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Posted (edited)

I picked up this alarm watch at a flea market several months ago and recently decided to investigate.  I am not finished, but well on my way.

As you can see, there was significant water damage.  Running these parts through my L&R cleaner was not enough to clean them, so I did manual cleaning with one-dip and cotton swab (the dense pointed kind).  The wig-wag was stubborn--the two gears would not release from the plate.  I soaked it in Kroil overnight and that did the trick.

There was some rust on the balance staff, but not actually on the pivots themselves.  Nevertheless, I chucked it a step-chuck on my lathe and burnished the pivots.

The watch is running and I have confirmed that the alarm drive train is functioning.  Since I am missing a stem for the alarm, I have not done the final assemble of the alarm components. 

Surprisingly, there are lots of parts available for this movement on Cousins.  I will probably get a couple of stems and maybe some other parts that I deem necessary.

The watch is running at weak amplitude (about 190) and shows some poising issues.  I will work on that.

The last two pictures are after partial reassembly.

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Edited by LittleWatchShop
  • Like 5
Posted (edited)

I've just finished refurbishing a Memostar Alarm with AS 1931 movement (same as 1945 but with date and running at 21600). I was also surprised how many parts are available at Cousins.

Like you, I was missing the alarm stem (Cousins stock them) and I needed new crowns.

It's a nice simple movement for an alarm, easier to service than a Seiko Bell-Matic.

BTW I made a note in my Servicing spreadsheet: "Pull out winding stem before removal".  It may have just been wear on my movement, but I found that the yoke could move out of the clutch if the stem was removed in the normal position (like some ETAs). 

You might find this interesting 

 

 

Edited by mikepilk
  • Like 3
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, RichardHarris123 said:

I will probably be banished for the site but I would have to give it a good scrub. You will loose any remaining letting but I  couldn't live with the dial like that. 

I am pondering polishing it blank and putting one of those decals like I have seen others do.  Alternatively, find another dial that is the same diameter, remove and replace the feet.

This looks interesting

https://www.4customize.com/product/custom-watch-dial-decals/

Edited by LittleWatchShop
  • Like 1
Posted
48 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Are the numbers and indices raised?  If so I would remove everything else and then print your own design or redo the original script. 

Yes, I think so

  • Like 1
  • 8 months later...
Posted (edited)

I am working on an AS1475 myself.  What did you have to do to get this to "set" properly in the watch case?  I think mine is either missing something to hold it in place or something is not adjusted properly?

 

Edit:  I figured it out.  Whoever took this watch apart prior to me had the caseback on incorrectly and I was just putting it back together as it lay.  I tried different configurations until one of them worked perfectly.

Edited by jerseyben
  • Like 1

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    • Well, my fundamental stance is that I want to go in and out without leaving any trace other than a shining, perfectly running movement. So, no scratchings on the inside of the case back lid, no marred screws, no debris, no fingerprints, and so on. That is, my goal is to make it impossible for the FBI to track me down. As a professional, I suppose you might want to keep track of returning watches, but as @JohnR725 mentioned, we can keep detailed computer records without marking the watch at all. That may not be true for every watch, but luxury and COSC-certified movements do have unique numbers. John also says it’s best to leave no sign you were ever there, and I couldn't agree more. Now, suppose the Sea-Dweller I'm working on is one day scrapped, and you want to sell the case-back separately (perhaps the case was destroyed in a plane crash). Then the scribbles on the inside no longer reflect the current movement inside the case. Also, the engraving will likely halve the market value of the case back. It had been "sleeping" for about a week and a half. Yes, the "debris/old lubricant" theory is my hypothesis as well! It will be interesting to see what I find once I have time to start disassembling the movement.
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