Information on SMITHS Braille Watches

Information on SMITHS Braille Watches

I have been searching the internet for information on the SMITHS Braille Watch and I have to thank Roger Waters who is on the Watch Lessons Facebook group for the following information.

I have a number of the Braille pocket watches and wristwatches they belonged to my late father who was blinded in WW2. 

The watches where issued to blind servicemen and women from the 1st and 2^nd WW. The watches where issued free by the Ministry of War Pensions via an organisation called St Dunstan’s now rebranded Blind Veterans UK

The watch dial is in the correct place (12 in 9 positions).

You were taught to open the watch using your right hand and use the left hand to tell the time. The biggest causality of the Pocket and wrist was the face lid breaking off. Broken or damaged Watches where returned to Smiths and reissued on a one for one basis. Issue of the Braille watches ended in the late 1970s when the talking watches became available.

You will see Braille pocket watches with RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) on the face, You had to purchase these because you did not come under the war pension criteria.

The hands are much thicker and shorter than a standard watch when you got a replacement watch from Smiths the hands where mat Black.

Smiths Braille pocket watch A1866 movement. Reassembly

Smiths Braille pocket watch A1866 movement. Reassembly

Full photo album of the Project  Click here - opens new window

Time spent in the workshop yesterday was all about reassembling the “Peaky Blinders” Smiths A1866 movement.

I am well happy, I removed the jammed Train, Escape wheels without damaging any pivots, and the completely jammed train wheels are now running smoothly before replacing Pallet Fork.

And as you can see from the video all went well, it’s up and running.

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Now have to decide what to do with the hands, as there is a lot of chrome missing on them.

I now have to thank Watch Repair Lessons Facebook group member Roger for all the information on the SMITHS Braille Pocket Watch he has put in a comment on my last post.

I was thinking that I may paint the hands black, and Roger informs me that “The hands are much thicker and shorter than a standard watch when you got a replacement watch from Smiths the hands where mat Black”. So Black, they will be.

Plus do a bit of research on how to make the Dial presentable!

Smiths Braille pocket watch A1866 movement. All watch parts cleaned.

Smiths Braille pocket watch A1866 movement. All watch parts cleaned.

For the full "Peaky Blinders" project photo album  Click here - opens new window 

Time spent in the workshop today was all about cleaning the Smiths A1866 movement parts ready for reassembling.

All watch parts cleaned.

The dirty and oily parts needed plenty of cleaning, three turns in the ultrasonic cleaner plus using peg wood to clean the jewel holes etc.

All watch parts cleaned.

Now the Jewels are back there shiny ruby colour and clean. The pivots on the train wheels cleaned up ok, and the pinions look fine.

All watch parts cleaned.

 Also, the Balance and hairspring now look in good shape, along with the pallet fork.

 

All watch parts cleaned.

All the rest of the parts are nice clean, so pack up the parts for tonight in the sandwich box ready for reassembly tomorrow.  

All watch parts cleaned.

My "Peaky Blinders" Pocket Watch project - deconstruction

My "Peaky Blinders" Pocket Watch project

I have named this project "Peaky Blinders" watch after the popular TV series in the UK. Where the gang wear flat hats with razor blades sewn into the peak, using them to blind their enemies. Plus all the main characters wear Pocket Watches.

For all the project photographs  Click here - opens new window

The Pocket Watch is an unusual one being a Smiths "Braille" watch with an "A1866" watch movement, which I will try and renovate.

Notice that the 12 o/c on the dial is at the 9 o/c position.

 12 o/c on the dial is at the 9 o/c position.

It also has a Silver Albert chain, which I need to Silver solder the jump rings, etc.

Put the two together and you have a “Peaky Blinders” watch.

Smiths Braille pocket watch A1866 movement deconstruction

Order of deconstruction: Remove case screws. Release the stem buy undoing setting screw next to "15 Jewels" marking. Remove the front bezel to release movement from the case. Hands removed, Dial removed, Dial washer and hour wheel removed. Remove Keyless works. Remove the Pinion, Minute Wheel and intermediate wheel. Remove the Clutch and Setting wheel. Turn movement over and undo the setting screw to release the setting lever.

 Keyless works

Turn movement over: Remove the complete bridge. Remove the click and spring. Remove Pallet Cock and Pallet Fork. Remove the Train Bridge. Remove Escape and Third wheels. Remove Train Bridge with the stuck Centre wheel attached. Remove Crown wheel from the Train Bridge. Ease out the stuck centre wheel from the Train Bridge. Remove Third wheel, Ratchet wheel and complete barrel. Remove the Setting screw from the mainplate. Remove Arbor from the mainspring. Remove the mainspring from the Barrel. 

 Deconstruction completed and all the parts ready for the cleaner.

All the parts ready for the cleaner.

TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch. Part 7 Completion

TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch. Part 7 Completion

Completion of the repair and upgrade to my 1970 stopwatch.

Full project photo album Click here - Opens new window 

Set up the Dremel rotary tool with the Flexi-drive attached, put the pusher I manufactured yesterday in a pin vice. Using the Jewellers bench peg to hold the work steady, I give the pusher and case a quick polish with rouge.

Set up the Dremel rotary tool with the Flexi-drive attached

Next, replace the pusher in the watch case, a small amount of Loctite 638 on the thread to hold the crown and a couple of drops of oil on shaft.

Replace the pusher in the watch case

Replace the movement in case and then holding the pusher fully in to lock the hearts in place, I replace the seconds and minute hands.

Replace the movement in case

 Test the stopwatch out and everything works ok. Replace the front bezel with the crystal attached.

So my 1970 stopwatch is repaired and upgraded with the Breitling Dial.

