Resizing an Excalibur Model 50 bracelet

[benbenben]

Hello!

I have an Everite Incabloc which I think is from around 1960. It is on a stretch bracelet which is marked "Excalibur Model 50" however this bracelet is too large for me and I would like to remove a few links.

I have absolutely no idea how to go about this... Is there a resource anyone can share to help with this? I'm reasonably handy with tools so hopefully this is achievable?

Many thanks!

[mikepilk]

Someone may be able to help - if you send some pics.

[AndyGSi]

Welcome to the forum.

As previously mentioned we need photos but most can be shortened although it can be fairly destructive.

[mikepilk]

It's worth noting that new expanding bracelets with removable links are cheap (under £5 on Cousins).

I prefer metal bracelets, which are also surprisingly cheap.

https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/all-bracelets

[benbenben]

Thanks for the replies, I've added a couple of pictures.

[GPrideaux]

Nice band. I don't have an answer but here's what my approach would be:

1. Examine closely how one link is connected to its neighbour. Stretch the band and look at the edges.
2. Pay particular attention to the end of the band that is not branded as the branded links are unlikely to be removable.
3. Look for a piece that can slide out between the last (half) link and the first full link. You'll probably need to stretch the links apart to find it. Look for similar pieces between adjacent full links.
4. In particular, compare the links at the end of the band to those in the middle. Anything different is likely to be because the end links are removable and the middle ones aren't.
5. If you find a piece that can move, pay careful attention to how it fits in. Take pictures. You want to be able to put it back.

If you can see how to separate links, the rest should be obvious.

[AndyGSi]

27 minutes ago, GPrideaux said:

Nice band. I don't have an answer but here's what my approach would be:

1. Examine closely how one link is connected to its neighbour. Stretch the band and look at the edges.
2. Pay particular attention to the end of the band that is not branded as the branded links are unlikely to be removable.
3. Look for a piece that can slide out between the last (half) link and the first full link. You'll probably need to stretch the links apart to find it. Look for similar pieces between adjacent full links.
4. In particular, compare the links at the end of the band to those in the middle. Anything different is likely to be because the end links are removable and the middle ones aren't.
5. If you find a piece that can move, pay careful attention to how it fits in. Take pictures. You want to be able to put it back.

If you can see how to separate links, the rest should be obvious.

These aren't designed to be shortened and they have no set removeable links as a normal metal strap would.

I'll try and post a few photos tomorrow showing what's involved.

It's not easy and could easily be ruined so my advice would be to just get another strap.

[Neverenoughwatches]

I have a couple of these, nice quality expandables and a bit more expensive than the Fixoflex ones, usually sell for around 20-30 quid for the gold plated . Unfortunately not made anymore, The fixoflex are easy to repair but I've wondered about the Excaliburs ...they dont seem to come apart , not easily anyway. I'll have a look tomorrow. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

14 hours ago, AndyGSi said:

These aren't designed to be shortened and they have no set removeable links as a normal metal strap would.

I'll try and post a few photos tomorrow showing what's involved.

It's not easy and could easily be ruined so my advice would be to just get another strap.

Ok Andy...so i got curious. I wasn't going to attempt dismantling the two good ones I have so I found a battered ladies. Glad I did as these look a real pain to put back together. First the  facing cover is removed by lifting two bottom tabs that fold over the back of the core , on the mens there are 4four tabs. Once the cover is off the workings are all face side. There is a bottom and top section, the bottom has two hollow posts, one at each end that contain the springs that do the braclet retraction. The top section has a hole at each end and two tabs in the center that catch the spring tails. The bottom posts fit through the holes of the top section and the springs connect from the posts to the top tabs where they latch in. Heres the catch...the bottom posts are riveted over the top section's hole. I rove one of the springs out to see how easy it came out...it wasn't easy as it had a tail at that end as well. The spring looks neigh impossible to get back in, even if i get it in , I doubt very much if it will push all the way down. So without contending with the spring there is still the post to de-rivet and rivet back on . The posts are little more than a thin tube, so I figure the rivet is trash once you have the post out.  Fun afternoon now.... challenging myself to get that jeffing spring back in amongst all that tenacious mank .

