My first small victory

[mikeflstfi]

I'm still extremely new and inexperienced with watchmaking, so for people who have been doing this a long time this may seem like much ado about nothing.

To help me learn and practice, I bought a non-working/parts movement from eBay. It's a 16s Waltham Traveler 7j. It had a bad dial and was missing the seconds hand.

I've been using it to learn the different parts, functions, and disassembly/reassembly.

Imagine my surprise, then, after reassembling and placing the balance, that the watch started running. I put a little bit of a wind into it and it's happily running right now on my desk.

I think this might graduate into a keeper watch. I've sourced a dial, a seconds hand, and a few missing screws. I'm now looking for a case, and once I find one, I'm going to put this one on display next to my BW Raymond.

This is it: Waltham Grade Traveler Watch #13096012 - 16s, 7j - Uploaded by mikeflstfi

 

[musicguy]

I'm now looking for a case, and once I find one, I'm going to put this one on display next to my BW Raymond.

Nice, post some photos

Sorry I see your link now,

Rob

 

[musicguy]

. I've sourced a dial, a seconds hand, and a few missing screws. I'm now looking for a case

I enjoy doing this type of stuff.


Rob

 

[mikeflstfi]

I enjoy doing this type of stuff.


Rob

I think I will, too. I don't think I'm interested in restoring them to sell or anything like that (at least not right now). I think turning something that was more or less just going to be thrown out into something to be admired or used is pretty cool. Plus, I'm learning, which I love.

 

[musicguy]

I don't sell too many watches, I collect because I like them.


Rob

 

[Appa69]

Welcome to the rabbit hole. Shall we go down?

I bought a couple of old parts movements to learn to service the 992b my wife got me for our 10th anniversary. Five years later I have dozens of watches from early Swiss and American pocket watches to brand new Seiko and Miyota movements. Always taking down, always servicing. Now the townsfolk know. Now they ask for favors.... It'll happen to you, too! Lol

 

[mikeflstfi]

Welcome to the rabbit hole. Shall we go down?

I bought a couple of old parts movements to learn to service the 992b my wife got me for our 10th anniversary. Five years later I have dozens of watches from early Swiss and American pocket watches to brand new Seiko and Miyota movements. Always taking down, always servicing. Now the townsfolk know. Now they ask for favors.... It'll happen to you, too! Lol

I can see where it could quickly become addicting. I already get a lot of enjoyment out of working on them.

 

[musicguy]

Just a piece of information about me. I did realize that I would rather
have someone else who works on PW's full time service my treasures
rather than me. I still do a lot, but I have realized that I am sometimes
a danger to my pocket watches much more than a professional would be
even though there are risks there too.


Rob

 

[gmorse]

In just a few words, 'don't run before you can walk!'