Opening a Swing Out Case -- Re-visited

[Tom Walker]

Doug Sinclair quote from July 13, 2001: "Some cases do not have a back! These are usually of a type often called a "swing-ring" or "swing out" case. On these, you remove the front bezel and crystal and look for a "catch" for a thumbnail at the outer edge of the dial at the 6:00 position. Pull the stem out to what would be the setting position, hook the catch carefully with a thumbnail, and carefully lift at that point. Be VERY careful not to let the thumb slip as you could remove the fourth wheel pivot which carries the seconds hand. The movement should swing out from a hinge near the 12:00. If this doesn't work, get back to us."

Unquote: My neighbor asked me to look at three watches he had inherited. One was a Hamilton 941 in a swing out case that I was able to open with some difficulty. I closed the watch back in the case, but when I tried to open it again, it wouldn't open. I was afraid to apply too much pressure to the stem to place it in the setting position. This watch probably hadn't been opened in 50 years. Actually, it appeared someone had attempted to pry the dial off to get to the movement, which had slightly damaged the outer edge of the dial. Doug or others, any other suggestions to open this beauty? I want another look!
Tom Walker

[Tom Walker]

Doug Sinclair quote from July 13, 2001: "Some cases do not have a back! These are usually of a type often called a "swing-ring" or "swing out" case. On these, you remove the front bezel and crystal and look for a "catch" for a thumbnail at the outer edge of the dial at the 6:00 position. Pull the stem out to what would be the setting position, hook the catch carefully with a thumbnail, and carefully lift at that point. Be VERY careful not to let the thumb slip as you could remove the fourth wheel pivot which carries the seconds hand. The movement should swing out from a hinge near the 12:00. If this doesn't work, get back to us."

Unquote: My neighbor asked me to look at three watches he had inherited. One was a Hamilton 941 in a swing out case that I was able to open with some difficulty. I closed the watch back in the case, but when I tried to open it again, it wouldn't open. I was afraid to apply too much pressure to the stem to place it in the setting position. This watch probably hadn't been opened in 50 years. Actually, it appeared someone had attempted to pry the dial off to get to the movement, which had slightly damaged the outer edge of the dial. Doug or others, any other suggestions to open this beauty? I want another look!
Tom Walker

[mikeh]

Tom,

When you attempt to lift the ring, does it come up any at all? If so, it is probably hanging on the tip of the stem. Sometimes the stem is a little too long for a swing ring case. If so, you may have to jiggle the crown, or pull on it a little, while attempting to lift the ring. If the ring is not lifting up at all then there is some other obstruction.

[Tom Walker]

Mike,
Thanks for the quick response. The watch is back home with the neighbor. If I recall correctly, I couldn't pull out the stem in the setting position to get at the ring at the bottom of the case. I'll try again tomorrow.
Tom

[mikeh]

Tom,

For some reason, the stems in swing ring cases can be a little tough to pull into the setting position. If you couldn't pull it up, it is very unlikely that you will be able to open the ring. Even when it is in the setting position, you still have to wiggle them a little like I mentioned above. Use caution, and good luck.

[M. Cross]

A thought...did you notice if the pendant had a knurled locking nut at the base of the crown? If that's screwed down (it was to keep dust out of the case), the pendant WON'T pull up in the 'setting' position. Not all of them had this ring, but some did.

Regards! Mark

[Tom Walker]

Mark,
I believe that it did! That's new information for me -- amazing. I haven't got the watch back to try to open it yet, but I will soon. I think the nut was a different color (brass) than the color of the pendant. Thanks for the info, and I'll let you and MIke know how it turns out.
Tom

[mikeh]

Mark,

That's a new one on me. Maybe I'm confused about the case type, but the first 3 swingout cases with dust caps I grabbed all pulled up into the setting position fine. I must be missing something.

[M. Cross]

Glad that worked. The first time I ever came across this was with a cresent 16s swingout silveroide case to access a Hampden 104 movement. I fiddled with that thing until I spotted the dust ring, turned it with my needlenose pliers, and it freed the crown to be pulled up. I've seen them on most railroad cases, but like you, mostly standard crew back/bezel types, but never on swingouts. I guess on the better railroad cases they were an option as well!

Mike, all I can figure out is that the 3 you worked on must not have been screwed down in the lock position. I have no idea.

Anyway, yep, they can be on a swingout.

Regards! Mark

[mikeh]

Mark,

Nope, these are all three very tight. We must be talking about something different.

[terry hall]

my experience has shown the knurled nut below the crown is for the cap for the dustproof pendant... there is usually a packing under this nut and it does not have an effect on pulling the crown to the 'set' position...

one usually does need to bring the stem to the set position to enable the swing ring and movement to clear the stem.

there are some sleeves that are a bit tigher than others.... sometimes rotating the crown slowly while pulling to set position will help...

perhaps Mark's instance there is something going on under the cap that is placing a limitation on the movement of the stem....

,

[M. Cross]

Just using the 'law of averages', I'm counting several 'will pull out without turning nut' to my one 'turn the nut, and THEN it will pull out'. Anyone want to vote on who had the oddball in this bunch? :redface: :wink:

Follow the others lead, Tom. They'll get you where you need to go. Apparently mine was a fluke of that particular case, as it WAS a Hampden, and we all know how quarky THEY can be when they want to be.

High regards! Mark

[Tom McIntyre]

Unless the stem has been formed wrong or the packing packing washer is incredibly tight, the stem should pull up. Ezra C. Fitch holds the patent on this feature 319691 from June 9, 1885.

[Tom Walker]

The saga continues. About an hour ago I tried to open my neighbor's gg-grandfather's watch, which appears to be silveroid or silverode. It has a knurled brass nut below the crown. Tried to pull up the stem, but no luck. Loosened the nut with my fingers, and the case opened easily, but I still couldn't pull out the stem to the setting position. The case is a star and moon trade mark, serial # 663. The serial # on the movement is 233439 -- Hamilton Grade 941. I pulled out the stem and opened the case once w/o loosening the nut, but I can't repeat it. Loosening the nut, though, will allow the case to be opened every time. Thanks to everyone for your comments.
Tom Walker

[terry hall]

your case was made by crescent....

when you loosen the nut, you take pressure off of the packing, which in some are stacked leathers, or even a felt.... this could allow the stem to retract without actually moving in the sleeve... as strange as it sounds...

good luck with it..


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