Leaderboard

Ok it was a copy and bought in Spain or Greece for the equivalent of about £10.00. It does (did) work however, but the date would not turn either with the winder or at the end of the day so he gave it to me to fix (?). I thought I would inspect it at length and the wise heads always say start with something of little value so here it is. Have not been able to decide why the date would not turn so started trawling through Marks videos and stripping it down at the same time seemed like it would be fun so what the hell. Took pictures before and after each bit came off so heres hoping. Have just ordered the BM1 Microscope from Brunel it should arrive tomorrow and with what I am getting it will give me 10x, 20x and 35x magnification the latter being what I need for the Accutrons - thanks to Lee for answering my questions on the way. As I said to him, I was having difficulty choosing which of the bags under my eye to wedge the loupe into, my spectacle loupes gave good magnification but no space to work and I kept walking into walls. The relevance of the different coloured trays is Semi Skimmed, One Percent and Skimmed - cost nowt and works for me. Geo will probably run the book but if he gives 10 to 1 against I will be "most miffed" (translated from the original geordie which would have got me in trouble with Mark) Cheers, Vic

Happy birthday Will, time to get the Perregaux on!

Hi Robert, I use a lever style opener for that type of stubborn back. Here is one on EBay for illustration purposes. I made my own out of hardened and tempered silver steel and it has been very successful. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hot-Sale-Metal-Lever-Pry-Type-Easy-Removing-Watch-Back-Case-Opener-Repair-Tool-/181441111629?pt=UK_Jewellery_Watches_WatchAccessories_SpareParts_SM&hash=item2a3ebba64d

Hi WillFly, The issue with converting the Hamilton 992's, and really most American pocket watch movements, is the keyless works. Unlike most European pocket watches where the stem is a working part of the movement, the American watch company's preferred to integrate the winding and setting stem into the case by developing the adjustable sleeve system. As you know, the movement and stem are separate from each other until the movement is placed in a corresponding case connecting in a male/female system. This fact makes it Very difficult to convert these types of movements. I've seen it done, but I'm not really sure how it was done. I know that some American pocket watch cases have the sleeve mounted directly on the stem and not in the pendant like the majority of cases. Most of these were made around the 20' and 30's to satisfy the design style of the day where the pocket watch cases were very small and not much larger than the movement itself. The movements were not changed in any way, just the case/stem design. This CAN be used retrofitted to a wristwatch case, but the only adjustment would be to modify the length of the stem that enters the movement by filing it away. The movement is not modified in any way, as far as I know... I've seen a 992 converted to a wristwatch form some of the chaps in the Ukraine....There's a lot of pocket watch conversions coming out of that part of the world. But, most are all Show and No Go! Very shoddy workmanship and parts thrown together! They look beautiful but I've heard horror stories once folks actually get their watches in hand. Don