Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hi 

Harwood A.Schild 8.75 Lignes 15jewel 2 movements

I have been asked to check out a lovely Harwood watch that is broken. With the back off I am pretty sure the mainspring has gone but need to get to it first. (where would I get a new one?)

How do I get the movement out? Presume the adjusting bevel has to come off but how and what happens after that. It is a lovely watch but not conventional so I dont want to muck it up. I have found the post for movement restoration but it assumes the movement is out.

Help please

Many thanks

Simon

Posted
On 11/27/2024 at 7:19 AM, SimonKB said:

Harwood

not only do you need to get pictures but you really should explain to people what this is? Like for instance I don't see the crown anywhere what happened to the crown? plus usually given photos the front has more than likely most people in this group haven't ever seen one of these.

Then you're going to have problems because this is definitely a vintage watch.

I have two links below the first link somebody asks the same question you have and you'll see lots of confusion. but if you scroll down you'll finally get to the answer there is a article in the horological times magazine. otherwise it just isn't a lot of information on this is for servicing it goes.

then for those that don't know what this is the second link gives you the history of talks about it until blame of the title first automatic wristwatch.

 

 

https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/harwood-automatic.21429/

https://www.fratellowatches.com/tbt-john-harwood-and-the-worlds-first-automatic-wristwatch/

 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Posted

OK first I know there is no crown. Thats the point of this watch. You rotate the bezel to adjust the time ( that moves the small wheel next to the case rim)and then lock it. This is confirmed bt a red dot in the star on the face. 

The link you attached Richard tells me all and thank you.

I will proceed with caution but will need a mainspring….any suggestions?

Many thanks

Simon

IMG_7052.jpg

IMG_7053.jpg

IMG_7054.jpg

IMG_7055.jpg

IMG_7056.jpg

OK quick update.

Bezel off-case opener under and carefully twist. Thanks Richard.

Hands now off.

Movement to case screw found under bezel at 5 0’clock. Appears to be 1/4 turn to engage with case. 

Problem now is the face. how is that held on ? screws or posts. Wont be double sided glue pads as too old. Any suggestions?

And after that hopefully case will come free.

Posted
36 minutes ago, SimonKB said:

Problem now is the face. how is that held on ? screws or posts. Wont be double sided glue pads as too old. Any suggestions?

Is that not a screw in the side for the dial feet?

 

image.png

On 11/27/2024 at 3:19 PM, SimonKB said:

I have been asked to check out a lovely Harwood watch that is broken. With the back off I am pretty sure the mainspring has gone but need to get to it first. (where would I get a new one?)

Back to your original question it looks like an AS 612 so would be a good place to start once you've measured the existing spring.

  • Like 1
Posted
2 hours ago, SimonKB said:

mainspring….any suggestions

usually the easiest thing for the mainspring is we look at the old one. It's been far too long since I worked on one of these so I don't remember what the mainspring even looks like traditional lay on early automatic watches but this is too early they would use a two-piece arrangements as opposed to today where the mainspring is all one mainspring with the end piece welded on. then of course from the link I gave you I did mention there was a nice BHI article I wonder where that went to?

Then yes they are really interesting watches one of the amusements I have is that supposedly they lost favor because there is no crowned the wind them up? It's why a lot of the early automatic watches head up down indicator so people would know whether their watch was wound up or not then of course they could be manually wound up the amusement though with the original theory is that a lot of Seiko watches have no way of winding them up and it doesn't seem to be an issue but automatic watches today or more accepted than way back then

 

Posted

OK chaps thanks for help. Had a think about it and just pushed carefully where the single case screw is at 5 0’clock and it slid out. Turns out there is a pin directly opposite @11 0’clock that engages below the bezel ring on the case. Nice.

Still not obvious how the dial comes off though. Any thoughts. Does it actually need to come off though?. I am a bit in the dark as I have never done an auto before to this degree. Maybe I should leave well alone but I am intrigued and was given permission to explore.

 

IMG_7058.jpg

IMG_7059.jpg

IMG_7060.jpg

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

    • Interesting, thanks for the detailed post. I saw one of those Swiss Nano machines a while back in another youtube video from  the Weiss Watch Company.
    • Hello and welcome to the fo4um. Enjoy
    • Welcome to the forum, enjoy.
    • You're asking a pretty broad question and you didn't specify the machine but yes it's simple especially if you have the right machine. The question has problems but I'll take it as it is. Is it really that simple yes especially if you have the right machine. So in the video below he's making a screw and yes it really is that simple but pay attention to the machine it is not simple at all probably wasn't cheap but it is small it will probably fit in your garage. Unfortunately wouldn't fit in my garage as it's far too cluttered up with things. In the video he talks about making a screw and pay attention to the machine. The machine has lots and lots and lots of cutters and lots of things to do lots of machining all-in-one machine conceivably one step after another all programmable. If you look at his channel lots of CNC's stuff and there are several other videos related to this machine. He goes to the factory where they talk about it and show all the other machines they make in Switzerland.  I did look up the specifications the machine I don't recall the price it's not going to cut wheels I think it has a maximum diameter around 11 mm basically it's really good for making small diameter watch parts. Then in one of the other videos he goes to a factory that used to make parts with waterpowered machinery been in business for 100 years and everything they now make is made with CNC machines including this one. What was interesting with the factory photo was that when they make some parts they can put them on a optical comparator comparator compares with whatever the reference is and the machine can be programmed to adjust its cutting to make sure everything is actually being made to specifications. Oh and then somewhere in all of this there was at least one picture of a balance staff can't have a CNC Swiss machine without making balance staffs.   It would be really nice if we had pictures of the machine. Then yes if you look at the page for wheel cutting you can enter parameters and it will generate a G code but he left out things? Notice he has a picture of a complete wheel but the G code isn't making a complete wheel it's only cutting the gear teeth I don't see whereas the program for crossing out the spokes? Typically when you see people cutting gears once the teeth are cut most the time the spokes are cut by hand. Occasionally someone will mill them out but typically not with the program which seems strange if you have CNC capability for instance one of my friends fill it used to design assembly line equipment or things to make things. So his hobby was to continue to make tools to make things like clocks. Very interesting and clever clocks but his true fund was making the machines to make the clocks. Then machine is not controlled by G code like we would typically find today as the stepping motor controller he has was made a long time ago and the individual controllers used a textbased program. So the company had a editor you could write a program to cause each the stepping motors to do something. So basically once you figure out how to cut a gear he would just change the parameters for different size gears so here's an example of a gear as you can see we have the teeth and the spokes. Then we have a picture the machine which sucks because it would've been so much nicer if I could've taken a picture when it was cutting a gears so we can see things better. Then yes there is a worm gear stepping motor indexing this is a mini lathe and the indexing is at the end of the lathe head hiding. The basic operation of this machine would be brass sheet not cut to a specific diameter size not even round mounted on the machine. Then it turns and a milling cutter will cut the diameter. Then the gear would be cut with a gear cutter. The same mill cutter for the diameter although conceivably change the size I don't know but basically the same milling for cutting the outer diameter would be used to cut the spokes. I really can't remember how he did the center hole but whatever it was was very precise.          
    • Yeah I know the site and the creator of it.  the two video clips are good examples of the quicker method and a full tear down.  the quick method will work in many cases. But not always and not for all the different movements.  I strongly suggest to not bend the four tabs as was done in the first clip.  Instead there are three tabs that insert into the top plate, Much saver way as to not break a tab.
×
×
  • Create New...