1908 Balance staff

[Tim Clarke]

Am repairing a 1941 Waltham Vanguard with a 1908 23 jewel movement movement and double roller. It has a solid balance wheel riveted to the staff. All my books would indicate that the replacement staff should be a friction fit. Anyone have an idea of what the stall number would be.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Tim,

It has a solid balance wheel riveted to the staff.

Isn't that a blued hub I can see in your picture? That suggests to me that it is a friction fit staff.

Regards,

Graham

 

[Dave Coatsworth]

It is a friction fit staff. As Graham points out, the blue hub indicates that. Do not punch out the hub! The part number for the staff is 4861.

 

[Tim Clarke]

Hi Tim,


Isn't that a blued hub I can see in your picture? That suggests to me that it is a friction fit staff.

Regards,

Graham

I took some NAWCC courses from Drew Zimmerman after 20 years of working on my own. He introduced me to a wealth of knowledge for which I will always be grateful, but he talked about BOTCHMAKERS vs watchmakers (wasn't sure if he was talking about his class). This watch was definitely worked on by a botchmaker. He turned a new staff which was very poorly done, tried to rivet it to his new staff to the hub. The roller did not make it to the hub and he broke the cock jewel in the process. because of the tolerances everything was jammed together, damaging the escape wheel in the process. I usually work on early American watches, this was my first friction fit other than Drew's course a few years back.
I had the good fortune of having another balance with broken pivots and a stash of 4861 staffs. Up and running on my tester.
Thanks for the help.