Jump to content

Chronographs

chadders1966

By chadders1966
in Your Watch Collection

 Share

Recommended Posts

chadders1966 WRT Addict

chadders1966

Posted
Posted

Hi

I posted a while ago asking for advice on buying a chronograph to take apart and learn on. Well I ended up going for quantity rather than quality and got the attached 3 inexpensive ones instead. Photo was taken on my phone so a bit fuzzy sorry.

On the left is a really good condition used Poljot 3133, similar to a Valjoux 7734 I think. Then in the middle is the oddest one, I can find out very little about it. It's an AATOS DismasSSB automatic 3 register chronograph that I bought new for less than £100. The best I've been able to find is that it is a Chinese factory copy/clone of the Valjoux 7750 (or 7753 given the subdial placement). Lastly there is a new Alpha Daytona Paul Newman. I slightly regret buying this as it is so obviously an homage watch - not a fake as it is clearly branded Alpha, but it is also clear which watch it is meant to remind you of. Mind you, plenty of other, better known watch brands do the same. It has a Sea-Gull ST1903 movement with the slightly pointless 3rd 24 hour dial. I should have spent a bit more money and bought the 1963 with the 2 registers instead. The movement is Sea-Gulls version (legitimate I think) of the Venus 175.

So there you have it. I now have 3 mechanical chronographs, none of which I know anything about, nor do I have movement holders for any of them, and I know nothing about taking them apart, dealing with pushers, chrono hands etc. What should I do now?

 

post-373-0-57453300-1454836563_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
chadders1966 WRT Addict

chadders1966

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Purchase a copy of this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complicated-Watches-Their-Repair-Donald/dp/0719800900 and read it, also watch as many videos on the subject you can find, then.................enjoy yourself!

Don't forget to wright a report on your progress in the "walkthrough" section when you get started.

PS nice watches! :)

Thanks George

 

I've actually got a copy of that and have read it, but will need to read it again and more slowly. I've read posts before, from yourself and others, about it being important to have the proper movement holder with pushers for working on chronographs. If the AATOS is based on the 7750/7753 I could get one for that I would think as you do see those for sale. Cousins has a A*F plastic one for around £25, I wonder if that would be good enough, or if I should look for a metal one? And where would I find ones for the other two? I don't think I have ever seen one for either the Poljot or Alpha, or the models they are based on.

 

Stephen

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bobm12 Distinguished Member

bobm12

Posted
Posted

Hi Stephen,

 

I'm very interested in hearing from you about how it all went, even the part of the holder which I still don't have since I don't work much on chronometers, just light stuff.

 

About the pushers, there are different solutions, including the pressed on and the screwed on. Some come with "C" or similar clips and some don't. You will know what type is in each of your watches as you go along if the study of the case -- and experience -- doesn't give it up. In my mind it is a short, interesting and careful learning curve but once you have it, there is nothing to it.

 

If you have any questions I'm sure me or any of our knowledgeable members will be able to help.

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Neverenoughwatches
      Without Our Forum

      By Neverenoughwatches · Posted

      Quite true , anybody visiting the forum can access that information, may be better holding that link in a private message that only members can access. Then again anyone can become a member hmmm.  Have a seperate email unrelated to your regular use email ?
    • HectorLooi
      Mechatronics Engineering v Mechanical Engineering

      By HectorLooi · Posted

      Anyway, new machines are designed to fail after 5 years. 😮‍💨
    • rjenkinsgb
      Without Our Forum

      By rjenkinsgb · Posted

      Great idea - but can access to this thread or the list be restricted to member only somehow? Or move it to a new category linked from here, and make that category members only? At the moment the list - with all the real names & contact info - is totally unprotected and accessible to any spambot or other malicious webscapers, which is rather worrying. (Just tried it with a different browser & via proxy in the US - this thread and the list are fully public, at present).  
    • rjenkinsgb
      Mechatronics Engineering v Mechanical Engineering

      By rjenkinsgb · Posted

      I've been programming, building electronics for, repairing and retrofitting machine tools and industrial automation systems for over 40 years now. I could have retired, but I always have work queued up - and I still enjoy it; also building electronics, robots and animatronics (among other things) as hobbies. There is a vast range of work in machine tool / robotics / industrial automation field, and not all that many really good people, who fully understand the electronics and software side, rather than having been forced in to it from the mechanical side & struggling with anything to do with electronics or software. I can't help with the qualifications side - things have changed too much over the years, & I started my business before I left school. At the time I was getting criticised and even penalised by teachers for spending too much time on the school "computer" (a massive early programmable calculator, really) because computers & programming were a waste of time, according to them!   One big problem I am aware of is that a lot of university courses have little to no correlation to real-world industrial machines and equipment - most of the equipment in the field that needs work is old! You have to be an enthusiast and study older system and techniques; it's no good knowing the state of the art electronics & software inside out when you are more likely to be working on a 50 year old machine than a brand new one. The oldest machine I routinely work on was made in 1911; many are from the 1950s - 80s. New machines tend to be under warranties or service contracts, so only the makers agents ever touch them - it's the older gear that gets sold on after it's showing its age and really needs actual engineers!  
    • VWatchie
      Mainspring winder question.

      By VWatchie · Posted

      I got this set from Cousins. I believe the arbors are steel and it's been working very well. Not all Chinese sets are the same. Some a decent and some are crap. My most appreciated mainspring winder is my Master Craft Mainspring Winder:  
×
×
  • Create New...