Availabilty of Balance Staffs

I just bought a box of stuff at an auction that has quite a few balance staffs for American pocket watches. A little bit of everything, mostly the major manufacturers though. Are most of these still available, i.e. South Bend, Illinois, Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Hampden, etc.? I am always picking up watches that need balances and was wondering if I should pigeonhole these for the future in case I need them myself or what. I'm not a watch repairman, but thought I could have these for a watch repairman to use if he worked on a watch for me, kind of my own private stock so to speak in case he didn't have it himself.

I just bought a box of stuff at an auction that has quite a few balance staffs for American pocket watches. A little bit of everything, mostly the major manufacturers though. Are most of these still available, i.e. South Bend, Illinois, Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton, Hampden, etc.? I am always picking up watches that need balances and was wondering if I should pigeonhole these for the future in case I need them myself or what. I'm not a watch repairman, but thought I could have these for a watch repairman to use if he worked on a watch for me, kind of my own private stock so to speak in case he didn't have it himself.

GD,

Since you mentioned South-Bend, we have been able to locate double roller styles, but single roller in especially in16-size but 18-size as well have recently been nearly impossible to find.

My concern is that we will soon be scavengers picking over one or two lesser movements over in order to save the higher-jeweled more desirable grades.

We have already noticed the lower-jeweled South-Bend movements are difficult to find, and I attribute this situation to the "picking over" as I described above.

Bottom line all these parts should not be hoarded, but should definately be carefully preserved.

Lindell

[Greg Crockett]

If you don't repair watches, let the parts go to someone who does!!!!!! I would suggest that the next time you need some work done, see if you can make a deal with the repairman to take your assortment in full or partial trade.