Vintage Watches that really cannot be fixed?

Syrte · Dec 2, 2018

ChrisN
If you offer to take the watch from them for a while, you can make the tests you're used to, such as wind many turns and leave dial up to check reserve. At least then you'll work out what to do next. I suspect it's already back in the drawer so they won't miss it.

I find it sad that sometimes people have given up on their watch but, honestly, it is not uncommon outside of the watch collecting community to hear, "It's my late father's watch and I had it serviced but it is clearly beyond all hope as the jeweller couldn't fix it - I paid for the service but it stops all the time and {insert other annoying issue here}". Most of the time, it can be fixed but, it can take time to source the necessary parts for vintage an often undo someone else's "adjustments".

If it is a Longines 22A, then parts availability is on a par with a '50s Omega bumper (at first glance). We all have contacts as well for parts that arr really hard to find.

Cheers, Chris

Thanks for the suggestion— I did offer to take it and look into how to fix it but my relative’s response was adamant along the lines you cited and I felt it was improper to insist.
But if I see something that looks like a good donor I will bring it to his attention and see what he thinks.

Thanks @Archer I should have mentioned my relative is no watch buff and I doubt he is hung up on 10 seconds differentials as obsessive fans of modern watches can be. However I will ask him the question when I have a chance.

Also, not sure if you saw the link to the watch I posted but while it’s not confirmed there seems to be a good chance that the watch is a Longines 22A. Obviously that doesn’t say anything about the condition of the movt inside.
Thanks for your input and best regards

GuiltyBoomerang · Dec 2, 2018

@Syrte I find myself in a similar position with the UG Colonial I acquired with an AS1045 movement (derived from the Harwood.)

My watchmaker said that initial testing showed some issues with the escapement, and that he would work on it on a per-hour basis with no guarantees if I were to go ahead.

In the meantime, scrounging for parts for the early 7 jewel variant has been nothing short of finding a needle in a haystack - whilst there are many Mido Multiforts that used the same case, their movements are upgraded, 15 jewel variants with different bridges, and I am not confident in my skills to dismantle the two to see if movement parts are compatible. I have acquired a few hopeful donor movements and will see how my watchmaker fares.

S.H. · Dec 2, 2018

AS movements are a royal pain in the bottom to find parts for because they introduced lots of variations in their movements...

I have the same problem with a Mido and its AS1034.

Professor · Dec 2, 2018

I've run across some very sophisticated tools being sold off from old time watch makers estates. With a full set of these any watch movement could be restored but the amount and value of the craftsman's labor would likely be orders of magnitude greater than the value of most watches.
Tooling for making gears and balance shafts and bridges, etc. if the original parts are not so badly damaged they can't be used as a reference.
I suspect that with the state of the art of 3D scanning and printing any part can be replicated. A dimensionaly corrected positive may be produced that would allow investment casting or further scanning for CNC machining.

In the 19th through early 20th century its been said that tempering small springs was more art than science. In one formula I found that gum tumeric was a major ingredient, something more often found in salad dressing.

Syrte · Dec 3, 2018

GuiltyBoomerang
@Syrte I find myself in a similar position with the UG Colonial I acquired with an AS1045 movement (derived from the Harwood.)

My watchmaker said that initial testing showed some issues with the escapement, and that he would work on it on a per-hour basis with no guarantees if I were to go ahead.

In the meantime, scrounging for parts for the early 7 jewel variant has been nothing short of finding a needle in a haystack - whilst there are many Mido Multiforts that used the same case, their movements are upgraded, 15 jewel variants with different bridges, and I am not confident in my skills to dismantle the two to see if movement parts are compatible. I have acquired a few hopeful donor movements and will see how my watchmaker fares.

Sorry to hear E,, hope the search will bear fruit in the end— and a cautionary tale.

Canuck · Dec 3, 2018

Almost 40 years ago, a fellow I worked with told me he had a pocket watch that he inherited form his late grandfather. the story was that the old man had retrieved his pocket watch from the wreckage of his burned out home, after the fire was put out. My friend inherited it after his grandfather passed away. He told me it was a mess, but I asked him to show it to me. It was a 16-size, series 5 Keystone Howard railroad pocket watch. I'd never seen one, and i had never seen any watch that was such a mess. He really wanted it restored. The pictures show you a badly rusted watch movement and stained vitreous enamel dial. Too much wrong to contemplate repairing the watch, so we put out the word that we were looking for a donor watch. About a year later, one with a bad dial, a few missing parts, and no case, surfaced. We bought it. The end result shows in the picture of the serviced donor movement, the cleaned up dial, and the cased watch. The serial number on the donor movement was 22 digits away from the ruined one.

.

Thegreatroberto · Dec 4, 2018

Things that will stop any item being repairable include
No spare parts
No skills to fix the item
No instructions
No tools specific to the item
Wrong behaviours in those attempting the fix.

Apart from that it's quite straight forward!

Professor · Dec 4, 2018

If one had the resources of a national museum practically any valuable watch or clock could be restored. The result might be like George Washington's hatchet, the handle replaced twice and the head replaced once.

Any watch deemed non repairable should be stripped for usable parts to repair other less damaged examples. Those with historical significance should be preserved even if in relic condition, for study if nothing else.

Paedipod · Dec 4, 2018

from a TV dial speedmaster....."works but needs a service"

Mark020 · Dec 4, 2018

Works?

Professor · Dec 4, 2018

Paedipod
from a TV dial speedmaster....."works but needs a service"

Well its dead on at least twice a day.

Paedipod · Dec 4, 2018

Mark020
Works?

it was the traditional "winds and sets. Works but needs service before use. As a vintage watch, water resistance not guaranteed."
I will try and dredge up the original sales post. Dial and hands are actually okay, I have been trying to track down a 1040 as a transplant.

Canuck · Dec 4, 2018

Mark020
Works?

Not an exaggeration! It is actually a watch “works”, often called a movement!

Vintage Watches that really cannot be fixed?

Syrte

GuiltyBoomerang

S.H.

Professor

Syrte

Canuck

Thegreatroberto

Professor

Paedipod

Mark020

Professor

Paedipod

Canuck

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