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How to open a square Elgin pocket watch

  1. DaveK Yoda of Yodelers Sep 26, 2019

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    Hi folks. I am looking for guidance on how to open this pocket watch. It is happily ticking away, but I would like to see the movement etc. Given the square shape and the seam all around (no hinges to be found) I believe it is a snap-off back watch. However, there is no notch for a case knife. Any ideas?

    Here is a tour around the watch:

    F86A99C8-9DC7-4699-A11D-9D2AA0A48FC8.jpeg 1634FE62-558D-49E0-9121-10B0A6E5306A.jpeg F4864EB9-3F3F-4A60-861C-DE5C582FF0CC.jpeg 9CF9BC69-658E-4945-8134-957F4A3A786F.jpeg 5E509490-E5FC-49A5-A305-D72656A242A1.jpeg 09183A00-77C6-4678-8051-D898C2C272DA.jpeg 07BC3669-DFF1-4238-B6D7-D091E0C74519.jpeg EE38E4B6-BA6E-45B7-AB21-F02DE31D8BA5.jpeg

    If you are interested in such things, there is a good resource on opening watches at http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/how-to/open-pocketwatch-cases.php

    Summary of Pocket Watch Case Opening Styles:
    1. Screw-off back: no hinge on the back, visible seam around rim of case back with no visible "notch" in seam for case-knife.
    2. Snap-off back: no hinge on the back, visible seam with notch for case-knife.
    3. Hinged-back: hinge visible on back. Look for the notch for thumbnail or case-knife.
    4. Swing-out: no seam around the back cover i.e. back cover and body all one piece. Remove front bezel and look for swing-out movement. ALWAYS pull out winding stem before lifting the movement out of the case

    Thank you in advance!
     
  2. journeyforce Sep 26, 2019

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    take a case knife Or thin pocket watch blade. put it some place under the "seam" and slightly twist

    Here is your pic with the arrow as to where to put the knife
     
    844714-514f2920de364a724ce517ff23360e77.jpg
    connieseamaster likes this.
  3. redpcar Sep 26, 2019

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    Use one of these
    upload_2019-9-26_21-49-59.png
     
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  4. DaveK Yoda of Yodelers Sep 30, 2019

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    Thank you @journeyforce and @redpcar The scary razor blade worked! Happy to get inside this. It is an Elgin 15 jewel 315 grade, one of 3000 made in the run, and over 1M of these movements made overall. 18k white gold filled, that’s nice ::psy:: It did feel a bit heavy for its size. I wonder what the original owner, Art, did to have been given such a nice treat from “Eff and the boys”? Oh, the stories that are out there...

    8E5FB407-8835-481C-852D-7D067D50B290.jpeg
    9A0390B6-AB47-4F41-925E-4DBD10B126E0.jpeg

    994C0BA1-E1CC-437F-A503-5CAC76C0D6C7.jpeg

    BD4B60A0-D229-4540-A2F6-FA5F781BC4F0.jpeg
    With 1,000,000 movements made, there will be lots of spare parts out there, but none needed as it works flawlessly - but needs a cleaning.

    Next step is to see if the dial can be cleaned, there is staining / loss of silvering between 8, 9 & 10. With 3000 made in the run, I don’t imagine that there would be many donor dials lying around. Still, lots of sparkle, I enjoy looking at it.

    63CC0185-E372-4085-8208-B0CD0FD0CBC9.jpeg

    Thanks again for your help
     
    Edited Sep 30, 2019
  5. journeyforce Sep 30, 2019

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    If it were mine I would just leave the dial like it is. You don't want to damage the dial and wipe the printing off it. It looks good as it is. Service the watch and use it. Oh and buy a pocket watch chain for it
     
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  6. Vitezi Oct 1, 2019

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    Love that inscription! :)
     
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  7. Waltesefalcon Oct 2, 2019

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    I think I'd avoid trying to clean this dial. I think the chances of damaging it may be high.
     
  8. DaveK Yoda of Yodelers Oct 2, 2019

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    I appreciate that. It turns 100 in two years, I’ll let the dial tell the story.
     
  9. Canuck Oct 2, 2019

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    Looks like green gold. Finish could use a light polish after which the colour might show a bit better.
     
  10. DaveK Yoda of Yodelers Oct 3, 2019

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    Interesting, thank you. Green gold is a bit of a mystery to me. Sometimes it does look green, sometimes not. I’m off to the research lab ::book::