Just one more thing to do is fit a “BMW WilliamsF1 Team Race Club” neck strap and the watch is ready to join my watch collection.

Fit a “BMW WilliamsF1 Team Race Club” neck strap

Two Lathe Sunday as I manufacture a new Fly-Back Pusher.

TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch. Part 6

Two Lathe Sunday as I manufacture a new Fly-Back Pusher.

Full photo album Click Here - opens new window

Two Lathe Sunday

Stage 1: Start off by bringing out my Unimat SL 1000 Lathe to first turn down the 4mm stainless steel rod to 2.5mm at length of 11.5mm.

Stage 2: Turn down to 2.mm for a length of 10.5mm, check that the pusher fits into the fly-back pendant tube, which it does snugly.

Stage 3: 3mm of the end of work turn down to 1.7mm for the tapping the thread for the crown.

Stage 4: Tap the (No17) thread with threading plate and check the crown fits correctly.

Stage 5: Turn the workaround in the chuck and part off.

Time to get out of its box is my vintage G. Boley "Bevelled-bed" Branded "Telco", T.C. & M. Ltd

 6.5mm watchmakers lathe.

I needed this lathe so I could use the file rest and also set spring-loaded indent arm to lock the spindle.

Filed a Screw slot using a number 6 cut slotting file, now time to see if my manufactured pusher works,

So time to fit it in the watch case and then temporary replace the movement, and all works well.

Time to clear up the workshop and put the lathes away and set the bench for completing the stopwatch tomorrow!

Unimat SL 1000 Lathe. Tool Rack added

Today had a bit of time in the workshop while  I am waiting for the small springs I have ordered for the TIM Lever Stopwatch flyback pusher that I have to manufacture on the lathe, to finally add a tool rack to the Unimat SL 1000 Lathe box.

Tool rack added to the Unimat SL 1000 Lathe box.

Tool Rack will save me time looking for the tools when I put them down on the bench!

Tool rack added to the Unimat SL 1000 Lathe box.

I will have to remove the tools and place them back in their box's when placing lathe in the box for storing.

Refurbishment of a Vintage Unimat - SL 1000 Lathe Photo Album

TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch update

TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch update.

The NOS Breitling Dial has arrived; my modification on the watch is a NOS Breitling Dial. Breitling use this movement in their stopwatches, so I feel this is a legitimate modification for my watch, plus I like the look.

So just have to decide what look I’ll give the missing Button on the broken fly-back pusher which I will have to manufacture on the lathe.

TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch. Part 4

TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch. Part 4

Today was the assembly of The BFG Calibre 410 movement part 2 in the workshop.

Full photo album - opens new window

Oiling and greasing as I go, I start by replacing mainspring in barrel, Arbor and barrel cap. Then start on the train wheels, first replace the centre (Seconds) wheel and pinion followed by the complete barrel, then the third wheel and pinion, Minute recording wheel and pinion. It’s time to replace the Barrel Bridge.

Now time to refit the Escape wheel and pinion and then the Train Bridge. On to the click and spring, Ratchet wheel, Crown wheel with left-hand thread screw, test the train by winding the stem and putting power into the Mainspring, runs nice and freely.

Replace the Pallet Fork and Pallet Cock, then fit the complete Balance and the movement springs into life. Remove top Anti-Shock Jewel and clean and replace. Place movement on the timing machine and the readings are fine, will regulate it later.

Turn over the mainplate and replace the following items, operating lever spring, fly-back lever spring, hammer, whip, whip spring, blocking lever and finally the dial rest plate. Test the Start, Stop

And fly-back actions and all the motions are working well.

That’s it for this session, as I have to manufacture the complete fly-back pusher, and still waiting for the Breitling a replacement that I hope will fit movement!

TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch. Part 3

TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch. Part 3

Only a short time in the workshop today working on the TIM Lever 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch.

All parts cleaned, ready to assemble.

All parts cleaned, ready to assemble.

First I refitted and then polished the crystal with the bezel.

Polished the crystal 

Started the assembly of the BFG Calibre 410 movement.

Grease and fit the Pillar Wheel with the Left-Handed thread screw, then replace the Pillar Wheel jumper and spring.

Pillar Wheel jumper and spring.

Turn the movement mainplate and refit the Yoke. Then refit the Stem Cock, then I have to file a cut out in one of my plastic movement holders so movement lies flat in the holder.

Refit the Yoke. Then refit the Stem Cock

Grease and refit the Stem, Winding Pinion and Clutch wheel.

Refit the Stem, Winding Pinion and Clutch wheel.

Grease and refit the operating lever and the fly-back lever.

Refit the operating lever and the fly-back lever.

Grease and refit the blocking lever for the second's wheel.

Refit the blocking lever for the second's wheel.

Remove and clean the lower Antishock jewel, then replaced the cleaned lower Antichoc jewel.

Removed, cleaned and replaced the lower Antishock jewel

TIM LEVER 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch.Part 2

Session two today in my workshop with the TIM LEVER 7 Jewels Shock Protected Stopwatch.

Today I have removed the Seconds Hand from the Long Tube Heart. I needed to remove the second hand because I am hoping the NOS Breitling 45mm Dial I have purchased fits this watch.

Removed the tight fit Seconds Hand by slipping the Heart into the “vee” on the block to give maximum support to dial, and using flat head No:290 Bergeon Stake and Dial protector and two light taps with a hammer, hey presto off and no damage!

Stripped the Barrel down, and the mainspring and barrel really clean for a 1970s watch. 

Also found a crown that I may use for The Fly-Back pusher, but may make one when I have the lathe set up to make the broken pusher.

So all set to clean all the parts.