Having given all the movement parts a good clean, time to reassemble as far as I can today, as I will need plenty of replacement parts to completely finish the job!
First I assemble just the Escape Wheel and Train Bridge, this to check play and movement, as when I deconstructed the movement the Escape Wheel was really stuck in Train Bridge.
The Escape Wheel is moving fine, so I disassemble and this time replace all the train Wheels, (Escape, Second, Third, Centre) and Train Bridge, once again checking play and clearance. All the wheels are moving freely, so disassemble again and start the assembly.
Replace the Keyless Work, Then the Winding and setting work, Mainspring Barrel and Bridge, Crown, Ratchet Wheels and Click. Time to replace all the Train Wheels again (Escape, Second, Third, Centre) and the Train Bridge.
Once this completed I test the movement by winding up the mainspring a little with the Winding Stem, and hey presto the wheels are moving nicely. At this point in the deconstruction, I tried to wind up the mainspring, but nothing moved!
This is as far as I can go with the assembly, so start checking out what I need to complete the job.
Parts to rectify are 1. one of the Pallet Jewels is loose, needs to be reset with shellac. 2. Balance Wheel shaft has broken Pivot, so needs to be replaced. 3. Impulse Roller Jewel is Broken and needs replacing. 4. Complete Hairspring is missing, so need a Hairspring and Collet and Stud. 5. Hairspring Stud screw is missing, so need a replacement.
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.
Just preparing the wick on my new Alcohol Lamp, ready for a future job of heating watch roller table so I can reattach the loose roller Jewel with Shellac on a Waltham Model 1908 Pocket Watch Movement.
Waltham, Massachusetts - Pocket Watch – Model 1908
Movement no: 23843623 – 7 Jewel – Grade No 610
(Year of Manufacture: 1920-21) Run Quantity: 1,000 - Size 16s - 43mm
Movement Configuration: Hunting. Movement Setting: Pendant. Plate: ¾ Plate
Hairspring: Breguet – Adjusted: No. Engraved steel movement
Winder position at 3 o/c
Only a second hand on the good dial.
After the deconstruction, the only problem I found, is that the Centre Wheel shaft was broken at the Pinion end. So I will need to need a replacement or make a new one!
Good day in the workshop as this parcel turned up from Switzerland. Inside the box is the balance hairspring adjusting tool I won in an auction. So hopefully I can get on with replacing the hairsprings in pocket watches! (Once I have cleaned the tool and practice on old movements).
E. Luthy Hirt Balance Hairspring Adjusting Tool
E. LUTHY HIRT (BIENNE) BALANCE HAIRSPRING ADJUSTING TOOL SERIAL N° 5315 with Original Box
it does one thing, and one thing only, which is let you vibrate a balance spring. This tool is used to let a watchmaker determine the correct active length of a balance spring, once it's attached to a balance – in other words, make sure the active length of the balance spring is such that the balance is beating at exactly the correct frequency.
I thought I would post this excellent video by Breitling Watches on Remembrance Sunday
Lest we forget.
Breitling is proud to celebrate 100 years of the RAF as
Official Watch Partner to RAF100 – journey to discover our short film series,
directed by David James Gandy, depicting the past and present of the RAF, and
the heroism and gallantry of its members over generations.
