1927 "Services Warch Co" ARMY `FOREIGN` Pocketwatch
(movement made by Thiel Brothers Thuringia, Germany.
Services Army Pocket Watch – Pre War with a PIN LEVER movement.
The Services Watch Co., Ltd was founded in Leicester by a Frank Liquorish sometime in 1926/27, it was dissolved on 26/11/2002 although I gather from Steve Burrage who used to work for the company that Services watches stopped being produced in the late 1970s. The company never actually made watches themselves instead they either had them made by other firms or bought parts in which were then assembled in the Services factory.
Pin-lever or pin-pallet escapement is an inexpensive, less accurate version of the lever escapement, used in mechanical alarm clocks, kitchen timers, mantel clocks and, until the 1970s, cheap watches now known as pin lever watches. It was patented by German watchmaker Georges Frederic Roskopf in 1867, suggested to Roskopf by Jules Grossmann.
An escapement is a mechanism in a mechanical timepiece that gives the balance wheel pushes to keep it moving back and forth and releases the timepiece's gears to advance a fixed amount with each swing of the wheel, thus moving the hands forward at a steady rate. The pin pallet escapement is similar to the lever escapement, which is used in quality watches, except that the horizontal jewel pallets on the lever are replaced with vertical metal pins, and the shape of the escape wheel teeth is modified.
The pin pallet escapement was widely used as it had many of the advantages of the lever escapement but was easier to manufacture. The pallets in a traditional lever escapement have two angled faces, the locking face and the impulse face, which engage the escape wheel teeth. They must be adjusted to precisely correct angles for the escapement to function. In the pin pallet escapement, these faces are designed into the shape of the escape wheel teeth instead, eliminating the need for costly adjustments. However, the metal pins used instead of pallets have much higher friction than jewelled pallets and combined with the looser manufacturing tolerances this made pin pallet timepieces less accurate. The metal pins also wear more quickly. Pin pallet timepieces are usually too cheap to justify repairing and are usually thrown away when they break down or wear out.
Once I had removed the dial and hands and the simple winding and setting mechanism, time to remove the movement from the case, which more difficult than expected. It took my large case back opener to turn the movement in the case until it popped out.
I put the movement aside and first set to refit the loose tube to the case.
Replaced the discoloured acrylic crystal with a new 44mm glass crystal.
Now onto the Pin Lever movement, which is the first one I have seen and worked on, so took plenty of photographs before disassembling it!
First, it was noticing the Balance cock has the pivot to the pin lever as well as the balance pivot. This was not a Jewel but a screw with a steel cone for the "Jewel"!
So I remove the balance cock and then the pin lever.
Next, remove the full-bridge plate.
Next to disassemble the train wheels, due to the cannon pinion being fixed to the centre wheel pivot!
Due to this movement not being like other movements and does not turn on shaft.
So start with the escape wheel, third, second, etc.
Next to clean all the parts.
Reassembled the movement.
Movement ticking well
Time refit the cleaned dial and hands and complete the assemble.
Cleaned up the Albert chain which is hallmarked: Anchor (Birmingham) Lion (Sterling Silver) and B (1926). There is also a date stamped on the reverse of the shield 28-2-27
Albert Chain with watch
Marking on-chain are Anchor ( Birmingham), Lion (Sterling Silver) and B (1926)
Sterling Silver mark on all rings in the chain.
Date marking on the Shield is 28-2-27.
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.
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!
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.
.
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!
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.
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.
