The Waterbury Co USA Pocket Watch - Part 3

The Waterbury Co USA Pocket Watch - Part 3

Full project photo album  Click here - opens new window

The first item of the day was to remove the two stuck hour & minute wheels from the overnight soaking in WD40 and with extreme care using a staking block and small tap from a watchmaker’s hammer, hay presto the wheels free themselves.

The hour and Minute wheels separated.

Next to remove the case from rust remover and it has freed up the completely stuck stem. Removed the Crown, spring and Stem, another broken part is the "Winding and Setting wheel" attached to the stem as a lot of teeth are missing. This could be the part that makes this restoration impossible as I do not have any gear cutting equipment, so fingers crossed that a replacement part or a "parts movement" comes up for sale!

 Removed the Crown, spring and Stem

Next, all parts given a clean and then check out what else is needed to get the movement up and running.

 All the parts are given a clean

Refitted the crystal, New Mainspring and after a bit reaming with my small broaching set a set of replacement hands fitted.

New Mainspring fitted.

The following items needed:

Setting and Winding Gear (teeth broke) will have to try and source one as it needs replacing, second and third wheels top pinions are broken (Will do them the next time I have my watchmakers lathe set up), replacement Hairspring (Will have to look in the spares box and time hairspring). Replacement regulator arm, click spring and a case bow also needed!

second and third wheels top pinions are broken

Reassembled the movement and placed back in case just to learn how this unusual movement with four “main plates” and the duplex escapement goes together!

Reassembled the movement.

So now watch is back in its box until I find the parts, which could take some time!

Merry Christmas and Happ New Year - VIVA Watch Repairing

Merry Christmas and Happ New Year - VIVA Watch Repairing

Merry Christmas and Happ New Year - VIVA Watch Repairing

The Waterbury Co USA Pocket Watch - Part 2

The Waterbury Co USA Pocket Watch - Part 2

Full project photo album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8dxKS8brVyb33ANj9

Start day one of the cleaning processes today on the Waterbury Pocket Watch series N.

Items removed from the rust remover 

Leaving the items in the rust remover over has freed of the parts and once I had the parts, wheels apart I put them through a cleaning circle in the ultrasonic cleaner.

Put items through a cleaning circle in the ultrasonic cleaner.

Opened up the barrel and found the Mainspring is in many pieces, so another item to add to the list (New Mainspring).

Opened up the barrel and found the Mainspring is in many pieces

While waiting for the cleaner I carefully file and removed the stuck Hour and Minute wheels from the Dial and started to clean up the Dial.

carefully remove the stuck Hour & Minute wheels from the Dial

Finally, I placed the two stuck hour & minute wheels in WD40 overnight to hopefully free them apart.

The Waterbury Co USA Pocket Watch - Part 1

The Waterbury Co USA (1879-1898) Pocket Watch - Part 1

Full project photo album Click here - opens new window

Today I start a very unusual and interesting project as I take on what could turn out to be an impossible task of restoring an antique Waterbury co, USA pocket watch with the movement that has a duplex escapement!

Well rusted and broken duplex escapement movement

This type of escapement is the first time I have come across it, so if I can with a lot of work get this rusted and broken movement back working, it will add another interesting pocket watch to my collection.

Duplex Escapement

Stripped down the movement with care to as far as I could, now left parts soaking in rust remover overnight.

Parts soaking in rust remover

  I still have to figure out how to remove the “hour wheel” from the dial!

Smiths Braille pocket watch A1866 movement now completed

Smiths Braille pocket watch A1866 movement now completed

Full project photo album - Click here - opens new window

Well, today I completed the revival of the Smiths Braille pocket watch; the last item was to repair the dial. So purchased a “Curator Enamel & Porcelain Dial Repair Kit” from CousinsUK and set to work.

Smiths Braille pocket watch - Before

With the dial being in such a state I knew I was not going to get it perfect, but at least my effort is passable (at a distance).

So with the dial done and fitted along with my repainted hands, movement back in case I am very happy how this completely jammed movement, etc has turned out.

Smiths Braille pocket watch - After

I am leaving the case in the worn state as it brings character to this wartime ex-serviceman timepiece, and will be a conversation piece when I have visitors around.

Smiths Braille pocket watch. Repainting the worn hands.

Smiths Braille pocket watch A1866 movement. Repainting the worn hands.

Time spent in the workshop lately was all about repainting the well-worn hands on the “Peaky Blinders” Smiths Braille pocket watch.

Full photograph album on watch  Click here - opens new window

As half the chrome on the hour hand has worn away, I need to repair the hands.

 Half the chrome on the hour hand has worn away

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 I decided to paint them, Mat Black.

After rubbing down the hands using my jewellers wet & dry sticks

After rubbing down the hands using my jewellers wet & dry sticks, I apply a mat grey primer coat.

Applied the Mat Grey primer coat.

Next day I apply the Mat Black paint, so I think the job is well done!

Job is done!

Now on to repairing the damaged dial......