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Here is the Cortebert engine and a spare movement for it with an inca balance. Don't you just love those brass bushings the jewels are set into . Beautiful .

Not technically in the mail but this has just arrived to me. A nice little gem i thought to continue my collection of military watches. This is a Cortebert made ATP watch, one of the forerunners of the WWW designated MOD watches. One of 17 or so brands, i think its around mid rarity of the ATPS, kicking myself a little as a few weeks ago i let a Grana slip through my hands and also another watch with the same movement as the Grana, for not a great deal more than this. This Cortebert has softened the blow, good condition in a stainless case and ticks away nicely.

With just the fork installed, no power, it should move easily with a light puff of air. Then, as you have already checked the balance freedom, check with fork in no power (without escape wheel would be best). As said, no oil on the pivots, peg the jewels, no oil on the roller jewel (!), make sure the fork slot that interacts with the jewel is dead clean, also have a look at the roller jewel, they sometimes are grimy even after cleaning. While the lock does look a bit heavy, there's a whole checklist of things to examine before considering moving a/both stones or adjusting the bankings.

I need this tool for my watch bench!!!

Thanks for the affirmation. Growing up as the son of an antique car restoring dad, "keeping it original" is always at the fore of my brain, but I guess it does need to be applied with some reason. Occasionally

To my eye it looks more modern and refined than my Font... ...and I may have seen that Grana, too ...

I agree with @Klassiker. Also, make sure that you do not oil the fork pivots. Have you oiled the pallet stone impulse surfaces? The type of oil that you use and how much can make a dramatic difference. Even dry impulse surfaces make a dramatic difference.

Hi been using this type pizo clip for a few years along with a Tandy telephone amplifier on clocks for a while also works with watches as a pick up. Cheap cheerful and effective.

Cased up and running! Unfortunately, despite the crystal opening in the case measuring 32mm, I ordered a 30mm and 30.1mm crystal for reasons unknown. The old crystal isn't a tight fit, so I still have to replace it, and find a nice bracelet. But I'd say I can feel pretty good about it running strong after all the work I put into it.

Check both pivots under good magnification, a worn/ damaged pivot is noticably shorter than the other. You are not loosing amplitude in both FU & FD position, which generally indicates only one pivot is shorter if any. A clear close up of the pivots helps diagnostic and useful for future references, there are also pics posted in previous discussions, sorry I can't find one to refer to. Haha, I know, staff replacement is scary. Good luck pal.

I'm happy because I only paid £2 for what is probably total crap, any more and I would revert to the grizzled/ grumpy old Yorkshire man that I am. Hehe.

I'd think different if it were going up for sale but if it's your watch have at it. I'm regularly reminded of the granddaughter in the watch trade who inherited grandma's lovely vintage Cartier, then discovers grandma had taken it to the jeweler to trade out the mechanical movement for a cheap quartz... It's your thing- do what you wanna do!

I see no reason not to glue it.

Right , you'd reduce the end shake or( the distance between upper and lower balance jewels) but might force more pivot shoulder seat to jewel contact or might not depending on the actual seen of crime. That the cap stone's convex side is recessed, It still might reach the pivot as its convex ÀND the screw- palte is a spring. if they don't reach, then end stones can also be moved, if its receced it can be move flush livel with the screw-cap stone plate. There is also a chance non of the above work, which means only one thing, PIVOTS WORN BEYOND HOPE AND BALANCE COMPLETE MUST BE RE-STAFFED. OR Get the balance mounted on lathe to elongate the pivot length. Shimmed cock can be unshimmed, no worries ,its reversable.

I didn't understand this at first but see you are using the shim to push the pivot end lower...interesting...

I think your on the right path, that is; pivot shoulder SEAT comes in contact with balance jewel and as a result drops the amplitude. To test this theory you need to reduce and adjust end shake on balance pivot, so flip the cap stone over to face its convex side to the pivot. The cap stone is fitted in cap stone plate/spring which screws onto the main plate,, so as a first test don't move or flip any stone, just flip the cap stone plate over ( with the cap stone not moved) , then see if you gain amplitude. What Richard says might work too.

Considerably less than i paid Rich, i think of these sums of money in terms of costa coffees. It cost you half a cup of coffee, supped in under a minute. Still a bargain mate, it will keep you entertained much longer than the coffee.

Haha- yes! I've mentioned here and elsewhere the story of my holding court in the middle of a circle of gents wearing Daytonas and Omegas as they admired my lowly Smiths Empire with the loud tick. Not many Americans have heard of Smiths, maybe Everest but that's it. I never let on about the economy...

This, I have a feeling the movement is going to be a bag of s%^t. But it was £2.

I was totally unaware of the Ystradgynlais factory until @Neverenoughwatches mentioned it. I don't know how I missed it as they produced about 30 millions watches! www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news , https://anordain.com/blogs/news/smiths-watches But, as mentioned, they were "entry level watches". So I'm glad to have found this example of a better quality movement. After running for 12h it's looking good - You can keep your ££££ Rolex, I'll use my £20 watch from Wales

Hi. Follow what klassiker said but also check the balance is free running. Take the fork out (remove power first). And fil balance and give it a puff of air, does it swing ok for up to 25 secs freely. Also check its pivots if it’s had a knock one of the levels may be broken or cracked.

The lock does look quite heavy, but I don't think it is the cause of your problem. If the fork is not snapping back and forth, then check the pallet fork pivots and holes are clean and smooth, and check the end-shake. If you are sure the fork is moving freely, then focus on what you changed. Maybe there is interference between the guard pin and your new balance, or between the impulse jewel and the fork horns.

But of course!! It was simple to make. Soldered on. BTW, I cleaned up the waveform. I have a grounding ESD mat and the grounding clip had come off...lol.

Is the peizo pickup homemade? Looks like a crocodile clip soldered to a transducer.

Update. Testing on a Junghans B20 and I have no idea what the beat rate SHOULD be. My table only has the B10. I am using my watch amplifier for now.