u/HKoch2004

Hi everyone! I just got this black dial Bulova from the 1930s or 1940s a few days ago, and wanted to know what kind of band would work on this. Where the normal lugs would be, these swinging/movable pieces are connected. Anyone have a clue on what kind of band was used here? It doesn’t look like there’s any way to remove the pieces. There’s no cut outs to get to the spring bars.

Hi everyone! I just got this black dial Bulova from the 1930s or 1940s a few days ago, and wanted to know what kind of band would work on this. Where the normal lugs would be, these swinging/movable pieces are connected. Anyone have a clue on what kind of band was used here? It doesn’t look like there’s any way to remove the pieces. There’s no cut outs to get to the spring bars.

Hi everyone! I posted this to the other day on VintageWatches but didn’t have any feedback. I got this Ball pocket watch from a neighbor a few days ago for $100. It seems like it was used for the Pennsylvania Rail Road. After coming home, I finally remembered the setting lever was under the front bezel, and after adjusting the time, it started running! It looks like the hands eventually touch each other and stop the thing from running. Not completely sure on who made this movement or when it was made. Any feedback on this would be appreciated!

Hi everyone! I just got this Certina Blue Ribbon with a cracked bezel. I’m struggling to find a replacement bezel, and I am wondering if it would be easier to find someone who will weld it back together? Is this possible? Thanks!

Hi everyone! Found this today at a flea market for $2.50. I went to remove the mineral crystal for cleaning, and it exploded. I found a 30 mm acrylic crystal in my parts, and it seems like it fits? The mineral crystal had a gasket to hold it in, but it won’t fit with the acrylic one in. Was that to just hold the mineral crystal in? Is this generally ok to do?

Hi everyone! Found this today at a flea market for $2.50. I went to remove the mineral crystal for cleaning, and it exploded. I found a 30 mm acrylic crystal in my parts, and it seems like it fits? The mineral crystal had a gasket to hold it in, but it won’t fit with the acrylic one in. Was that to just hold the mineral crystal in? Is this generally ok to do?

Hi everyone! I bet you’re tired of seeing updates on this thing already, lol. I ended up getting a new pallet fork and escape wheel for the movement and installed them without cleaning. Neither looked really dirty, but the new escape wheel was slightly bent when I took it out of the packaging. I’m guessing it got caught on the side of the container during its delivery from Cousins, and got bent somewhere along the way.

On the timegrapher, the galloping has now disappeared. The amplitude still looks healthy, with it sitting around 270-280 in dial down. I haven’t oiled the jewels on the new pallet fork yet, as I just wanted to check if the issue was still occurring. I’m going to go through this thing and clean/oil everything again.

Here’s a photo of my timegrapher with the new (bent) escape wheel. Should I try and get another replacement from Cousins? Or does it look ok as is?

Hi everyone! I won this staking set in an auction around a month ago, and just came around to really looking at it. I’m not sure if something is missing or broken, but I can’t turn the die plate. The knob on the very end seems to stop the plate from horizontally moving, but when I go to actually turn the plate to a different hole, it starts to unscrew. Even when the back knob feels loose, I can’t turn the plate. Can anyone tell me if I’m missing a piece?

Hi everyone! I won this staking set in an auction around a month ago, and just came around to really looking at it. I’m not sure if something is missing or broken, but I can’t turn the die plate. The knob on the very end seems to stop the plate from horizontally moving, but when I go to actually turn the plate to a different hole, it starts to unscrew. Even when the back knob feels loose, I can’t turn the plate. Can anyone tell me if I’m missing a piece?

Hi everyone! I’ve been looking through a few boxes and remembered I have this antique camera sitting in one. After taking it out, I tried to identify it, but have no clue what it is. The handle on top of the camera is embossed with “PIXIE”, but couldn’t find another example online. The closest thing I’ve seen is a Kodak 3A, but there are some differences. I’ve also seen a Contessa Pixie, but mine doesn’t have the struts on the sides. Does anyone know what I have?

Hi everyone! I just ran into a new issue I haven’t seen yet! I took apart a Bulova 11AOACB yesterday because it was dirty, and started pre-cleaning today. When cleaning the date driving wheel, I found that the spring that is usually held under that top plate has come out somehow. Does anyone know how to put it back in? I’m thinking I have it in the right orientation in the photo, but I’m not completely sure.

Hi everyone! I just got this project done last night. Took me a few months to fix, but ended up getting it to where I’m happy with it. It’s a 19mm lug width, what kind of strap would look good on this? Thanks!

Hi everyone! My replacement mainspring came in today, and I decided to try it with the movement. As you can see, it looks like it is still galloping.

When putting the pallet fork in the watch for the first time, I did accidentally put it in at an angle and began to put pressure on the plate. However, I noticed what I was doing and thought it looked ok after removing it again.

I also had much difficulty getting it out of its case. When removed, I noticed that there was a glue-like substance holding it in. There is also a bar that goes straight up in the case, and I believe that was giving me issues as well.

This video is with my timegrapher’s sensitivity all the way up. On a lower sensitivity, the amplitude js even higher, around 330-340 degrees.

Can anyone tell me what to look at now? Could the balance/pallet fork/escape wheel be damaged and causing this? Thanks!

Hi everyone! I just put this project on my timegrapher, and have no clue what’s going on with it. It seems to be running well, then gains a crazy amount of time, and then goes back to normal. I’ve checked the parts, and everything seemed to be in good condition before cleaning. Could anyone point me in a direction?

Hi everyone! I’m currently working on a Benrus Wrist Alarm with a DS1D movement, and had to get a jeweler to get the movement out of the case (a #3021). I think someone used shellac to stop the movement from coming out or rattling, and caused it to get stuck. 

Now I’m looking for a new crystal, and I’m not sure what type I should be looking at for this. The other single-piece cases I’ve seen had ledges on the side of the crystal. The one that came with this doesn’t seem to have a ledge, and just goes straight down on the sides. Can anyone tell me if this is the correct crystal? Or if there should be a ledge here? 

Hi everyone! I did make an earlier post about this one, and some thought there was a ring around the crystal, stopping me from removing the movement. Today I opened it again and found that the dial was loose, and after removing the hands came out. Everything looks ok with the dial feet, but I think I found out why the movement won’t come out. This has two split stems, and to me it looks like the part still in the movement (male side?) is blocking it from coming out. They’re both pressed into the winding position, and I am still unable to remove this. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I can do here?

I believe this is a case where you can only open it through the front.