Who's doing what in the world of watches today.

[mbwatch]

6 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

You're probably not going to see a dramatic change but you should probably figure out what the lift angle is as it probably is not 52°

No it's not 52. I had looked at the Pocket Watch lift angles thread, which lists Elgin 6s as something really high like 62° but visually that is not at all what this watch is doing. I think 42° is more correct and that's where my machine is setup.

The watch has a million problems but I have made solid progress. Impulse jewel replaced. Hairspring didn't match the balance (which also doesn't match the serial) but I got it down into range this weekend with 8 or 10 huge timing washers. Replaced the mainspring, balance and train are nice and free. At this point it is running consistently and in beat at about 160°, the third wheel has a bend that sends the timegrapher on a little roller coaster every 8 minutes or so. Remaining amplitude problems may be down to the escapement. The banking pins were way out and it didn't run at all before I started. It has one of the old brass escape wheels rather than steel, and I assume the faces its teeth are probably worn or scored in a way I can't yet fix (or see without a microscope). I know this watch is not going to run above 250° but I am going to keep trying to get above 200.

But the best part about this watch? Some unscrupulous person stamped "21 JEWELS" on the train bridge sometime in the past, right on top of the Damascening. It's a 15 jewel movement.

[mbwatch]

3 hours ago, mbwatch said:

sends the timegrapher on a little roller coaster every 8 minutes or so.

I just went back in & found a speck of pegwood dust in the 3rd wheel pinion so that probably explains it.

[JohnR725]

4 hours ago, mbwatch said:

No it's not 52. I had looked at the Pocket Watch lift angles thread, which lists Elgin 6s as something really high like 62° but visually that is not at all what this watch is doing. I think 42° is more correct and that's where my machine is setup.

typically any time people talk about a pocket watch lift angle list I find it's the one that I gave out. Amusingly I've even seen it quoted on another discussion group that they found this list. then if you look carefully at the list you'll notice that it's not just the Elgin six size but also a Illinois six size is 62°. what becomes interesting if you look at the list is there's a lot of variations in lift angles for particular watch sizes. So basically this means if  your timing machine does not seem to be giving you whatever you perceive you're supposed to be getting you should verify that the lift angle is indeed correct for your watch as there seems be lots of variations with pocket watches even amongst the same size.

Then unfortunately on every single pocket watch you do  especially with movable banking pins is you do have to verify that they are where there supposed to be. It seems to be that anything that's movable on a watch will get moved just because it can be moved.  It's amazing moving banking pins playing with the pallet jewels  how poorly a watch can run..

 

 

[MariusJacob]

My kid woke me up at 2:00 a.m. I couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to go to the workbench. I was to tired to work on a watch so I decided to dress up tweezers and screwdrivers while having a drink and listening to some music.

 

 

Luckily I got a comforting nap after lunch and started working on this beautiful Raketa Big Zero.

 

[rehajm]

…gave my mom one if those for mothers day a few years ago. Loves it- can see what time it is

[mbwatch]

12 minutes ago, rehajm said:

…gave my mom one if those for mothers day a few years ago. Loves it- can see what time it is

What a good son.

[Neverenoughwatches]

15 hours ago, MariusJacob said:

My kid woke me up at 2:00 a.m. I couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to go to the workbench. I was to tired to work on a watch so I decided to dress up tweezers and screwdrivers while having a drink and listening to some music.

 

 

Luckily I got a comforting nap after lunch and started working on this beautiful Raketa Big Zero.

 

2609 HA, solid reliable workhorses, and lots of donors around for this calibre in the UK. One of my favourite movements.