Main Springs

[ljrusso]

I have an Elgin (serial number 24367617) after my escapade with the Waltham dial I figured i knew what was wrong with this one and determind that the main spring was broken (literally in 2 pieces) So here is the next flurry of questions:
1.) How do I determin what size main spring I need?
2.) Is there some kind of listing of sizes and makes? (could this be another project???)
3.) Where do I get a main spring?
4.) Are such items really only available as new old stock?

Regards

Louis

[ljrusso]

I have an Elgin (serial number 24367617) after my escapade with the Waltham dial I figured i knew what was wrong with this one and determind that the main spring was broken (literally in 2 pieces) So here is the next flurry of questions:
1.) How do I determin what size main spring I need?
2.) Is there some kind of listing of sizes and makes? (could this be another project???)
3.) Where do I get a main spring?
4.) Are such items really only available as new old stock?

Regards

Louis

[Smudgy]

You first need to determine which watch you have. The Elgin site (www.elginwatches.org (http://www.elginwatches.org)) seems to be the best resource for determining this.The site lists your watch as a 1921, 16s, 17j, grade 387, model 7 watch.

Next you can call a materials supplier,or look in a materials book to find out the part number, then contact a supplier for the part. My parts book shows that a model 7 would take either of two different mainsprings depending on what type of mainspring barrel you have. For a regular barrel (brass) it would be a factory #817 (this spring has two locking tabs on yhe outside end of it, upper and lower). For a steel barrel it calls for Part #2542 (only has a lower locking tab).

You should be able to buy these springs new or new old stock from the material houses. put the phrase 'newbie asks: how do i order parts' in the find box at the top of the page and you'll find a list of materials suppliers in the tread.

good luck

[Kent]

Louis:

Try copying the link that Smudgy posted and pasting it into your web browser's address field. That should open up the site.

You can also contact:

S. LaRose (http://www.slarose.com)
Or
Uncle Larry's Clock and Watch Shop (http://www.execulink.com/~lfoord/index/pwparts.htm)

with your description of your watch. They ought to be able to help.

Kent

That guy down in Georgia :smile:

[ljrusso]

Smudgy, thanks for the information. Will research it more later today.
Kent, thanks for the tip! I already know of the "problem" when linking to the Elgin site.
Cheers
Louis

[ljrusso]

Morning everyone,
mainspring is on the way. Smudgy, Kent thanks for the help.
Is it difficult to install a mainspring? Do I need any special tools. I saw something called
a maindspring winder and that got me to thinking...

Now someone is going to write that I should buy a book or something and that is planned or still being tried as my attemps at getting some books have always been shot down as I keep on getting out-bid on Ebay.

If any one can give me a few general steps then I think this should not be a big problem. (Unless of course I need Siemens Air-Plugs....thats a joke don't know if you got that one in the US)

As always best regards
Louis

[RichG]

Louis,
I don't know what book you are looking for, but you might want to try someplace besides ebay. Most of the tool/parts supply houses also sell repair books. Often for less than what there are selling for on ebay!!
For example, I recently purchased Donald deCarle's book "Practical Watch Repairing". I have seen this book quite frequently on ebay for $34-$36. You can order this book from Merritt's catalog for $29. I bought mine from an internet book seller for $20 (brand new).
This also holds true with other books and tools.
Rich

[Kent]

Louis:

Mainsprings can be put in without a mainspring winder, but its not recommended because it somewhat disorts the spring when winding it into the spring barrel. Mainspring winders are fairly inexpensive. Contact me offline (you can get my email address by clicking on my name in the upper left-hand corner of this post and viewing my Public Profile) if you'd like one, or check out the material houses whose links were listed earlier.

Watch Repair books are available from:
The NAWCC Gift Shop (http://www.nawcc.org/giftshop/americart/bk_watch.htm), scroll down to the repair books. I especially recommend The Watch Repairer's Manual - 4th Edition, by Henry B. Fried. While you're there, I strongly recommend American Watchmaking, A Technical History (Supplement #14), by Michael Harrold, 1884. This is a fantastic book for the American pocket watch enthusiast and at $6.50, its almost a give-away.

S.LaRose (http://www.slarose.com/store2/store.ihtml?id=97&step=2)

No doubt there are other places.

Good luck,
Kent

That guy down in Georgia :smile: