Pocketwatches

Torpedo · Feb 12, 2011

Thank you Shangas! I will post about progress. And take a pic too!

scottyrocks · Feb 12, 2011

I would also be very careful as it gets tighter - iow, slow down. Until you know a mechanical watch pretty well, you have to be extra careful, especially when winding.

Taikonaut · Feb 14, 2011

Shangas said:
That's exactly why you should send it to the watchmaker.

If that watch hasn't run in nearly 80 years, that means all the oil has dried up. If you crank that puppy up and let it go, the gears will grind up against each other and damage the watch. It needs to be freshly lubricated before you can wear it. Even if it's only for special occasions once a month.

I have asked the carer who briefly owned it if the owner has serviced it and they are not sure. The mechanism is in mint condition and dirt free.
I tried a full wound and it is still ticking since 11.00pm on saturday, that is 32hrs ago. Let see if it reach 36hrs

Charlie Huang · Feb 14, 2011

Taikonaut said:
I bought this recently, 9ct gold London hallmark dated 1929. The original owner had no surviving relations so left it to his carer who sold it to me. Still in its original box but box is a bit tatty. It is hardly worn at all, never been serviced as far as I know but work perfectly, case are like mint condition with mirror polish surface. Here is a couple of pics, ignore the chain which was added by the last owner

A fine watch.

Taikonaut · Feb 14, 2011

Charlie Huang said:
A fine watch.

Thanks

Taikonaut · Feb 14, 2011

Taikonaut said:
I have asked the carer who briefly owned it if the owner has serviced it and they are not sure. The mechanism is in mint condition and dirt free.
I tried a full wound and it is still ticking since 11.00pm on saturday, that is 32hrs ago. Let see if it reach 36hrs

The full wind lasted 9 mins shy of 35hrs. Is that good?

Feraud · Feb 14, 2011

I'd suggest you not run the watch until you have it serviced.

Shangas · Feb 15, 2011

That sounds like a good enough run. But as Feraud said, don't run the watch again until you've had it serviced by a professional.

Torpedo · Feb 17, 2011

Hello,

As I promised, here is a pic of my first pocket watch, a Smiths Empire. It is supposed to be 50s.

I know the strap should have white metal fittings, but these are not usually visible anyway, and the leather braid makes for a more discreet, field style, accouterment, which is fine for workdays. I should find a black one, now, to go with black shoes... Does anyone make them?

(BTW, as I suspected, I was not winding it enough. It is lasting about 30 hours. I think it should be better, but this would be acceptable, wouldn't it?)

Shangas · Feb 17, 2011

30 hours is plenty good. So long as it runs for at least 28 hours, everything's fine.

Big Fella · Feb 18, 2011

Torpedo, a black leather, woven, watch strap. Check with Karla VanHorn at purdygear.com. I bought one five years ago from her.

Taikonaut · Feb 20, 2011

Does many watch achieve 36 hrs? Does the duration varies?

Shangas · Feb 20, 2011

Most pocketwatches achieved between 28-36 hours. Some watches with larger mainsprings achieved 40 hours.

Don Dahlberg · Feb 26, 2011

28 hours on a full wind is rather short. A properly serviced watch should run for at least 36 hours. After many years mainsprings lose their shape and spring strength. We call this a "set" mainspring. Even if a mainspring is good, if the watch is dirty, the mainspring may not be able to power through the friction as the mainspring winds down. Either way a proper overhaul of the watch would discover the problem. This includes stripping the watch down to all moving parts, about 50 or the 150 parts in a watch. The watchmaker would know immediate by the size of the unwound mainspring if was set.

Don Dahlberg
National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors - volunteer

Lefty W. · Mar 5, 2011

Here are a few photos of an Elgin of mine. Extra fancy case. Pardon the photos; I'm a horrible photographer.

Lefty W. · Mar 5, 2011

Some might consider this sacrilege, but here's a case without its horological innards that I use for a fancy bicycle tube patch kit.

Shangas · Mar 5, 2011

Very nice watch, Lefty. Do you wear it at all? I bought a nice...12-size, I think...14kt GF pocketwatch today.

Lefty W. · Mar 5, 2011

Shangas said:
Very nice watch, Lefty. Do you wear it at all? I bought a nice...12-size, I think...14kt GF pocketwatch today.

Thanks. Unfortunately, the Elgin is way too ornate for my taste, or at least for everyday wear. I need to get it serviced before attempting to wind it, anyway. We used to have a good local watch guy, but I don't think he's in business anymore. Any recommendations as to a good watchsmith/horologist?

BTW, I did wear the tube patch kit, on our local tweed ride last Sunday.

Shangas · Mar 5, 2011

I can't recommend anyone internationally, no, sorry.

My latest watch.

Levallois · Mar 6, 2011

My latest - Key wound - I haven't done much research yet but possibly a Swiss watch sold through London dealer mid-late 1800s - Arnold Adams & Co.

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