I have a Kaiser universe on the bench that has had a very hard life.
Bits missing, bits damaged, bits loose, so I decided to make the missing bits first starting with the pendulum transportation knurled lock nut, then a hexagon nut that was missing both being 3BA .
When it was time to disassemble the movement I found that the three small brass screws that hold the dial on had been butchered, I managed to get two out ( just ) but the third I couldn't get undone so I had to dismantle the rest of the movement first then try and undo it from the back but got it out in the end.
I decided to replace all three screws not only would it be easier for me to put together but it would be easier for any future repairer to remove, the thread wasn't M1.6 to small, or M1.7 to big but 10BA screwed in nicely although it has a major diameter of 1.7mm.
The base was also a bit of a mess having been painted in the past and it was also bent but it is now stripped ready for polishing, lacquering and painting, even the blue front plate is bent, the wheel that touches the moon to make it turn hasn't got the friction pad and it wasn't even touching the moon anyway.
How they managed to damage the thread on the pendulum rod god only knows because it's only brass nuts that go on there.
I restored my first Kaiser Universe about a year ago, that one had a wheel on top left hand pillar ( see picture), I have subsequently done a few others and none of them had the wheel operating the moon on the pillar so I am wondering when any why the change .
Bits missing, bits damaged, bits loose, so I decided to make the missing bits first starting with the pendulum transportation knurled lock nut, then a hexagon nut that was missing both being 3BA .
When it was time to disassemble the movement I found that the three small brass screws that hold the dial on had been butchered, I managed to get two out ( just ) but the third I couldn't get undone so I had to dismantle the rest of the movement first then try and undo it from the back but got it out in the end.
I decided to replace all three screws not only would it be easier for me to put together but it would be easier for any future repairer to remove, the thread wasn't M1.6 to small, or M1.7 to big but 10BA screwed in nicely although it has a major diameter of 1.7mm.
The base was also a bit of a mess having been painted in the past and it was also bent but it is now stripped ready for polishing, lacquering and painting, even the blue front plate is bent, the wheel that touches the moon to make it turn hasn't got the friction pad and it wasn't even touching the moon anyway.
How they managed to damage the thread on the pendulum rod god only knows because it's only brass nuts that go on there.
I restored my first Kaiser Universe about a year ago, that one had a wheel on top left hand pillar ( see picture), I have subsequently done a few others and none of them had the wheel operating the moon on the pillar so I am wondering when any why the change .
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