Is there any wrist watch 'tinkerers' on 'ere who are/might be looking for a job?
I tinkle, or used to tinkle a tiny bit.
What is the issue?
I can get backs off, change batts, get movements out and replace them , so that means remove crowns, stems and cystals, also fix bands or straps, shorten bands.
I have basic tooling.and can point you at where to get it. But i have yet to strip one down and rebuild it successfully mostly cos I am scared of hairsprings. I have tried but have yet to succeed! Then i always tried with ones that weren't working. didn't want to bust one that was working!;)
 
I tinkle, or used to tinkle a tiny bit.
What is the issue?
I can get backs off, change batts, get movements out and replace them , so that means remove crowns, stems and cystals, also fix bands or straps, shorten bands.
I have basic tooling.and can point you at where to get it. But i have yet to strip one down and rebuild it successfully mostly cos I am scared of hairsprings. I have tried but have yet to succeed! Then i always tried with ones that weren't working. didn't want to bust one that was working!;)
This watch is a treasure left for me by my grandmother whom I never knew as she had died before I was able to walk!

It is certainly 100 years old and was made by Thomas Russell and Son (Watchmakers) of Liverpool, BUT NOW it is not what it looks like!!

Sometime in the 1960's a jeweller's shop mended it but didn't charge because they said the could not guarantee it was going to work - it went on for about another 10 years but when it finally stopped I knew that it had had its chips so I just packed it away. Then, around 1980, I took it to a -so called reputable jeweller/watch repairer in Devizes, Wiltshire and asked if they had any suggestions as to what might be possible They suggested that a new modern movement was put in it. After a bit of thought I went ahead with that idea on condition that the face and hands were kept original - they were not at all happy as that was a lot of work but as it was me paying for it I asked them to go ahead. I just cannot remember if it is battery operated or still mechanical. They did not return any of the original bits, including the jewels.

It worked for a few years - can't remember how many, and then the winder seemed to come adrift inside so I just admitted defeat bought a new 'modern' one packed this away in a jewellery box - there it has remained.

It is a lovely face with clear numbers for those of advancing years! And the watch case is hinged - you can just about see it between 10 and 8 and inside it still bears the markings of the craftsmen who repaired it. The strap is sprung within each link and I have at some point had it re-sprung.

I would like it to work so that I can wear it but as I don't know what is wrong I don't know if it is possible. The only thing I can say is 'it is worth a try', the worst that can happen is that it still doesn't work and it the goes back to sleep in the jewellery box!

Fancy a go????
 
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whats the deal with smart motorways? i dont have much reason to go on the motorway anymore, but i did the other day!! in lane 1, quite busy, truck in lane 2 along side me doing the same speed. Gantry decides to close my lane with an X. what are you supposed to do?
pretending you didnt see it isnt clever, neither is stopping in a lane.
I slowed down and pushed into the gap behind the truck, the tailgating car wasnt at all happy. within a very short time i was passing a small van that was stopped in lane 1
 
whats the deal with smart motorways? i dont have much reason to go on the motorway anymore, but i did the other day!! in lane 1, quite busy, truck in lane 2 along side me doing the same speed. Gantry decides to close my lane with an X. what are you supposed to do?
pretending you didnt see it isnt clever, neither is stopping in a lane.
I slowed down and pushed into the gap behind the truck, the tailgating car wasnt at all happy. within a very short time i was passing a small van that was stopped in lane 1

On the M27 peeps all eschew lane 1, is as good as a hard shoulder
 
This watch is a treasure left for me by my grandmother whom I never knew as she had died before I was able to walk!

It is certainly 100 years old and was made by Thomas Russell and Son (Watchmakers) of Liverpool, BUT NOW it is not what it looks like!!

