Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

I am building up a collection of movements in dire need of new Cases but I am having trouble sourcing them. 

Anybody got any suppliers....................

Posted (edited)

It's a real problem. Very few watch parts suppliers deal in cases other than for the fairly standard ETA 6497/8 ex-pocket watch movements (Hamilton, Panerai, etc.). I have a lovely Longines 280 movement  for which I've been trawling for a case for a long time - with no luck. I keep checking eBay for watches with duff movements but, in most cases, a duff movement is housed in a duff case!

 

I have one case for which I have no movement. I'd be happy to send it to you to see if it fits one of your movements - with no obligation if it doesn't...

Edited by WillFly
Posted

It's a real problem. Very few watch parts suppliers deal in cases other than for the fairly standard ETA 6497/8 ex-pocket watch movements (Hamilton, Panerai, etc.). I have a lovely Longines 280 movement  for which I've been trawling for a case for a long time - with no luck. I keep checking eBay for watches with duff movements but, in most cases, a duff movement is housed in a duff case!

 

I have one case for which I have no movement. I'd be happy to send it to you to see if it fits one of your movements - with no obligation if it doesn't...

 

Thanks Will .... all very true.

 

I would like to take up your kind offer, at least let me pay the postage....... :)

 

I shall PM you my address.......

Keith

Posted

OK Keith - I'll post it to you. It's a nice, stainless steel Longines case. I  bought it in the hope my cal. 280 would fit it. Alas...

Posted

Oh, I remember that one. All the way from Italy if my memory serves me, nice case though!

Spot on, Geo - as I recall, it was you who drew my attention to it in the first instance. It's a lovely case, just not quite right for the 280 calibre. And I just can't find the calibre that it will fit. Sod's law!

  • 3 months later...
Posted

Hi All! 

 

So I have been successful in getting an old Bulova 11AFC back to work. The dial is horrible and hands were very rusty but I cleaned it as well as I could. The movement was very clean and went back together easily. I am going to post photos later. I may have the dial restored and some new hands but not sure it is worth all that.

 

On another note. I purchased the three of the watches listed in the photo. Looking for suggestions on cases and casing alternatives?

 

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed.

 

Thanks,

Gary

post-337-0-98864100-1423871296_thumb.jpg

Posted

Hi Gary, it's a big ask to find the correct cases for these movements, the chances of finding the correct ones is not great. If you are skilled enough and keen enough and have the equipment, you could get something close and machine to fit.

Being realistic, it is probably better just to use them for practicing on, and buy a complete watch that is in need of total refurbishment, that way you will have all the parts at minimum cost. :)

Posted

Geo's absolutely spot on here - the right cases are a bugger to find and, as we all know, most movements for sale are the result of the silver or gold cases being sold for scrap. I've been trying to find a case for my Longines 280 for a long time now - with no luck.

 

I know a watch casemaker who did some work on one of my Elgin railroad watches a couple of years ago. I contacted him to price up making a case for the Longines in stainless steel. £2,500. Mmm...

 

The irony is I have a case for a Longines cal. 30L - and can't find a movement for it! :pulling-hair-out:

Posted

There are 3 30Ls on the Bay at the moment - but they're either too expensive or not in good condition for the price.

 

My 280 movement is in beautiful condition - and cost me less than £50.

Posted (edited)

There are 3 30Ls on the Bay at the moment - but they're either too expensive or not in good condition for the price.

 

My 280 movement is in beautiful condition - and cost me less than £50.

Will, have you already seen this one ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LONGINES-30L-original-mechanic-watch-movement-running-1351-/261711540602?pt=ES_Relojes_de_pulsera&hash=item3cef39317a

Edited by vaguras
  • Like 1
Posted

Thank you for the thoughts and no loss they were intended to be practice movements. That said, I have mangled heat another mainspring on the one I really liked with the silver dial. Seems my weak areas are mainsprings, hair springs and keyless works.

On a good note the Girrard Perregeaux has been disassembled and oiled lightly and back together. In a 24 hour period though it is running a little fast, about a minute. A.)I'm grateful I put another one back together, yeah! B.) with little experience I'm not sure where to look for this fault. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated?

Gary

Posted

with little experience I'm not sure where to look for this fault. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated?

Gary

Hi Gary, what fault are you referring to? If it's the "minute a day fast", you should be able to correct that by adjusting the regulator.

Posted

Geo- I will use the regulator to adjust. Is it normal to have to adjust the regulator? After a correct service should it have to be adjusted? My thought is the middle would be the optimal position? Is that unrealistic of a watch this age?

 

Thanks!

 

Gary

Posted

Hi Gary, when you purchase old watches you never know who has been at them. A lot of folk will tamper with the regulator to try and compensate for the watch behaving badly, when it should really get a full service. The bottom line is after a service it policy to check the rate and adjust as required.

