790 hits

[doug sinclair]

All,

790 "hits" in two days, as I read it. Not bad for a new board.

Doug

[doug sinclair]

All,

790 "hits" in two days, as I read it. Not bad for a new board.

Doug

[Dr. Jon]

Try adding a :biggrin:thread about switching parts between watches and see what happens!!!

Dr. Jon

[4thdimension]

Dr. Jon,
I followed the "switching" thread on the
pocket watch board. I suggest that we repairers not indulge in that practice without the notification and consent of the customer,(and then only with the blessing and consent of the repairer). The replacing of interchangable parts is the keystone of American watchmaking success and I will continue the tradition when it's possible.
Repairers follow orders. That is part of our job description. Still, we are in control of the situation and can usually decree the best options for the customer. Normally I just fix or clean the watch and return it. Sometimes a
bit of "art" is necessary to bring a watch up to snuff. This occurs when parts are no longer available.
We repairers have been trying to perfect our craft since the first watches were made. Honest repair is the goal. Derangement or reconfiguation of an original is not our business; creating a replica of an original part, when necessary, is.
whew,
-Cort

<(';')>

[doug sinclair]

All,

I stopped following the thread on switching, long before it got to 300 plus. I remember a watchmaker of old who had sold his Hamilton 992, and later regretted it. At a later date, he was able to buy another decent one for $ 50.00 (that WAS a long time ago). The one he bought had the screws for the cap jewel on the balance cock stripped. At a later date, he had yet another 992 in for repair in which the cock was in good shape. He admitted that he switched the bridges! I am NOT that watchmaker, but I now own the 992! I think this is a prime example of "switching" parts. We all run into "made-up" watches which are an aggregation of parts. I think it is important to NOT slip into that habit. REPLACING (defective) parts in my view is NOT SWITCHING. My late father always taught me that it is imortant to strive to do a repair in such a way that the next repairer might wonder if the particular watch has ever been repaired. And how seldom do we run into a watch like that, and what a pleasure when we do.

Doug S.