Ingraham Biltmore Pocketwatch

[AllenO]

I have an Ingraham Biltmore Pocketwatch that was given to me by my grandfather in the early to mid 1960s.

It is a "dollar" type watch very similar in type and size to the Westclox Bulls Eye pocketwatches.

It has a silver colored case, plastic crystal, black hour numbers and black hour and minute marks, and black hour and minute hands.

It also has a sweep second dial at the 6 o'clock position that has a black second hand and minute marks and 10 minute numbers.

The watch is not running but I do not think it is broken. I think something in the works is just frozen. I know the watch is not worth much but is means some to me since my grandfather gave it to me.

Does anyone know of anyone who might be able to get this watch running again? I would like names and contact information on anyone who I might be able to contact about this.

Thanks!

[AllenO]

I have an Ingraham Biltmore Pocketwatch that was given to me by my grandfather in the early to mid 1960s.

It is a "dollar" type watch very similar in type and size to the Westclox Bulls Eye pocketwatches.

It has a silver colored case, plastic crystal, black hour numbers and black hour and minute marks, and black hour and minute hands.

It also has a sweep second dial at the 6 o'clock position that has a black second hand and minute marks and 10 minute numbers.

The watch is not running but I do not think it is broken. I think something in the works is just frozen. I know the watch is not worth much but is means some to me since my grandfather gave it to me.

Does anyone know of anyone who might be able to get this watch running again? I would like names and contact information on anyone who I might be able to contact about this.

Thanks!

[Tom Huber]

Allen, I will give you this tip for a dollar watch. Don't ever try it on a jeweled watch. This has worked for me. A dollar watch is all metal on metal for the works. Give the pivots of the balance (that is the wheel that you can see in the back) a very quick, small shot of WD-40. This has loosened up many old dollar watches for me. Some I have had for 10 years and they still run fine. Again, DO NOT do this with a jeweled watch. Tom

[AllenO]

Well this Ingraham watch acts like it is wound too tight. You cannot wind it at all. But I cannot see anything broken in it.

What would the WD-40 do?

Thanks.

[Tom McIntyre]

Many people think WD-40 is a lubricant. It actually is a dehydrating agent that happens to have a little lubrication side effect. The net effect of using it is to create a nice grinding slurry in the pivots.

If you use to loosen something, you should immediately clean whatever you used it on since it will cause etching and destroy the metal parts if left there for a long time. A lot of good brass clocks have been damaged by WD40.

------------------
Tom McIntyre
President, NAWCC Chapter 174
Pocket Horology Web
Tommy the JOAT's Web

[AllenO]

So do any of you have any idea how I can get my watcg working again?

I cannot find anyone willing to work on "dollar" watches.

Thanks

[Kent]

AllenO

You might try The Escapement, but the cost may surprise you.



[This message has been edited by Kent (edited 01-16-2001).]