Posted (edited)

Could this be something that fits the round movements  ? it's a nice stainless steel case . The diameter of the movement needs to be 26,5 or under . And from the dial to the center of the stem 1,7 mm . Have about 17 mm lugs . The crystal is a little yellow from age but that isn't a big expensive thing to replace . Yours if you want ?  Or someone else ?? 

 

post-644-0-71196200-1424184521_thumb.jpgpost-644-0-98606500-1424184545_thumb.jpg

Edited by rogart63
Posted

Rogart63,

 

Thank you! I will measure the movement when I return home. I may take you up on our offer! 

 

Thanks,

Gary

  • Like 1
Posted

Rogart63,

 

Thank you for your offer. However, I don't think it is going to fit. The oblong shape of the movement is going to keep it from  seating properly.

 

Thank you again for the offer!

 

G

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

May be worth a trip to the watch fairs there are often big boxes full of broken watches and sometimes you get lucky. Another thing is looking at "steampunk" stuff. It is amazing what people are selling just for decoration. The only other place is of course the Bay. There is also a place on this forum to advertise for specific stuff.

Good luck,

Vic

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Hi guys. @VWatchie Those images are self hosted (not hosted on this server). Do a look at the page source and you will see this. I’m afraid, I can’t have control or backup images not hosted on this server. ( They seem to be served from here: https://qehvsw.bn.files.1drv.com/) This server is backed up fully every night and the database is backed up and versioned every hour, all stored off site on Amazon S1 platform. It’s hard for us to lose data. Ive got a huge overhead of space on this particular server the site is served from so no worries there 🙂 Sorry all for lack of response so far, I have been extremely busy and am embarrassed to say that priorities had to be set in place for a while.  Be assured that i’ve got constant monitoring and alerts should the site be in an extended problematic state (down etc) and work on these issues if they arise.
    • Web sites are cheap. Message board are easy. Hosting both is less than 100 usd a year and small advertising would cover most of that.  In the discord group we did some 15 min poc and threw up a couple of different message boards on a domain i host.   The real value is the data / information / hive mind While I'm a rank amateur in watch repair the information and assistance on this board is invaluable. The members on here are friendly, entertaining and a wealth of knowledge This is what needs to be preserved  --Jeff
    • The post below contains the link. If you don't already have a discord account it will take you to the registration screen.  Registration is free.   https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/31653-mark/?do=findComment&comment=279066
    • HWGIKE#57 Valex FEF 190 15 jewels Swiss lever full service and repair This one was waiting for a balance staff replacement in my cabinet parts and case cleaned up with a new balance staff and a 4th wheel as the original 4th wheel had a broken pivot for the off center second hand. I never attempted a balance staff replacement before however I received a Bergeon Molfres (i was hunting it for about 2 years) and with the help of it I managed to remove the old staff and riveted the new one in. It also received a new MS, crystal and the hole for the MS arbor was also tightened. With the new MS now it has an acceptable performance meaning that the amplitude goes up to 280 fully wound, has an acceptable beat error and I have the two nice lines but only dial up, dial down is not as nice and I could not figure out as why. I have the two lines but the amplitude is dropping to around 230 and the lines are a bit hairy. Both dial up and dial down the lines just go up and down without seemingly any pattern. I cleaned the movement two times, and then a 3rd time pegged out the main plate and train bridge holes but made no change. Both the HS collet and the roller table was too lose on the new staff... I did not count how many times I took the balance cock off to sort out the HS collet, the roller table and the beat error, somebody before me also shortened the HS by pushing it out a bit and it seems every time somebody is messing with the end of the HS the protruding bit is most of the time twisted bent etc. This one was probably one of the most challenging repair and service. I might take the new MS out and clean it lubricate it as I just pushed the new one in to the barrel from the retaining ring. Plus started to re-read the theory of the escapement and how to analyse the graph on the timing machine: Greiner Chronografic Record manual. I am also thinking to put the watch on a 24 hour long run with the eTimer SW it once helped me to figure out what was wrong with a watch. There is an interesting part of the Greiner record manual talking about the pallets and the end shake of the balance and pallet staff. Maybe this is my issue? Who could that possibly identify? After a few years now I am still without a clue how could watchmakers make parts I can only see with my microscope or how could/can they carry out complicated services impossible to do.. real magic..... .... ..... before I sent this post while the pics were uploading I had an idea, i was browsing the possible outcomes on the timing machine I had one for magnetism..... so I demagnetized the movement and it is not hairy now.... two really nice lines 0.2 ms beat error still a bit wavy, but a lot lot better..... argh....  
    • Hi there, welcome here.  
×
×
  • Create New...