Sometime in the 1960's a jeweller's shop mended it but didn't charge because they said the could not guarantee it was going to work - it went on for about another 10 years but when it finally stopped I knew that it had had its chips so I just packed it away. Then, around 1980, I took it to a -so called reputable jeweller/watch repairer in Devizes, Wiltshire and asked for if they had any suggestions as to what might be possible They suggested that a new modern movement was put in it. After a bit of thought I went ahead with that idea on condition that the face and hands were kept original - they were not at all happy as that was a lot of work but as it was me paying for it and I asked them to go ahead. I just cannot remember if it is battery operated or still mechanical. They did not return any of the original bits, including the jewels.

It worked for a few years - can't remember how many, and then the winder seemed to come adrift inside so I just admitted defeat bought a new 'modern' one packed this away in a jewellery box - there it has remained.

It is a lovely face with clear numbers for those of advancing years! And the watch case is hinged - you can just about see it between 10 and 8 and inside it still bears the markings of the craftsmen who repaired it. The strap is sprung within each link and I have at some point had it re-sprung.

I would like it to work so that I can wear it but as I don't know what is wrong I don't know if it is possible. The only thing I can say is 'it is worth a try', the worst that can happen is that it still doesn't work and it the goes back to sleep in the jewellery box!

Fancy a go????
It should be easy enough to determine if it is battery driven or mechanical, by opening the back which you seem to be saying you can do.
A battery operated movement will have a very obvious button battery of some kind but if you remember winding it up it is obvs mechanical.
I suspect it is mechanical and the stem has as you say come adrift . That ought to be a fairly easy repair for a decent repair place. They will either replace the stem or mend the exisiting one.
Being an amateur I don't have access to the sorts of spares a pro would have, he'd have lots in his stock and would pick one out that is either a direct replacement or could be modified.
But don't take it to a jewellers even one like Samuels, as they will only farm it out to someone else or they may make a mess of it. W gave me a fabulous watch for our wedding, a chronograph, not a mechanical one but still very nice. The crystal broke and one of my sixth formers worked in a Samuels so I asked her if they could repair it, she took it to the supposedly Rolex trained guy and he fixed it but a short while later it went bust. He hadn't seen how to remove the stem from the movement, he had simply yanked it out, despite the fact there is a little thing in the back of the movement you have to push with a small tool, with "push" marked next to it. The girl told me that he told her he did it the proper way!
So i bought a new movement as they are cheap enough and fitted it myself. I was able to get the stem out easily just by first pushing the stem inwards then pushing where it said "push" then pulling the stem out and through the case.:rolleyes:
You can send it away to be repaired and quotes from pros may vary quite wildly.

List of accredited watch repairers from the British horological Institute, (There are only a couple in Wales)
https://bhi.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Accredited-Register-WATCHES-191222-B.pdf
Stuff to think about here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/fashion/watches-repairs-auctions.html
It would help the repairer to know the serial number and/or calibre numbre on the movement, if you can read it. From that he/she may be able to work out what make it is if he/she can get spares and if it is worth replacing tjhe movement again.
 
This watch is a treasure left for me by my grandmother whom I never knew as she had died before I was able to walk!

It is certainly 100 years old and was made by Thomas Russell and Son (Watchmakers) of Liverpool, BUT NOW it is not what it looks like!!

Sometime in the 1960's a jeweller's shop mended it but didn't charge because they said the could not guarantee it was going to work - it went on for about another 10 years but when it finally stopped I knew that it had had its chips so I just packed it away. Then, around 1980, I took it to a -so called reputable jeweller/watch repairer in Devizes, Wiltshire and asked if they had any suggestions as to what might be possible They suggested that a new modern movement was put in it. After a bit of thought I went ahead with that idea on condition that the face and hands were kept original - they were not at all happy as that was a lot of work but as it was me paying for it I asked them to go ahead. I just cannot remember if it is battery operated or still mechanical. They did not return any of the original bits, including the jewels.

It worked for a few years - can't remember how many, and then the winder seemed to come adrift inside so I just admitted defeat bought a new 'modern' one packed this away in a jewellery box - there it has remained.

