Watch just serviced

[cons14]

I've just had my Illinois Bunn Special serviced and it looks excellent! Any recommendations on maintance? I will carry it on certain occasions but primarly it will sit in a watch box. Should I wind it once a week? or only when used? Thank you in advance for all your outstanding comments.

[Kent]

cons14:

Don't wind it unless you're going to carry it. There's nothing wrong about letting it sit in a run-down state. If you're only going to carry it occasionally, it shouldn't need to be serviced again for 7-10 years. Ed Ueberall, of The Escapement (http://members.aol.com/stdwatch) has put together some notes on the Use And Care of Your Vintage Watch (http://k_singer.home.comcast.net/use_and_care_of_your_vintage_wat.htm) that may be helpful.

[cons14]

Thank you for the link Kent. You answered my question!

[Don Dahlberg]

Vintage pocket watches were not in waterproof cases. Thus they were not dust proof. If you wear your watch often, then have it cleaned every 3 to 4 years. If you do not wear it much and keep it out of dusty environments, then Kents suggestion of 5 to 10 years is fine for modern synthetic oils. In the old days oils did not last long. By the time they started getting thick, the dust and grit inside had also built up. In railroad use, they had to be cleaned once a year. Synthetic oils last 7 to 10 years. Now the question is dust and grit.

Don

[andy b.]

Don,

is there anything a person could do to help keep dust out of their watch if they wear it often? maybe what pocket they carry it in, or a belt holster or something? or, are there any styles of watch cases that are better at keeping dust out than others?

just wondering.

andy b.

[Kent]

Andy:

Yes, there are dust-proof cases that used a leather washer at the stem to prevent dust from getting in.

[lak611]

Andy:

Yes, there are dust-proof cases that used a leather washer at the stem to prevent dust from getting in.What are those? I have never seen or heard of them.

[Kent]

What are those? I have never seen or heard of them.



They are dust-proof cases that used a leather washer at the stem to prevent dust from getting in. There are other designs wherein the crown screws down to provide a dust-proof seal. As you look around on eBay and at marts, you'll see them.

[lak611]

What are those? I have never seen or heard of them.



They are dust-proof cases that used a leather washer at the stem to prevent dust from getting in. There are other designs wherein the crown screws down to provide a dust-proof seal. As you look around on eBay and at marts, you'll see them.

I will be going to a local mart next month, so I will look for them there and ask the people at the mart.

[Tom McIntyre]

The most famous of the leather seal watches were those made by Blockley for the Royal Geographic Societies Polar Expeditions. You don't see a lot of those on eBay.

Fitch's Patent Dustproof case is seen pretty often with the screw down crown and much less often with the removal cap over the crown. A lot of these watches are Waltham 1879 model but lots of other movements show up in the cases.

[Tom Huber]

I have a unique coin silver dustproof case that houses a Waltham model 77. It is a swingring case with a crown that screws down tightly after the watch is wound and set.

There is no makers name in the case. Just patd Apr 22, 1879 and a capital letter "F" then the 3 digit case number.

The attached pic shows the screwdown crown.

Tom

[lak611]

I have a unique coin silver dustproof case that houses a Waltham model 77. It is a swingring case with a crown that screws down tightly after the watch is wound and set.

There is no makers name in the case. Just patd Apr 22, 1879 and a capital letter "F" then the 3 digit case number.

The attached pic shows the screwdown crown.

TomThat is a very interesting case, Tom. Thank you for sharing the picture. I have never seen a case like that.