u/ocean_guy2

I just picked this up from an auction. I want to look it up on the pocket watch database but so fare not having luck on finding a serial number. Has anyone found the number under the watch dial or some other spot on Gruens?

I never wear suits. I'm a Marie biologist, so a button down and jeans is considered formal work attire. Does this suit look like a good choice and decent fit?

Finally finished my first full tear down, wash , reassemble and lubrication. Here's a full wind on the timegrapher. I'm gonna let the watch run overnight then put it back on and see how it holds up in different positions. I wish the amplitude was a bit higher, but all things being equal I am pretty happy. It was definitely challenging, particularly doing the lubrication on the balance jewels. It took me about six rounds of cleaning, oiling, and placing to get the bottom jewel properly installed.

This main spring came out out of an Elgin 12 S movement with 17 J. This is my first attempt at servicing an old pocket-watch movement. The spring generally looks good to me, but I'd love some input from the group. Does this need to be replaced if I want this Watch to be a decent runner? Or can I get away with reusing the spring?

Anyone cleaning watch parts with Naphtha in jars in an ultrasonic cleaner? Do you warm the water bath at all? Some YouTube videos point out that warming the solution results in better cleaning. But a google search puts the ignition at Naphtha as low as 50c. Curious what protocols others are using.

A Month ago had surgery to remove some cancer. I decided that I need to take a break and just get some quiet time so I bought this rooftop tent for my truck which I'm super excited for. I'm doing a cross country road trip for the next several weeks, hoping to end up in New York. But for the immediate , I'm leaving out of Southern California and just kind of wandering. My plan poke through Utah, Colorado, Wyoming in Montana. Anyone have any standout spots that you'd recommend checking out in those states? Plan to do a mix of staying at campgrounds and also hitting BLM and doing some Boondocking. Looking for quiet places to myself, but also gatherings if anyone's getting together with groups to do some camping. I would be pumped for any suggestions

Hi all, I could use some input. I tried using my ultrasonic cleaner to clean an old pocket watch movement. I followed a video from YouTube and in that one the gentleman does a great job of explaining how ultrasonic cleaners work, and he gave multiple options of cleaning fluids. He ends with using dawn 9 ounces of DI water to 1 ounce of dawn and notes that if you do extra rinses and put it through 99% isopropyl alcohol, you should have no problems. So that's what I did. Dawn in my ultrasonic for 10 minutes then a rinse in the de-ionized water for five minutes, followed by a second rinse in deionize water for five minutes, followed by three successive jars of isopropyl alcohol for two minutes. And then I dried them in a fruit dehydrator for about 20 minutes. As you can see my parts rusted and have a good amount of residue. What did I do wrong?

What's everybody else using that isn't super aromatic or carcinogenic? i'm particularly worried about the carcinogenic side having just had to undergo surgery for removing a cancerous

Any suggestions how to get the rust and residue off these parts or am I basically cooked?

Hi all, I could use some input. I tried using my ultrasonic cleaner to clean an old pocket watch movement. I followed a video from YouTube and in that one the gentleman does a great job of explaining how ultrasonic cleaners work, and he gave multiple options of cleaning fluids. He ends with using dawn 9 ounces of DI water to 1 ounce of dawn and notes that if you do extra rinses and put it through 99% isopropyl alcohol, you should have no problems. So that's what I did. Dawn in my ultrasonic for 10 minutes then a rinse in the de-ionized water for five minutes, followed by a second rinse in deionize water for five minutes, followed by three successive jars of isopropyl alcohol for two minutes. And then I dried them in a fruit dehydrator for about 20 minutes. As you can see my parts rusted and have a good amount of residue. I know everyone's gonna jump on don't use water-based. What's everybody else using that isn't super aromatic or carcinogenic? i'm particularly worried about the carcinogenic side having just had to undergo surgery for removing a cancerous tumor.

The picture shows where I started versus where I ended up. Any suggestions how to get the rust and residue off these parts or am I basically cooked?

I am driving from Los Angeles to Albany NY in two weeks and am working on route planning to hit pocketwatch/watch related stops. The Watch Preserve in Texas, Vortec watches in Colorado, and the Hamilton/RGM in PA are on my list. Are there any other shops/museums you would recommend as worthwhile driving to.

I am driving from Los Angeles to Albany NY in two weeks and am working on route planning to hit pocketwatch/watch related stops. The Watch Preserve in Texas, Vortec watches in Colorado, and the Hamilton/RGM in PA are on my list. Are there any other shops/museums you would recommend as worthwhile driving to.

I'm working on this Elgen 12s movement, doing my first inspection before initial cleaning. I found this crack in the plate under the spring barrel; it looks like the barrel was loose enough in the bearings that it wore through the plate. I see some divits on the on the barrel side of the plate that make me think someone tried to bend the plate for clearance. Looking for input, at this point would it be safe to say this movement is beyond salvaging? Or if I get the barrel bearings corrected and stop the rubbing, is it still salvageable?

I also found one cracked jewel. Is it possible to press that out and then just press in a modern jewel straight into the plate without using the bushing it's currently in? Or do I need to press a jewel into the bushing and then place that into the plate?

Hi all, I'm doing my first lubrication on an ST3600, been following Lesson 7 on Watch repair tutorials. Was going great until the shock spring fell off while I was taking the capstone off of the balance. I'm having a heck of a time getting it back into place. Does anyone know of a video, or have some step-by-step advice on how to get it hinged back into place?