I ended up taking a risk on a $20 ebay parts movement with a broken balance. I spent an hour or two yesterday putting the watch MOSTLY back together. I had some problems with the barrel/mainspring. I had to hand-wind it because the ring was slightly too big by ONE coil. So FML on that one
😁 The arbor was also REALLY hard to get into it, I had to stretch the center coil with some steel tweezers (actually ended up bending my good tweezers trying to get it in!) in order to get it to work, but its fine.
I'm down to the balance, pallet fork, dial, and hands left to install, but holding off so far.
The broken part is.. strange. I'm hopeful that the other movement has a useful one and can just use that one (it also has hands, which perhaps will be nicer than mine?). I haven't figured out how the dial side of the keyless works functions, it is a pretty confusing thing that pokes through the other side, but it at least actually works! That little broken lever seems to be a 'prevent the crown from getting into setting mode', and works, though requires an act of tweezers to change
😀 Hopefully the replacement is the 'right' one, else I'll probably just leave it in 'crown does both things' mode.
I believe the whole "crown can't set the time" thing is one of those railroad watch features, so that is kinda neat.
Anyway, still moving along. I ended up having a few more projects show up to put on my list.
I think I mentioned before, but I have this Waltham 610 that works:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296942670884 Movement is really pretty in person, and seems to work at least a little? I have a mainspring for it already.
I also found this pair of Omega/Waltham pocket watches that I'll work on:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/205262495550
Despite being advertised as working, the Waltham will run, but not set, so perhaps I have a little lever that needs moving. It has one of those 'pass-thru' pallet fork movements, so I'm really concerned about working on that
😉 I bought it for the non-working Omega though. I love the hands on it, and the plain dial, plus an attractive looking movement. I confirmed it doesn't really do anything, the click seems stuck and the crown doesn't really DO anything otherwise. I haven't identified either movement yet.
FINALLY, I picked up this Rossini/Wakmann watch:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/205271553049
I was struck by its appearance, it seems really nice looking. The bracelet is kinda garbage feeling/looking, and the crown is obviously quite worn. I'll have to get a crystal for it, and the day/date complication seems... complicated. BUT, it runs, just doesn't seem like it WANTS to. Based on the condition, I hope it just needs a good cleaning up.
ANYWAY, thats my update so far! Waiting on this spare 293 movement, then just have to put it back together! Then, onto whichever pocket watch movement seems like the next fun for next.