It is a lovely face with clear numbers for those of advancing years! And the watch case is hinged - you can just about see it between 10 and 8 and inside it still bears the markings of the craftsmen who repaired it. The strap is sprung within each link and I have at some point had it re-sprung.

I would like it to work so that I can wear it but as I don't know what is wrong I don't know if it is possible. The only thing I can say is 'it is worth a try', the worst that can happen is that it still doesn't work and it the goes back to sleep in the jewellery box!

Fancy a go????
I'm assuming you have had a look here to see if you can find one that looks like it?
https://www.loveantiques.com/knowledge/artisan/thomas-russell-son-watchmaker?page=2
 
whats the deal with smart motorways? i dont have much reason to go on the motorway anymore, but i did the other day!! in lane 1, quite busy, truck in lane 2 along side me doing the same speed. Gantry decides to close my lane with an X. what are you supposed to do?
pretending you didnt see it isnt clever, neither is stopping in a lane.
I slowed down and pushed into the gap behind the truck, the tailgating car wasnt at all happy. within a very short time i was passing a small van that was stopped in lane 1
Those things scare me witless, as you say, if you stay in Lane one you risk a pile up, if you stay in lane 2 you risk gettin hit by someone panicking when they suddenly have to move out of lane 1!
so it is safer to stay in Lane 3,
Mad!
We also recently came across someone who had broken down and couldn't make it to a refuge. They say they have "fewer accidents but more fatalities":mad::mad::mad:
And they are still being "tested".:rolleyes: for the next few years I think.:mad:
At least they aren't building or miodifying others into being them any more.;)
 
On the M27 peeps all eschew lane 1, is as good as a hard shoulder
We have to use it quite a bit and we do the same.
There was one oop north where we were nearly in the same situation as @kermit_rr . But we were already in Lane 2 and moved over to lane 3 as soon as it was safe to do so. Some peeps react quickly and safely but many don't!:(:(:(
 
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Had a "telephone appt" with the doc this a.m. re my hand. He told me he thort I'd have to see a hand specialist doc, but that couldn't happen until I had seen a physio, who wouldn't be able to do anything.:rolleyes:
So "Come in and see the ladies (receptionists) to make an apptwith a physio while he "got the ball rolling" for the Hand Doc."
So in I trots, well drives then trots.
Said "lady" then said "You could have done this online!":rolleyes::mad: so I told her I'd fill it in on the spot.
I had to kneel down to get to a surface to write on and fill in the form, lots of things on it "we don't use anymore" or "we don't need that":rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:.
As always, decent doctor, (except maybe his knowledge of how the practice works) but what a palaver.
So went home got onto Scroofix re new tarps for 2 Discos. later went and picked em up and replaced the worst torn one. Good it was chilly, I lost the feeling in my fingers! Had to fire up the compressor to blow one tyre up, the cord was trapped underneath it anyway!!
And got scratched by the wretched rosebush I always have to cut back to be able to get behind the Landy in question.
Still, done now, one to go!:):):)
Risotto for dins!
Yum!
(And i am having a booze free evening!:rolleyes::()
Enjoy the evening folks!
:):):)
 
...that my grandson just visited and was intrigued by my new Harmonica.
So, I gave him my old one, it's another Hohner, a Big-River harp in "C".
His little face lit-up. :D "Good-boy Grand-Dad". :)
I am now wondering why you got a new one, do you no longer like the sound of the old one?
My old Bandmaster Chromatic has a broken reed although by a miracle it is one of two identical ones so not the end of the world, but i got two Hohner "Super Chromonicas" in an auction recently, they both need taking apart and cleaning but they make a class sound. I had to do this to discover that the Seydel's system one (Bandmaster) is a little different from the other one in how it's played. Never knew there was more than one system. You can tell I play it by ear, (well with my mouth before peeps get funny)!
All good fun.
I do love a chromatic!
(Only way to play flamenco,;))
:):):)
 

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