Post by Archer on Jan 19, 2009 18:53:02 GMT -6
Today I wore a Young's Jewellers model that was my late father's "everyday" watch from the 70's. When I received it, it was not working and needed a little TLC. Here is a shot before I started:
I completely serviced the movement, an A Schild 1713 auto with date. Here are a couple of shots as I disassembled the watch. Here under the dial you can see the calendar mechanism.
And here you can see the bridge layout with the auto-winding bridge removed.
One big issue I came across (aside from dried oils and a dirty movement) was that the hairspring was a bit messed up. It was flat, but not round as it should be. The photo below shows where the outer coils of the hairspring are too close together at the arrow.
So after some time bending the spring (a delicate exercise indeed!) the coils look much better and more even.
I ordered a new crystal for this watch. Here you can see the old crystal and the new one. The new one doesn't have the funky shaped date magnifier that the original does, but that's fine with me as I'm not keen on magnifiers anyway.
I also wanted to have the case plated so the old crystal must come out for that. I use a crystal lift tool to remove the original crystal.
After the case came back from te platers, it's time to install the new one. I use my crystal press for that.
Much improved...
Now I had to fit the hands to the watch, but they were not cooperating. Contrary to the belief of some watch manufacturers, replacing hands at a service is not required. Even if they are a tad loose they can be tightened. Case in point the hands on this one. Here you can see the second hand and the punch from my jewelling set. Note that the inside of the punch has a taper...
Now if I install this punch in my jewel press, and flip the hand over, I can close up the tube by pressing down on the hand with the tapered punch - note that I'm doing the minute hand on this photo actually as it was loose as well.
All that done and the hands mounted.
I cased the movement and all was well until I went to move the hands to change the date (you have to advance through the days to change the date on this one) and I heard an odd noise and then the watch stopped working. Not good! So I pulled it apart to see what the problem was. In the photo below you can see the centre wheel with a red circle around it. The wheel (made of brass) has the pinion (made of steel) press fit into it, and the press fit failed, so the wheel and pinion became two pieces. This allowed the mainspring to let down so the watch had no power.
I ordered a new part as shown below.
Yesterday I finally had time to put the watch back together. It's running well and looks pretty good too.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers, Al
I completely serviced the movement, an A Schild 1713 auto with date. Here are a couple of shots as I disassembled the watch. Here under the dial you can see the calendar mechanism.
And here you can see the bridge layout with the auto-winding bridge removed.
One big issue I came across (aside from dried oils and a dirty movement) was that the hairspring was a bit messed up. It was flat, but not round as it should be. The photo below shows where the outer coils of the hairspring are too close together at the arrow.
So after some time bending the spring (a delicate exercise indeed!) the coils look much better and more even.
I ordered a new crystal for this watch. Here you can see the old crystal and the new one. The new one doesn't have the funky shaped date magnifier that the original does, but that's fine with me as I'm not keen on magnifiers anyway.
I also wanted to have the case plated so the old crystal must come out for that. I use a crystal lift tool to remove the original crystal.
After the case came back from te platers, it's time to install the new one. I use my crystal press for that.
Much improved...
Now I had to fit the hands to the watch, but they were not cooperating. Contrary to the belief of some watch manufacturers, replacing hands at a service is not required. Even if they are a tad loose they can be tightened. Case in point the hands on this one. Here you can see the second hand and the punch from my jewelling set. Note that the inside of the punch has a taper...
Now if I install this punch in my jewel press, and flip the hand over, I can close up the tube by pressing down on the hand with the tapered punch - note that I'm doing the minute hand on this photo actually as it was loose as well.
All that done and the hands mounted.
I cased the movement and all was well until I went to move the hands to change the date (you have to advance through the days to change the date on this one) and I heard an odd noise and then the watch stopped working. Not good! So I pulled it apart to see what the problem was. In the photo below you can see the centre wheel with a red circle around it. The wheel (made of brass) has the pinion (made of steel) press fit into it, and the press fit failed, so the wheel and pinion became two pieces. This allowed the mainspring to let down so the watch had no power.
I ordered a new part as shown below.
Yesterday I finally had time to put the watch back together. It's running well and looks pretty good too.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers, Al
Sensational!!! 
