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Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

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  • #1

    Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

    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
    Sarah J. Meister

    Wife / Mother / Seamstress / Musician
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

    Unfortunately period watch repair seems to be becoming more limited.

    This thread may give you some leads:

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

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

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

      Sarah
      Sarah J. Meister

      Wife / Mother / Seamstress / Musician

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

        Sarah,

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


        Bob Hutton
        Bob Hutton:)

        14th NC "Wild Cats"

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

          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

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

            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.
            [COLOR=Blue][SIZE=4][FONT=Verdana]Bob Dispenza[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]
            [COLOR=Navy]US Naval Landing Party ([url]www.usnlp.org)[/url][/COLOR]
            [COLOR=SeaGreen]Navy and Marine Living History Association ([url]www.navyandmarine.org)[/url][/COLOR]

            "The publick give credit for feat of arms, but the courage which is required for them, cannot compare with that which is needed to bear patiently, not only the thousand annoyances but the total absence of everything that makes life pleasant and even worth living." - Lt. Percival Drayton, on naval blockade duty.

            "We have drawn the Spencer Repeating Rifle. It is a 7 shooter, & a beautiful little gun. They are charged to us at $30.00. 15 of which we have to pay."
            William Clark Allen, Company K, 72nd Indiana Volunteers, May 17, 1863

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

              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.
              [SIZE=1]Your most humble and obedient servant,[/SIZE]
              [SIZE=2]Tim Prince[/SIZE]
              [I]Member CWDCA (The Civil War Dealers & Collectors Association)
              Member CWPT (Civil War Preservation Trust)
              Member The Company of Military Historians
              Member SABC (Society of American Bayonet Collectors)
              Hiram Lodge #7 F&AM
              [/I][URL=http://www.collegehillarsenal.com]collegehillarsenal.com[/URL]

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

                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
                Sarah J. Meister

                Wife / Mother / Seamstress / Musician

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

                  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
                  D. M. Meister


                  Portraying Federal & Confederate medical staff

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

                    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.
                    Dave Warringer Crpl
                    Member Squatting Bullfrog Mess
                    124th NYSV Orange Blossoms
                    "Squat, my Bullfrogs."
                    In Memory of Rufus Warringer
                    20th NYS Militia Co B
                    Killed at Antietum Sept 17, 1862

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

                      Thank you! I will be contacting them shortly.

                      Sarah
                      Sarah J. Meister

                      Wife / Mother / Seamstress / Musician

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

                        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.
                        [COLOR=Blue][SIZE=4][FONT=Verdana]Bob Dispenza[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]
                        [COLOR=Navy]US Naval Landing Party ([url]www.usnlp.org)[/url][/COLOR]
                        [COLOR=SeaGreen]Navy and Marine Living History Association ([url]www.navyandmarine.org)[/url][/COLOR]

                        "The publick give credit for feat of arms, but the courage which is required for them, cannot compare with that which is needed to bear patiently, not only the thousand annoyances but the total absence of everything that makes life pleasant and even worth living." - Lt. Percival Drayton, on naval blockade duty.

                        "We have drawn the Spencer Repeating Rifle. It is a 7 shooter, & a beautiful little gun. They are charged to us at $30.00. 15 of which we have to pay."
                        William Clark Allen, Company K, 72nd Indiana Volunteers, May 17, 1863

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

                          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...ndid=162911843

                          Good luck with your watch.
                          Barry Bowden

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

                            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
                            D. M. Meister


                            Portraying Federal & Confederate medical staff

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Repair for Period Pocketwatch?

                              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 J. Meister

                              Wife / Mother / Seamstress / Musician

                              Comment

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