Anyone know a vintage watch specialist?

[Kaela]

My father recently bought me an Elgin watch from what I'd guess to be about the late 30s, I don't know for sure, I've still got to do research... I'm too timid to take the back off and have a look for myself, I fancy I'm mechnical, and I don't want to prove myself wrong!
Well when I got the watch it was running, though a few minutes behind (lost about 5 minutes in three hours) and all of the sudden stopped working, I wound it, and still no luck. Is the spring shot?
Or better yet, does anybody know of some specialists in the New York area?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! I'll see if I can't rustle up a photo of it!

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Michaelson knows all

He has a very good watch guy and knows a ton...

If he does not see the thread, I suggest PM'ing him.

 

[Michaelson]

Thank you for the buildup, my friend! (grins)

The best man for the job (at least just over the 'hill' from you) is Rich Kuhn. He's located in Berea, Ohio....up by Cleveland.

He can be reached at watchmakerfinds@yahoo.com . Sounds to me like your watch needs a good cleaning. If you can wind the watch crown, and it just continues to wind and wind and wind without stopping, THEN you have a broken main spring. Otherwise, it could be a multitude of things that a cleaning and oiling will address.

Regards! Michaelson

 

[Kaela]

Thanks for the tip!
yes, it seems that the main spring's no good, it goes on winding and I don't suspect that it's a normal amount of winding, never seems to feel any tighter, so I figure that must be the trouble!
Is this costly to replace?
Are Elgins good watches? I had an Elgin compact that I thought was super-high-end looking and I suspected an Elgin watch would be well made, too.
Well, come to think of it, when I bought the watch, they sold it advertising that it still worked, but maybe I broke the spring, could I overwind it without knowing it? It never seemed to have much tension when I wound it...
I'm just getting the hang of these delicate antique mechanisms, I feel like a modern brute sometimes tinkering with them!