[benbenben]

Wow, thanks everyone for the responses and especially Neverenoughwatches for dismantling one of your straps!

Alas it seems my only option to wear this strap is to grow my wrist size, so I'll get to work on finishing off the mince pies...

Thanks again!!

[AndyGSi]

@Neverenoughwatches realised I'd not got an Excalibur but had this which I thought was similar.

These are joined by a tab through a hole that you can twist to separate so don't have to touch the centre spring.

Edit

Just realised you'd worked from the front not the back.

How does the back cover come off?

Edited January 9 by AndyGSi

[Neverenoughwatches]

20 minutes ago, benbenben said:

Wow, thanks everyone for the responses and especially Neverenoughwatches for dismantling one of your straps!

Alas it seems my only option to wear this strap is to grow my wrist size, so I'll get to work on finishing off the mince pies...

Thanks again!!

Shame because they are a nice bracelet, not made anymore.  The gold colour came in plated , rolled, filled and solid gold. 

 

7 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

@Neverenoughwatches realised I'd not got an Excalibur but had this which I thought was similar.

These are joined by a tab through a hole that you can twist to separate so don't have to touch the centre spring.

Edit

Just realised you'd worked from the front not the back.

How does the back cover come off?

The front cover has tabs at the back that fold over the bottom section of the bracelet. 

[AndyGSi]

11 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

The front cover has tabs at the back that fold over the bottom section of the bracelet. 

So can you not remove the silver part that says Model 50 or this that a solid piece?

[Neverenoughwatches]

47 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

So can you not remove the silver part that says Model 50 or this that a solid piece?

No thats all solid Andy, all the workings are at the front.  Just had another look  at the spring, it has to be held at both ends for it to operate. So i found a groove at the bottom of the holding post that the other end of the spring sits into. I think the spring is wound into the post, if so then it may wind back out without being damaged. Re-sizing is probably doable but some tricky work involved but if the rivet on the post gets busted up....its formed over just like the tube on a seconds hand. 

[watchweasol]

Hi. Once had a go at one years ago took for ever and you could see the join, never again buy another bracelet. And save your sanity, the bloody springs go every where.

[Neverenoughwatches]

10 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

Hi. Once had a go at one years ago took for ever and you could see the join, never again buy another bracelet. And save your sanity, the bloody springs go every where.

Exactly WW , I only had one to deal with and it pinged off three times while trying to wind it back it. I just did it for the experience, I bagged it back up in more pieces than I took it out

[mikepilk]

10 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

Hi. Once had a go at one years ago took for ever and you could see the join, never again buy another bracelet. And save your sanity, the bloody springs go every where.

I too gave up trying to adjust the things, springs everywhere .

As soon as I get a watch with expanding bracelet, I bin the bracelet and put on a regular bracelet or strap. 

If you must have one, Cousins say that theirs have  removable links.

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 minute ago, mikepilk said:

I too gave up trying to adjust the things, springs everywhere .

As soon as I get a watch with expanding bracelet, I bin the bracelet and put on a regular bracelet or strap. 

If you must have one, Cousins say that theirs have  removable links.

Its probably just excalibur's design, the Fixoflex braclets are way easier and take just minutes. 

[RichardHarris123]

Very disappointed with you all! You can service a chronograph but can't resize a simple bracelet, what I do is, oh wait, throw them in the bin and buy a regular bracelet or leather strap.  Hung by my own petard again. Hehe. 

[watchweasol]

Hi Mike a sound practise the world is hard enough to negotiate without expanding bracelets.

[CYCLOPS]

there are some makes of this type of scissor band that are adjustable but I don't think this one is, the ones that are adjustable have a "keyhole" shape where the rivet is, you would expand it to where the rivet comes out to the large part of the 'keyhole' and lift out......there is also an older kit that was sold for this type of band, it came with a staking plate, punch and rivets, they pop up on eBay from time to time