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More On The Harwood Watches

cdjswiss

By cdjswiss
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cdjswiss

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For those of you who have read and were interested in my previous post on Harwood watches (the first automatic watch) here is another interesting example. This one was marketed by Blancpain in Barcelona around 1930. The hand setting is now done by turning the watch back and there is a four-cornered screw head (arrow) that turns against a leaf spring to adjust the pressure of the slipping clutch that prevents over winding.

 

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cdjswiss WRT Addict

cdjswiss

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Nice watch Colin, you certainly know how to get my attention. Does the back just snap off and are you going to service this one?

 

The back does indeed just snap off as does the font bezel. The movement is front loaded with two half-head screws to hold it in place. This arrangement makes it less dirt proof than the more conventional Harwood.

I have just done a complete service and it is now keeping time to better than one minute per day. The silver dial with gold numbers is original and has just had a light brush over to remove a little dirt.

Harwoods have a reputation of not running for more than 12 hours, but this is nonsense. The power reserve depends on the Schild movement and is well over 24 h. A mal-adjusted automatic winding system probably accounts for poor performance. But this one I have worn 16 hours per day and taken it off for the 8 hours overnight and it has not stopped since I began to wear it on the 1st January.

The Spanish patent number on the winding bridge is a mystery - some have attributed it to the back-setting feature, but it cannot now be found in any Spanish official record. It is thought that perhaps, although filed, it was never granted. The novel slipping clutch screw adjustment permits easy and stable over-wind protection. I wonder if this was a Blancpain add-on?

 

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    • oldhippy
      Stem removal after fitting hands

      By oldhippy · Posted

      I used to just remove the stem pop the movement in its case then put the stem back in check everything then back on the timer. 
    • Neverenoughwatches
      Stem removal after fitting hands

      By Neverenoughwatches · Posted

      That's the right technique Mal 👍 If you are ok with a loupe ( which I'm not ) then pick up the dial in your left hand and make a tripod holder out of 3 fingers and then exactly how Mal and me described with your right hand, press and flick out the stem at the same time. You need three fingers to do this, i use my ring ring finger , sounds like mal uses his little finger, just whatever you feel comfortable with. The key point and dangerous side to this is the tweezers or driver slipping off the release screw. Stablise your left arm by resting your elbow on your bench, so that you can hold the movement horizontally flat, use a x5 loupe to view  and good light so you can see well and have a good tight fitting screwdriver to push the release down. Or as suggested a pusher mounted solid upside-down somewhere then all you need to do is push your movement up to it. I'll rig something up in a bit to show you what i mean. Something like this, but tbh its better to just learn to do with your fingers.
    • Neverenoughwatches
      Leaving the forum for a while.

      By Neverenoughwatches · Posted

      Thanks Michael, shes a real soldier, it would take a tank to knock her off her feet.  Shes surprised even me and i knew she was a tough cookie.  Good for you Michael, you keep at it. I've been reading your posts re. your watchroom they're inspiring and it doesn't matter how long it takes you to get there its about the journey. Rome wasn't built in a day, our watchcaves are our solitudes, our own little empires where we can shut ourselves away from the crap that goes on around us in the world. I look forward to seeing you progress, I have my own ideas how i like to do things. But in answer to your questions on that thread, just let your workspace evolve around you and how you work. You wont figure it out straight away but you will know when to change it and when to leave it alone. But most of all just enjoy it.
    • Malocchio
      Stem removal after fitting hands

      By Malocchio · Posted

      That can be tricky. Sometimes I hold the movement from the edges in left hand and with right hand I push the release with tweezers and simultaneously pull the stem out with right hand pinky or something. 
    • PeterS
      Stem removal after fitting hands

      By PeterS · Posted

      I see what you mean. I must admit I’m not entirely comfortable with that but I can’t see a better method than what you suggest. I’d like to see something like this mirror with a short spike: https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/mirror-for-observing-movements Place it on, push the spike on the post with one hand and release the stem with the other hand. Minor problem, it doesn’t exist.
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