Antique 1913’s Waltham Traveler movement 19209611 - Deconstruction
Movement Serial Number: 19209611 - Grade: Traveler
(Year of Manufacture: 1913) - Run Quantity: 2,000
Total Production: 398,550 - Size:18s - 42mm Dial - Jewels: 7j
Movement Configuration: Hunting
Movement Setting: Pendant - Plate: 3/4 Plate - Hairspring: Bregue
Waltham, Massachusetts - Pocket Watch – Model 1884
Movement no: 4523574 – 7 Jewel – Grade Hillside
Waltham, Massachusetts - Pocket Watch – Model 1884
(Year of Manufacture: 1890) Run Quantity: 1,000 - Size 14s - 41mm
Movement Configuration: Openface. Movement Setting: Pendant. Plate: ¾ Split Plate
Hairspring: Breguet – Adjusted: No. Brass Gilt movement
Winder position at 12 o/c
Waltham movement placed into an Elgin Nickel-plated Pocket Watch Case
Full project photo album Click here - opens new window
Today in the workshop I finally got around to fitting one of my many Waltham pocket watch movements into a case.
I purchased on eBay an Elgin Nickel-plated Pocket Watch Case, Markings on Case
Movement cover - Serial No: 0297841. Inside Rear Cover, Cased and Timed by Elgin National Watch Co, Illinois Watch Case Co, ELGIN, Nickel, Serial No: 0297841
The case has a nice Laural ring design on both the front bezel and the rear case back.
I brought back to life the dull case by polishing the case using the Dermel rotary tool with rouge polish. Also replaced the plastic crystal with a new 44mm glass crystal.
After adjusting the stem in the case I managed to fit one of my many Waltham movements in the case. This 15 jewel movement serial no: 2160764 does wind at the 3 o/c, so the same as my Smiths Braille watch!
To finish the watch off I fitted an Albert chain with a Silver Sixpence on it looks good.
Later I will sort through my many Waltham movements and see if I have 12o/c winding movement to fit in the case. But at present, it is a good right-handed pocket watch, so another Pocket Watch joins the workshop collection.
So I start the reassembly of the movement up until the broken pallet fork. still have to check to see if I have one in the workshop.
I wanted to reassemble the Setting and Winding mechanism, Train wheels and the Barrel. As this movement has the Ratchet wheel and the click placed underneath, so I need to see how this is done!
Start of assembly, replace setting spring, replace the stem and setting lever, replace Setting and Winding mechanism.
Replace the click, Replace the click spring, Replace the train wheels, the order of replacing train wheels, Third, Escape, Centre and Second wheels. Replace the train bridge.
Now I came to the unusual Ratchet and Barrel layout. The Rachet wheel and click being underneath the Barrel, plus the arbor is also unusual as the mainspring does not attach directly. The mainspring is attached to the Barrel lid!
So I attach the mainspring barrel to the barrel lid by turning barrel until the mainspring attaches to the lid arbor! Then I slide the barrel arbor through the complete barrel and turn it until the on the arbor lines up with the square in the barrel. Attach the Rachet wheel to the barrel lid end of the arbor.
So because the click is under pressure from the click spring I have to move the click up out of the way, and luckily the spring holds it in that position so that I can fit the Barrel and Ratchet wheel. Once fitted release the click.
Now to test the winding, setting and see how the train wheels run, plus I can see how the barrel moves and works.
I videoed the action as the barrel winds round separate from the barrel lid! All working well and you can see the barrel moves independently from the barrel lid.
So the only thing stopping the completion of this watch is the broken pallet fork. I still have to check to see if I have one in the workshop. Plus a new roller jewel!
This watch was brought on eBay as not working, and come with a spare movement ring.
Tested the watch, does not wind (fully wound), pulled out the stem and the time adjustment works ok.
Markings on the inside of the case
English Case
Expressly made for
CYMREX
Patent no 139453
GUARANTEED
To wear 10 years
Deconstruction of Movement to find out as why the movement is not working.
Remove the front bezel and was pleased to find the watch dial in excellent condition, the marks showing are on the acrylic crystal.
Movement is a little loose in the case, remove the bezel and movement rings from the case, will have to adjust the movement ring. Also noticed two screws missing from the movement, which need to be replaced.
Removed hands and dial from movement, note: dial held on by two circlips. Removed the dial washer and Hour Wheel.
Turned over the movement and tried to release the power in the mainspring, but could not unjam the click spring, so removed the balance completely.
Hey presto the answer to why the movement does not work is obvious, the pallet forkhead is broken. Try to move the pallet fork back and forth to the bank pins, and the train wheels seem ok.
Removed the barrel bridge and carefully removed it and held down the barrel. So to release the power in the mainspring I remove the pallet fork while holding the barrel, then release the power slowly, and the train wheels run freely.
So a replacement pallet fork will need to be found, also the pallet fork jewels are chipped and one loose. Plus on close inspection the roller jewel on balance is also broken, so that needs replacing.
Next on the agenda was to remove the complete barrel, this movement is unusual as the ratchet wheel and the click etc are under the barrel! So will need to work out a plan on how to replace the barrel back in the movement while the Ratchet wheel and the click and spring are already in place.
Dismantle the barrel remove the arbour and take out the mainspring. The last person to replace the mainspring must have replaced by hand, and not by using a mainspring winder because the mainspring does not lie flat on the bench. So I will fit a new mainspring.
Remove the click, spring and ratchet wheel and It seems that the last person to work on the movement seemed to use grease on everything, as all the items are covered in it, and stick to the mainplate and to the bench when removed!
Now time to remove the train bridge, and then remove all the wheels, checking the pivots as I do and all are ok.
Video of testing the Winding and Setting mechanism
The last item to remove from the mainplate is the stem and setting mechanism
Now the deconstruction is complete and all parts of the movement and watch case are ready for the cleaner.
