Jump to content

Hello from Hampshire, UK

KayMan

By KayMan
in Introduce Yourself Here

 Share

Recommended Posts

KayMan Member

KayMan

Posted
Posted

Greetings and Happy New Year!  My name is Kevin and I’m a retired engineer who’s taken a recent interest in watches of the mechanical variety.  Perhaps oddly for someone who had no clue until less than a year ago, I do have a collection of watches.  It was left to me after my Dad's passing in 2005 but I only opened the boxes early last year.  What I found was a number of British military ATP watches.  I opened the back of one and was confronted with a pristine 15j movement, sparking an immediate interest in how it worked.

 

I read up about watches, watched a few videos and acquired some tools and a spares/repair man’s watch which I proceeded to strip.  After cleaning it in meths (wrong thing to use?) I reassembled it and it worked.  I was hooked!

 

Anyway I’m now working on my wife’s Smiths Empire girls watch that she was given at age 10.  Those parts are so tiny and my 3.5 loupe isn’t adequate but I’m getting there slowly.

 

Now I have a raft of questions about tools, mainsprings and ATP watches.  All in good time, but meanwhile thanks for having me and I hope to learn much from the expertise evident on this forum.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

Posted
Posted

Hello Kevin, it sounds as if you have caught the bug into the wonderful world of Horology. Plenty of advice on tools, watch movements and clocks which is my interest on here. I've been retired for many years but I have around 30 years experience in watches and clocks. Don't forget many on here lick photos.   

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Pip WRT Addict

Pip

Posted
Posted

Hello Kevin, good place this with very helpful folks. You'll enjoy it I'm sure.

Don't forget many on here lick photos.   

That's possibly the best typo I've ever seen! Or is it a Freudian slip...!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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
      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.
    • 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.
    • Michael1962
      Leaving the forum for a while.

      By Michael1962 · Posted

      Hope you mum keeps on mending. I was adamant that I was going to get myself going after my stroke. I was only 52. I still have a lot of life left to live. Some people give up. Some people don't let it beat them. Your mum sounds like one of the winners. 👍
×
×
  • Create New...