Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

[Sarah Jane Edwards]

My husband recently purchased an antique key-wind pocket watch for use during events. It was manufactured sometime between the 1830's and 1850's. It worked very well the first day he had it but afterwards the minute and hour hand sometimes stopped although the second hand continued to work. It's in great physical condition and I'd hate to see him give up on it. Does anyone know of a company or individual who does repairs on watches like this? We've asked several people locally or over the net but no one seems to know how to work on a key wind watch. Thank you for any help and any hope!

Sarah

[Matthew Semple]

Unfortunately period watch repair seems to be becoming more limited.

This thread may give you some leads:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7590&highlight=watch+repair

[Sarah Jane Edwards]

Thank you for the link to that thread! I had not seen it.

Sarah

[bhutton]

Sarah,

Try House Of Time , Gettysburg Email Jim@Watchmaker.net
17 Lincoln Square
Second Floor
Gettysburg, PA 17325
717-334-9883


Bob Hutton

[Mike Willey]

Check any local listings for watch repair shops. There was a 70 year old man who owned a shop locally as a family business, and he repaired mine a couple of times.

Yours might need repaired, or perhaps it just needs a good cleaning.

Mike Willey
late of the 49th Ohio and Coffee-coolers

[Union Navy]

If the second hand keeps working but the minute and hour hands are not, that sounds like a canon pinion problem. It may require just a bit of squeezing to tighten up the pinion, or it might have to be replaced. This is a rather common problem with watches that set from the front. Is it American or European? It will be usually possible to get parts for American watches, but more difficult for European due to the large number of watchmakers and their extensive use of custom fitting.

[Tim Prince]

I have had excellent luck with Mike Elmore, his web site is: http://watch-watch.com. He rebuilt my war time Tobias watch several years ago and did a fantastic job. He even fabricated parts that he could not find. Real craftsmen like him are hard to find these days.

[Sarah Jane Edwards]

Thank you for more leads! I have contacted everyone you have mentioned and am awaiting a response. We took the watch to a very elderly man who owns a small jewelry store in a nearby town but he said he had no idea how to work on such an old watch since it was old when he was young. It is a European watch. My husband has found a few people who work on American watches but none so far who work on Europeans.

My husband did find if he pressed the hole where you wind the watch with the key and kept pressure on it then the hour and minute hands would work fine. And sometimes the watch works perfectly; it is just every now and then the hour /minute hands will stop for no reason. The watch will still keep ticking and the second hand moves.

Thanks again, I'm very grateful!

Sarah

[David Meister]

the watch my wife Is talking about is mine. It is a swiss cylinder escapement it is set and wound from the back. When you push the set post where the key goes in toward the watch it runs then shortly after it comes out and the minute hand and thus the hour hand stops but the second hand still runs and the watch still ticks. Does anyone know who can repair this problem and what they would charge me?

David Meister

[dwar]

Sarah
Try pocketwatcher.org, I retired and the office gave me a watch from this place. It is my understanding they are good at what they do.

[Sarah Jane Edwards]

Thank you! I will be contacting them shortly.

Sarah

[Union Navy]

Sometimes bent hour and minute hands catch on things - the seconds hand, the edge of the sunk area around the seconds hand, each other. Check for bent hands also.

[bqbowden]

Mrs. Edwards,

My watch is a 1880-90 key wound and I have had work done to mine. This gentleman was located in Atlanta, Ga. However, it has been several years so I cannot remember his name. I purchased my watch from Bob & Debi Burnett - Bob is a collector and is very knowledgeable about key wound mid 19th century watches. I am sure he can direct you to a reputable person to assist in getting your watch repaired. Their phone number is 727-863-5742. They have a website at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=162911843

Good luck with your watch.

[David Meister]

Sorry it is to late. I have grown weary of repairing my watch and have returned it for a refund. The watch is very handsome and correct for the time period... but I do not wish to own an unreliable time piece and will try my luck to find a similar watch.


David Meister

[Sarah Jane Edwards]

Thank you all again for your most helpful replies. My husband ended up returning the watch I mentioned. Unfortunately, the day he sent it back we received an email from Jim from Gettysburg who said he could fix it for $100! Oh well - since then my husband has bought a different watch. This one is an 1865-66 key wind. I forgot the name of it but he told me it is the same kind Lincoln carried. Hopefully he won't have problems with it but if he does, we know where to look for help! Thanks again,

Sarah

[Sarah Jane Edwards]

Sorry; one more question! :) My husband received his new watch today. It is very pretty and is keeping great time but the back of the case is loose and keeps coming open. Is this a common problem for old watches? We've emailed the people mentioend in this thread to see if this can be fixed but I was wondering if other people have experienced the same thing. Should the key for the watch be worn on the watch chain? And if so how far from the end of the chain?

Thank you!

Sarah

[Union Navy]

As for the key, it can be attached near the far end of the chain near the vest attachment or to the chain itself with a ring (it will then float along the chain). Both are seen in period photos.

The hinge on the back may be sprung, or the hingepin may be bent, or the catch area may be worn. Is it held closed by friction, or is there a catch? Does it match the rest of the case? This is not particularly common for watches if good repair.

[David Meister]

I believe it is worn. Can this be fixed?