Are this parts worth keeping?

[SpanishApprentice]

As I mentioned in my presentation yesterday, I started my journey by trying to service a watch and a pocket watch, both Russian and highly affordable. For each, I bought a few non-complete spares for replacement parts.

Now I have both movements and the spares, but they were mixed by accident. I have already ordered some small boxes to make sure this never happens again.

What's worth keeping? I don't plan on working on these watches ever again, but I guess some parts could be of use in the future like the screws? All the escapments were quite bad, so I learned my lesson early with this cheap Russian movements.

[AndyGSi]

I'd say just keep everything but I'm probably classed as a hoarder.

If you come to work on either of these movements again the parts could come in handy.

[tomh207]

Never ask anyone into watchmaking what to keep! As Andy points out we probably all have an aversion to getting rid of potentially “useful “ things

 

natural born hoarders and tool collectors, every single one of us

 

Tom

[RichardHarris123]

Tool collection, yes, hording no, I  have an aversion to anything not being used. 

In future, reassemble the movement as far as possible, bag and label what it is and what's missing. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

6 hours ago, SpanishApprentice said:

As I mentioned in my presentation yesterday, I started my journey by trying to service a watch and a pocket watch, both Russian and highly affordable. For each, I bought a few non-complete spares for replacement parts.

Now I have both movements and the spares, but they were mixed by accident. I have already ordered some small boxes to make sure this never happens again.

What's worth keeping? I don't plan on working on these watches ever again, but I guess some parts could be of use in the future like the screws? All the escapments were quite bad, so I learned my lesson early with this cheap Russian movements.

Keep everything !!!    It's all usable.  Reassemble it and zip lock it whole. A plate, a bridge or a cock might hold a jewel that you will want one day. 

[Malocchio]

Never throw away anything with good jewels. Odd wheels? You can practice pivot burnishing in the future.

[watchweasol]

One can only concur with the previous posts,  I have quite a lot of redundant watch and clock bits. Never know when you might need them.

[Jon]

I threw some watch parts from a pin pallet movement away yesterday and whilst it was hovering over the bin ready to go in I had a strange feeling of 'What are you doing!'

I overcame it thankfully and in they went, but I did keep the screws and jewels. Always keep screws and jewels!

Incidentally, this was the very first time I've thrown watch parts away, because I have 'the hoard'. It can be a nasty little affliction 

[spectre6000]

Cousins has an aluminum case with a bunch of small circular aluminum canisters with glass tops. I keep dead movements in those. Like movements together. Assembled as far as they'll go. Jewels, screws, springs, and who knows if you'll come across another of the same movement needing attention, or a forum member needing a part.

[watchhammer]

2 hours ago, Jon said:

I threw some watch parts from a pin pallet movement away yesterday and whilst it was hovering over the bin ready to go in I had a strange feeling of 'What are you doing!'

I overcame it thankfully and in they went, but I did keep the screws and jewels. Always keep screws and jewels!

Incidentally, this was the very first time I've thrown watch parts away, because I have 'the hoard'. It can be a nasty little affliction 

You'll regret it

[Mercurial]

I agree with the advice above, everything you have there looks to be worth keeping. 

There is the possibility of using the parts, screws and jewels in future repairs. 

Wheels are useful when learning to use the Jacot tool. You will inevitably snap some pivots, so it’s best to learn on wheels you can afford to damage. 

You can also practice other new techniques on these parts, such as reaming out a hole and fitting a friction fit jewel.

Best Regards,

Mark

[SpanishApprentice]

Thank you, everyone, for the answers. I have bought some small storage boxes and I have everything sorted by movement (more or less). For future repairs, I will make sure everything is correctly stored.

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, SpanishApprentice said:

Thank you, everyone, for the answers. I have bought some small storage boxes and I have everything sorted by movement (more or less). For future repairs, I will make sure everything is correctly stored.

Zip lock bags are the cheapest and optimise the space you have. The parts stored on the mainplates if you have them, which provides the best protection. I write the caliber info on the bags then keep them in plastic chinese takeaway tubs, in brand alphabetical order ( all the A, s together,  all the B,s together etc )  My wife reminds me of how sad I am, it doesn't feel that way in my head though .  You then need a hardback note book to list them in, making any notes of what is missing on the plate, saves you digging through the tubs, to see if you have a required donor and the part required. If you do this from the start it will save you a lot of time later on going through them. For small individual parts on their own, do as has been done for decades , clear gelatin capsules.

Here is a drawer ready to start filling up.

Edited April 6 by Neverenoughwatches

[AndyGSi]

I keep everything in branded boxes with the odd stuff in an others box.

Just overs 2 years back into this I'm still sorting and cataloguing what I've got into a spreadsheet.

[Neverenoughwatches]

5 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

I keep everything in branded boxes with the odd stuff in an others box.

Just overs 2 years back into this I'm still sorting and cataloguing what I've got into a spreadsheet.

Andy !  You're fricking killing my OCD

[AndyGSi]

4 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Andy !  You're fricking killing my OCD

What you think about part 2 then, 

Edited April 6 by AndyGSi

[Neverenoughwatches]

5 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

What you think about part 2 then, 

Puts my organisation to shame Andy

This is my dream

[AndyGSi]

7 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Puts my organisation to shame Andy

Whatever work but I think my OCD must be greater than yours 

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 minute ago, AndyGSi said:

Whatever work but I think my OCD must be greater than yours 

Could well be Andy, but your motivation to satisfy it is definitely fully functional, mine needs a kick up the arse. 

[rehajm]

those are nothing…this is a problem..

[Neverenoughwatches]

[AndyGSi]

11 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

This is my dream

Is that Ali Express?

[Neverenoughwatches]

On 4/7/2025 at 9:15 AM, AndyGSi said:

Is that Ali Express?

Lol no, but I wish it was. This amazing piece of organising furniture comes to 19k.