loose in the case

[rg]

I have an Elgin B.W.Raymond that I bought by mail. It was loose in the case when it arrived. I sent it back. The people fixed it. The watch keeps accurate time, and I have had no problems.

I have an Elgin 616 that I just received by mail. Guess what. It came to me loose in the case. Not much, not as much as the Raymond, just a little movement when I wind it. I am not going to send it back. Too much trouble. I either intend to live with it ( would it hurt the watch to leave it this way?) or take it to my local watchmaker, or try to fix it myself. Can someone tell me why these watches tend to loosen during shipment.The people I bought from seem reliable; I don't think they sent watches out with loose movements.What has happened here? I have never had this to happen on other watches. Is there a simple fix for this ? The case screws seem to be tight. Any help would be appreciated.

[rg]

I have an Elgin B.W.Raymond that I bought by mail. It was loose in the case when it arrived. I sent it back. The people fixed it. The watch keeps accurate time, and I have had no problems.

I have an Elgin 616 that I just received by mail. Guess what. It came to me loose in the case. Not much, not as much as the Raymond, just a little movement when I wind it. I am not going to send it back. Too much trouble. I either intend to live with it ( would it hurt the watch to leave it this way?) or take it to my local watchmaker, or try to fix it myself. Can someone tell me why these watches tend to loosen during shipment.The people I bought from seem reliable; I don't think they sent watches out with loose movements.What has happened here? I have never had this to happen on other watches. Is there a simple fix for this ? The case screws seem to be tight. Any help would be appreciated.

[doug sinclair]

rg,

This can be indicative of a re-case. The new case being a tad thinner than the original. It can also be caused by "dogged" screws (with half a head) which tend to chew away material from the lip on the case back after repeated tightenings. It can also be caused by incorrect case screws having been inserted. A bad match can mean the screw won't screw down all the way. This is a common problem with American watches into which someone has tried to force a Swiss screw. The thread pitch is very different.

This is often a problem as well, with swing out cases. The movement can be tight in the ring, but the ring loose in the case. Tightening the case screws here will not solve the problem.

Doug S.

[Jon Hanson]

possibly the movement has lost its original dust band! Or, the movement is not appropriate for this case and now is a poor recase. Or, possibly the case has been slightly modified for another movement--so this one does not fit. OR, THE CASE SCREWS ARE TOO LONG AND THUS INCORRECT AND DON'T SEAT?

However, is your case American?

Jon

Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801
Founder and President chapter 149, The Early American Watch Club

[rg]

The case is a J Boss Keystone. Elgin signed. It seems to be looser face up. When face down, most of the loosness seems to go away.

[Jon Hanson]

IS THE DIAL LOOSE?

Jon Hanson, nawcc#8801
Founder and President chapter 149, The Early American Watch Club

[rg]

No. The dial is not loose.
The man who fixed the Raymond said these watches had a "detent" that held the works in place and that tightening the case screws wouldn't help.He said this detent had probably worked loose in shipping, and was easy to fix. I didn't understand the meaning of this "denent" but he must have been right, there is no problem with the Raymond .