Model 1908 Waltham 17 Jewels Movement 22863520 Deconstruction

Well, another busy day in the workshop as I stripped down the last of my "Ebay" won Model 1908 Waltham pocket watches. This being the fourth movement (Movement No: 22863520) and was manufactured in 1919, and is a higher grade (625) 17Jewels, but as I deconstructed the movement I found a lot of issues to rectify!

Model 1908 Waltham 17 Jewels Movement 22863520 Deconstruction

I had to strip down the movement in a slightly different way to my normal routine.

On the Dial side, its normal routine set the hands at 12o/c then remove all hands, unscrew the dial from movement and remove dial. Measure the dial (42mm) then remove Hour, Minute Wheels (No Dial washer) Remove Cannon Pinion.

On the movement side after measuring the movement (41.5mm), first I remove the complete balance, the top pivot of the balance wheel broken and the hairspring is missing along with the Hairspring stud screw, plus on closer inspection, the impulse roller jewel is broken off and missing.

Could not let down the mainspring by keeping the click out of way, as the mainspring was FULLY wound and could not move the barrel, so while holding the stem, I remove the click and slowly let down the mainspring.

Now I remove the Pallet Bridge and Pallet fork, then I replace the click so I could wind up the mainspring a bit. Mainspring wound up, but no movement in the train wheels!

Next, I remove the Train Bridge, and the Escape wheel is stuck in the bridge, carefully remove Escape wheel from Train Bridge, on closer inspection both pinion's on Escape wheel look fine, but I did notice that the Escape wheel has slipped on its shaft.

So now back to the Click, Crown, and Ratchet Wheels are removed, along with the Mainspring barrel, after removing the Centre Wheel first. The rest of the train is removed (Third, Second (Fourth) Wheels.

Next, remove the Keyless Work; I do notice that on this Waltham Model 1908 “Grade 625” movement it is on the right-hand side of the stem, where on the Waltham Model 1908 “Grade 610” movements it’s on the left-hand side of the stem. While removing the Keyless I notice the setting lever spring was magnetised (I have demagnetised that).

Lastly remove the winding, sliding pinions, and the movement stem, by unscrewing the screw on the dial side of the mainplate.

Check the Jewels in the Mainplate and Bridges, find the centre wheel jewel in the train bridge cracked, so needs replacing. The deconstruction now completed its time to clean all the parts and check again for any more faults.

Model Click here for the photograph of the 1908 Waltham 17 Jewels Movement Deconstruction

So a lot of “Ebay” hunting or shaft making over the winter. Happy Days.