Image 1 — Starting my second service...
Image 2 — Starting my second service...
Image 3 — Starting my second service...
Image 4 — Starting my second service...
Image 5 — Starting my second service...

Starting my second service...

Absolute beginner... Just finished a beautiful 1913 Elgin pocketwatch that still needs some regulation adjustment. Now I'm a third of the size in a Waltham late 60s, supposedly seiko made s-33/UT-33 automatic movement. The watch runs sometimes, and kept good time for hours in the heat outside 90f+ but stops running inside where it's 70F. I assume it just needs cleaned and new oil. Does anyone have any advice before I dig in further?

u/HealthyShake3437 — 1 day ago

My first full service Elgin

Elgin grade 336, that had been sitting at an antique shop for years with no crystal. Just completed my first full disassemble service ever. Had to replace the crystal, a broken balance jewel, one tiny spring that holds a gear up, the minute hand, and 3 lost screws. Seems to be keeping time good, and that second-hand sweep is smoother than my Bulova.

u/HealthyShake3437 — 2 days ago

Got my oddball Waltham from ebay... lots of questions.

Ok, seems to be be mid 60s possibly 1965. It is so much better than the ebay pics and descriptions...

Its over oiled, or has old oil. Works great in 90°F weather. Keeps exact time with my Bulova Lunar Pilot.

Has a (I think) Seiko Japan automatic movement ... S-33. Winds really well as you move it around. Amazing sweeping second hand, but the red arrow is barely red now. Not sure if the lumed dot-posts were that way originally, but its inconsistent and needs redone, same with the lume on the hands. The black or Grey or silver paint on the hands is flaking... it hasn't lost a second in the past 4 hours after I took it out to the garage. It only runs 15 seconds or so inside where its 70°F. Needs a new band... ss mesh, or leather, or suede?

u/HealthyShake3437 — 21 days ago

Waltham ID?

Can anyone tell me what model Waltham this white dialed one is, please?. Possibly its age? The gold one is the only other one like it I could find on google.

u/HealthyShake3437 — 1 month ago

Need help finding any info about this movement. Supposedly Timex

Timex Philippines, 13 on back case, no (0) jewels, unudjusted, TImex PHILIPPINES, B 61 on back of movement... UK IIII302386 on side of dial face. Its extra tiny, thats a 1/4inch stick of wood beside the back cover. Women's bracelet watch, all mechanical. Something missing to hold in the balance wheel.

u/HealthyShake3437 — 1 month ago

First time needing to replace a balance staff...

Im working on a Elgin grade 336, model 5, full plate pocketwatch. I have a backup movement that is literally 1400 or so different in serial number. One has a chipped jewel on the train gears (it's on the outside part of the jewel, but i dont know if that means the hole is wobbled at the pivot) and a broken balance staff pivot.

The other movement needed just a cleaning/service, but i think the balance wheel is loose on its staff (also wobbly, but the pivots look ok).

Im curious as to what yall think of the cheap Amazon staking tools (usually around USD $130), or should I save up and buy a $400 on ebay vintage staking kit? I will be re-assembling the better movement soon. I have already reassembled the one with the broken staff.

Also, they are supposedly the same movement, but have different dials. One has large black Arabic numerals with the double inset, but it's all glossy. The other has glossy outside, and satin in the step-down, also it has red numbers outside the normal minute numbers... which is the preferred dial?

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u/HealthyShake3437 — 2 months ago

Im working on an Elgin Grade 336 Model 5 pocketwatch... On a whim, I bought a digital magnifier on Temu that seems to work pretty good. Better than my loupe, and better than the magnifying headset I got at HF.

Anyway, upon magnifying the balance to check for any damage, I can now see that the impulse jewel has a flat face. I thought it was round. Is the jewel ok, or has it split?

u/HealthyShake3437 — 2 months ago