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Another excellent video produced by the Litiz Watch Technicum on adjusting a hairspring correctly. Very video on their YT Channel is worth watching, and this latest one is no exception. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EYk787sjAM

Thank you all for your suggestions! Perhaps I'll try first a light polish with a silver cloth. I don't want to get the watch in a "almost" like new condition. For me the most important is its sentimental value, and a little of "patina" goes certainly well with its age!

I don't think anyone thought silver dip was abrasive Oldhippy, it's just that it cleans every bit of tarnish off and sometimes I think an old watch looks better with some dark bits left untouched. I know this sounds a bit hypocritical coming from me who normally like to see most things looking like new!

Well, I had a try with the compact camera and it's awful grainy, so I mounted my SLR back up, this time on a leaning tripod. I've never had a go with anything smaller than a pocket watch. But my mother-in-law picked up this rather scruffy Orano from the junk bucket at work, so yesterday I popped it open. Literally. Thanks Mark for the syringe trick on Youtube. ;) It has a broken crown, so I had to weasle what was left of that out from the back first to get enough airflow. (The back and the movement says Spera. I don't know the history of these companies, did they merge?) Aside for someone drowning it in thick oil at some point, there were no apparent major issues, so when cleaned it started right up again. I suspect maybe a problem with an endstone or a balance pivot, because in some positions I can hear it dragging before stopping. My next cleaning project will be even smaller, these two watches I got at a fleamarket for 2£ each. Both are runners, but only the Junghans runs well. I get a workshop vibe from it's "snagless" design, so I've worn it when woodturning etc. and didn't even notice it was there. "Dyrsku'n" is probably the largest fair in Norway, and among many other things it is a mekka for trading knives and watches. Everyone seems to be collecting Walthams and Elgins at outrageous prices, so I was hopeful for a good deal if I found some keyless English watches. Sure enough, among a pile of American watches with bloated crowns, this one by "Geo Beifield" stood out. Some problems were immediately obvious, I could see glue around a too-modern looking crystal, and sure enough when I got home it fell off. Also the dial is damaged and I'm not too sure about that hour hand. The paircase has taken a beating and I suspect more than one straightening over the years, and the clocks bezel hinge looks like a botch job with some brass tube. Still, I was thrilled it even had a fitting paircase. The seller assured me it was a runner, but when I asked him to wind it, it wouldn't start. So he made an offer of 100£ as-is. Still unsure, I asked him to open it again and had a long, good look inside. Suddenly it started, and I looked up and said "100£, you say? I'll take it." In retrospect I think he only wound it slightly, I've had no trouble getting it started.