Jump to content

Escapement Tester

chadders1966

By chadders1966
in Tools & Equipment

 Share

Recommended Posts

chadders1966 WRT Addict

chadders1966

Posted
Posted

Hi

I managed to pick up very cheaply a Bergeon 2229 Escapement Tester, not working and in need of a bit of tlc. I'm completely stumped by the mess the spring is in - not sure what to call it, it's like a large hairspring. I think I know its purpose, it provides the tension to return the lower wheel to its starting position, which in turn moves the hand on the dial. As you can see though it is in a complete mess, well beyond my limited hairspring manipulation abilities.

Does anyone know where I could get a replacement spring? As I said it's very much like a hairspring, but bigger - thickness is .03mm, height is 0.26mm. Alternatively is there anyone/where I could send the spring to for fixing? It would be a pity not to be able to fix it. Thanks

Stephen

20170108_145710.jpg

20170108_145724.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
jdrichard Distinguished Member

jdrichard

Posted
Posted
Hi

I managed to pick up very cheaply a Bergeon 2229 Escapement Tester, not working and in need of a bit of tlc. I'm completely stumped by the mess the spring is in - not sure what to call it, it's like a large hairspring. I think I know its purpose, it provides the tension to return the lower wheel to its starting position, which in turn moves the hand on the dial. As you can see though it is in a complete mess, well beyond my limited hairspring manipulation abilities.

Does anyone know where I could get a replacement spring? As I said it's very much like a hairspring, but bigger - thickness is .03mm, height is 0.26mm. Alternatively is there anyone/where I could send the spring to for fixing? It would be a pity not to be able to fix it. Thanks

Stephen

20170108_145710.jpg

20170108_145724.jpg


This is really cool. How much?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Link to comment
Share on other sites
chadders1966 WRT Addict

chadders1966

Posted
  • Author
Posted
3 hours ago, jdrichard said:


This is really cool. How much?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

It's just a lump of metal at the moment unless I can get this spring sorted. It cost nothing I suppose as it was in with a bunch of tools I only really bought for the staking set, presumably the seller had no idea what was in there. It's a good job really as a new one costs nearly £900 - this must be a new record for Bergeon vastly overcharging for stuff.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
chadders1966 WRT Addict

chadders1966

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, StuartBaker104 said:

You could treat it as hairspring manipulation practice, or ask these guys

http://www.britishprecisionsprings.co.uk/

S

As I said there is no way I can sort this myself, it is far too tangled. I struggle trying to correct a slight bend ;). I had noticed that company but I am not exactly sure what this spring is. It looks like a cross between a hairspring and a mainspring. It's quite flat and has some height like a very small mainspring, but the material is more like a hairspring. I did wonder if it might be a clock hairspring, but I have no idea what they are like.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Marc Distinguished Member

Marc

Posted
Posted

You might have a look at spare parts for aneroid barometers as they use a similar spring on the pointer.

However, clock hair spring may be your best bet. I have a few knocking around, if you can estimate what the overall diameter of the spring should be I can have a look and see if I have got anything that you can try. As it is essentially just a return spring I doubt that the other measurements are that critical.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
chadders1966 WRT Addict

chadders1966

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi Marc

Thanks for that, you are quite right that I doubt any part of it is that critical providing it has the strength to absorb the movement and then return. I got the height to be 0.26mm and the thickness to be 0.03mm. Measuring the outside coil as it is now it is about 10mm diameter, which could have been distorted. Measuring from the outside pinning point to the pivot hole is 5.5mm, giving a diameter of 11mm. Anything more than this would interfere with the wheel, though I don't see why a larger spring couldn't be cut to size. Thanks

Stephen

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Marc Distinguished Member

Marc

Posted
Posted

OK, I have had a look through the clock mainsprings that I have and they are all way too big. The collets are 3mm+ OD x 1.5mm ID and the springs are 0.49mm x 0.12mm and nearly 30mm diameter. :unsure:

I think that I have some pocket watch hair springs somewhere so will dig a little deeper. Bear with me though as it may be a day or two. unfortunately the day job has a tendency to get in the way of the important stuff....

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
chadders1966 WRT Addict

chadders1966

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for looking anyway Marc, if you can find something it would be great, if not no problem. I have seen various clock hairsprings advertised, but there are never any dimensions so I don't know if they'd be suitable. Either post here or PM me whenever is convenient.

Stephen

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
chadders1966 WRT Addict

chadders1966

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks to Marcs generous help in providing a suitable pocket watch hairspring (collet needed some tightening :)) this is now operating again. I'm not sure how much use I will make of it, but I do think it is the most excessive Bergeon overcharging I have yet come across. Around £8-900 for some pieces of steel, brass, a spring and a dial? Great business if you can get it. Not bad for nothing though.

Stephen

20170122_142634.jpg

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

    • noirrac1j
      Rolex 2235 escape wheel jewel setting replacement

      By noirrac1j · Posted

      Hell0 @nevenbekriev. Thank you for your advice. I have removed the old setting using my staking set--I will keep the KIF spring, since it is still good.  I am awaiting the replacement setting, and will update when I do that. In the mean time, I looked at the escape wheel and it looks ok. What do you think?    
    • Hawaiikook808
      Seitz Tool - Help determine if Seitz or not

      By Hawaiikook808 · Posted

      Aloha All, I recently bought this Seitz tool on eBay, but it is missing some pushers reamers.  I ended up ordering new parts for those that were missing before I received the actual Seitz tool (bad idea).   Upon inspecting the pushers/bits, I noticed 23 of the 56 provided with the set had no numbers. Further inspection revealed a huge difference in the quality of those unnumbered.  Do all Seitz pushers/bits have a number on them?  I'm pretty sure that 33 of the 56 I received are cheap Chinese knockoffs.  The worst part is that I ordered $80 of parts to replace the missing pushers/bits, and now I'm looking to return the tool. I'm not crazy, right? If these are Seitz parts, they should all be numbered, correct? The first two pictures are the Seitz (numbered), and the other pictures are the suspect parts.  Will I even be able to get a refund?  Thanks, Frank     
    • luiazazrambo
      WWW Eterna sucked me in.

      By luiazazrambo · Posted

      It was £10 + min fee, total £16, could not leave it there. Its a Stanton A.D.2. http://stanton-instruments.co.uk/
    • Geotex
      Generic screws for unknown movements

      By Geotex · Posted

      Chief- The picture below shows the three parts from the dial side that are most useful to "fingerprint" a movement in conjunction with the diameter of the movement.  That's why forum participants are always asking for dial side photos in posts asking for identification.  As far as the setting lever screw, it actually sits loose in the main plate. The threads engage the setting lever below, and the elongated stem above the shoulder sticks through a hole in one of the bridge plates so that it's held captive if unscrewed all the way.  So you may be fine as far as that goes. 
    • Chief
      Generic screws for unknown movements

      By Chief · Posted

      So I found what I believe is the setting lever screw! Am I right in thinking the screw next to the click is the correct one for the setting lever? However if it is, it doesn't fit in the hole which I believe is for it! I can get the lever to sit nicely on the stem and line up with a hole, but the screw only goes as far as the shoulder and stops. It's as though the hole is too small! The dial side has been disassembled by the way, the other wheels are in my tray
×
×
  • Create New...