Justin Blanche
09-27-2006, 12:13 PM
A few years back, I was at a local flea market. My girlfriend pulled me into the antique (reads: junk) section, and we perused for a bit. This one guy had some old coins and other trinkets heaped together in small wooden boxes, which I sifted through while the girl occupied herself with old lamps and the like. At the bottom of one those containers I found the (pictured) Zenith pocket watch.
I had always liked pocket watches, and this particular one looked pretty cool to me. It didn't seem to have any defects, and upon winding it, it began to tick away. I asked the guy how much...he told me twenty five bucks...SOLD!
When asked about its history, all he could tell me was that it was given to him by a family member after its former owner (this guy's uncle) passed away. The vendor didn't have any interest in using it, and was happy to pass it on.
So, that aside, about five minutes after getting it home (in my pocket), I sat down at an awkward angle and shattered the glass crystal. The watch still ran afterwards, so I told myself I would get it fixed one day.
Here it is, at least five years later, and I found the old Zenith in the back of my desk. I took it to the local jewler, and told him to put a new crystal on it and tune it up.
I got it back, and it runs well and keeps good time...and it now has what appears to be a polycarb crystal that is much tougher than the original. The only issue I have with it is that when I pull out the knob (stem?) to set the time, the second hand doesnt stop unless I turn it counter-clockwise...and, if I let pressure off the knob (ie: if i release my grip on it), the second hand begins moving again.
This doesn't seem right to me, and am wondering if there is something wrong with the movement? If so, is there a fix for this? Any particular watch-smiths, who are known to do good work and accept mail orders, out there?....or should I just be happy that the watch runs and keep decent time and be done with it?
In addition, if any of you have any information on this particular watch, I would be greatly appreciative. I like it a lot (that's why I bought it), and have had some trouble tracking down info on this exact model. I've seen ones that look very similar (circa 20's), but it would seem the knob is different on those.
Anyhow, I won't drag this out any longer than required. Given my questions above, and the pictures below, any feedback is greatly appreciated.
http://myspace-127.vo.llnwd.net/01220/72/19/1220909127_l.jpg
http://myspace-063.vo.llnwd.net/01220/36/01/1220911063_l.jpg
I had always liked pocket watches, and this particular one looked pretty cool to me. It didn't seem to have any defects, and upon winding it, it began to tick away. I asked the guy how much...he told me twenty five bucks...SOLD!
When asked about its history, all he could tell me was that it was given to him by a family member after its former owner (this guy's uncle) passed away. The vendor didn't have any interest in using it, and was happy to pass it on.
So, that aside, about five minutes after getting it home (in my pocket), I sat down at an awkward angle and shattered the glass crystal. The watch still ran afterwards, so I told myself I would get it fixed one day.
Here it is, at least five years later, and I found the old Zenith in the back of my desk. I took it to the local jewler, and told him to put a new crystal on it and tune it up.
I got it back, and it runs well and keeps good time...and it now has what appears to be a polycarb crystal that is much tougher than the original. The only issue I have with it is that when I pull out the knob (stem?) to set the time, the second hand doesnt stop unless I turn it counter-clockwise...and, if I let pressure off the knob (ie: if i release my grip on it), the second hand begins moving again.
This doesn't seem right to me, and am wondering if there is something wrong with the movement? If so, is there a fix for this? Any particular watch-smiths, who are known to do good work and accept mail orders, out there?....or should I just be happy that the watch runs and keep decent time and be done with it?
In addition, if any of you have any information on this particular watch, I would be greatly appreciative. I like it a lot (that's why I bought it), and have had some trouble tracking down info on this exact model. I've seen ones that look very similar (circa 20's), but it would seem the knob is different on those.
Anyhow, I won't drag this out any longer than required. Given my questions above, and the pictures below, any feedback is greatly appreciated.
http://myspace-127.vo.llnwd.net/01220/72/19/1220909127_l.jpg
http://myspace-063.vo.llnwd.net/01220/36/01/1220911063_l.jpg