatches]

They were drowning in a sea of Swiss watches. In an attempt to stay afloat,  their lifeboat the Smiths Empire still only to be shipwrecked. Tbf it was a piece of shite. Not inc. Dial hands and case , around 30 parts and only 9 screws in total, just look at that barrel its huge, yum. What more could you want from a watch ?   Okay at least some level of accuracy would be nice , oh and maybe a smidgen of reliability wouldnt go amiss as well,  bless it.

[mikepilk]

What's this bit, the click? It looks too good for the rest of the movement. 

What is the movement?

[watchweasol]

Yes that’s the click spring.  Aka  bfg 866. Stop a horse, smiths empire like the ingersol pocket watch were the farmers favourite, tough as old boots many’s the waistcoat pocket that had an ingersoll  and the empire on the wrist.  They only needed to tell milking time and dinner.

[Neverenoughwatches]

35 minutes ago, mikepilk said:

What's this bit, the click? It looks too good for the rest of the movement. 

What is the movement?

Yes its the click. Smith's own, not sure what calibre yet, the only number is 565.

21 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

Yes that’s the click spring.  Aka  bfg 866. Stop a horse, smiths empire like the ingersol pocket watch were the farmers favourite, tough as old boots many’s the waistcoat pocket that had an ingersoll  and the empire on the wrist.  They only needed to tell milking time and dinner.

The tolerances are even more loose than Russian watches.

[rehajm]

Looks like the Smiths RY- 13 ligne. Made in ‘Great Britain’ because England wouldn’t have them.  I wrote one up here a while ago. There seems to be millions of those springs out there but not a barrel to be had

I took a great deal of pride in propping it up…until it stopped again. Tension on that barrel wheel and no good method to adjust the height of the wheel what drives the seconds. They are indeed ‘economical’

On the upside- not many jewels to break and if you’re good at worrying half a dozen items under a single plate, the assembly goes quick…

Edited February 14 by rehajm

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, rehajm said:

Looks like the Smiths RY- 13 ligne. Made in ‘Great Britain’ because England wouldn’t have them.  I wrote one up here a while ago. There seems to be millions of those springs out there but not a barrel to be had

I took a great deal of pride in propping it up…until it stopped again. Tension on that barrel wheel and no good method to adjust the height of the wheel what drives the seconds. They are indeed ‘economical’

On the upside- not many jewels to break and if you’re good at worrying half a dozen items under a single plate, the assembly goes quick…

Yes it is the RY, I've only worked on the smaller LY calibre which has a bit more about it. Looks like a very quick assembly, once out of the case it was stripped down in under 10 minutes .I'll try to find your write up .

[mikepilk]

Some info here https://17jewels.info/movements/s/smiths/smiths-ry-empire/

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

Broken pivot on the balance staff, i hoped i had a replacement,  the chance was high having over 3000 calibres but no of course i dont have that one . But i do have 2 brand new balance completes for the ry 144 Empire but i am a bit loathe to use them ( like putting a £300 new part in a £100 old car ). But found another in ok shape in another ry i have without a caseback. The donor cock doesn't fit the top plate very well as the fitting pins are slightly wider so rather than broach out plate holes we're swapping the donor balance over to the original cock. Fixed stud ( well pressed in ) so hairspring has to be unpinned and repinned, dont you just love that job ? Can you see the pin, its massive actually it is massive.

Edited February 19 by Neverenoughwatches

[RichardHarris123]

I the grand scheme of things, it really is massive.  Like the actress said to the vicar.  Hehe. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

2 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

I the grand scheme of things, it really is massive.  Like the actress said to the vicar.  Hehe. 

There you go you've found your vocation in life, clergyman. 

 

[RichardHarris123]

3 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

There you go you've found your vocation in life, clergyman.

I would probably self combust, if that's still a thing. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

9 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

I would probably self combust, if that's still a thing. 

That would be the devil in you Rich, i wonder if it matches the devil in me