- Posts
- 2,358
- Likes
- 3,754
sheepdoll
·Yesterday it Rained. I started fiddling with one of the AS 1187 sizes balances. I have a roller removal tool, and a staking set. Not afraid to use them.
I also have a textbook by my Friend Henry B. Fried, who used to lead the tours to museums and watchmaking factories all over the world. I has read the chapter in the book a month ago. Should have reviewed it first.
I completely destroyed the hairspring. Got this strange idea I could use one of my micro-electronic tools used for holding printed circuit boards. Stretched the spring so tight, the stud came off. (later the collet came off as the whole thing snapped back into a knot.
No where does Henry show how to deal with a spring where one of the loops becomes too small. There is no way to get the tweezers in between the coils, without causing further damage. I did eventually get all the loops to not cross over each other, but I can not get it flat.
Back to the textbook.
Aha! there is something about choosing the correct tools.
I improvised a balance tack. Using a brass clock taper pin and a bench block.
Which is actually how I got the snarl mostly straightened. I have plenty more balances to destroy. This can be seen in the photographs. There are nearly enough scrap parts for 4 or 5 watches. (Technically one was complete with a bad balance. which I took apart to match parts.) I also have 3 or for watches of this caliber that only need cleaning.
Can not believe I spent all last 5 to 6 hours night playing with a single hairspring. Deciding I did not want to go out in the rain. Makes this the proverbial 'rainy day project.' I think I learned everything one can not do to a hairspring.
I also took this photograph. Probably not the best way to store balances for 20 to 30 years.
At least with an AS caliber I could get another balance complete cheap online. Balance complete seem to cost close to the price of a scrap watch. Hardest part is finding which are incabloc (wich for the most part has an over coil, and which are non incabloc.) the shape of the pivots may also be of concern.
If the labeling is correct, I may have at least two staffs, but would they work in an incabloc jewel mount? Most of the extra bridges are incabloc. On the other hand the 7 jewel movement I re-assembled to get the parts out of the way, is missing the cap jewel and I do not have a spare non incy balance bridge.
Curious, according to Henry's book. Hairspring maintenance was considered woman's work. Of course the ones that were hired were 18 to 24 years old.
I also have a textbook by my Friend Henry B. Fried, who used to lead the tours to museums and watchmaking factories all over the world. I has read the chapter in the book a month ago. Should have reviewed it first.
I completely destroyed the hairspring. Got this strange idea I could use one of my micro-electronic tools used for holding printed circuit boards. Stretched the spring so tight, the stud came off. (later the collet came off as the whole thing snapped back into a knot.
No where does Henry show how to deal with a spring where one of the loops becomes too small. There is no way to get the tweezers in between the coils, without causing further damage. I did eventually get all the loops to not cross over each other, but I can not get it flat.
Back to the textbook.
Aha! there is something about choosing the correct tools.
I improvised a balance tack. Using a brass clock taper pin and a bench block.
Which is actually how I got the snarl mostly straightened. I have plenty more balances to destroy. This can be seen in the photographs. There are nearly enough scrap parts for 4 or 5 watches. (Technically one was complete with a bad balance. which I took apart to match parts.) I also have 3 or for watches of this caliber that only need cleaning.
Can not believe I spent all last 5 to 6 hours night playing with a single hairspring. Deciding I did not want to go out in the rain. Makes this the proverbial 'rainy day project.' I think I learned everything one can not do to a hairspring.
I also took this photograph. Probably not the best way to store balances for 20 to 30 years.
At least with an AS caliber I could get another balance complete cheap online. Balance complete seem to cost close to the price of a scrap watch. Hardest part is finding which are incabloc (wich for the most part has an over coil, and which are non incabloc.) the shape of the pivots may also be of concern.
If the labeling is correct, I may have at least two staffs, but would they work in an incabloc jewel mount? Most of the extra bridges are incabloc. On the other hand the 7 jewel movement I re-assembled to get the parts out of the way, is missing the cap jewel and I do not have a spare non incy balance bridge.
Curious, according to Henry's book. Hairspring maintenance was considered woman's work. Of course the ones that were hired were 18 to 24 years old.
