Helvetia 837 Barrel Bridge

[Gra]

Hi,

As anyone out there ever broken a Helvetia 837 for spares?

I have one I am trying to get running and have managed to get the spares I thought I needed apart from the barrel bridge, this has apparently got a broken lug which hold the pivoting winding gears which has sheared off.

If anyone has one and is willing to sell it please let me know as repaired this will be a very attractive watch.

Regards

Graham

[Nucejoe]

Don't parts of Helvetia-Dugena 1021 and Helvetia 837 interchange?   

Compare datasheets of all variants  for Dugena & Helvetia.  

Good luck

[Gra]

6 hours ago, Nucejoe said:

Don't parts of Helvetia-Dugena 1021 and Helvetia 837 interchange?   

Compare datasheets of all variants  for Dugena & Helvetia.  

Good luck

Thanks for that Nucejoe, 

Have checked out the listing for Duggan 1021 and it lists it and the Helvetia 837 together so you are correct, I didn’t know that so thanks again.

Have broadened my search now to include both movements but still no joy, will just have keep looking and be patient.

regards

Graham

[Gra]

Just now, Gra said:

Thanks for that Nucejoe, 

Have checked out the listing for Duggan 1021 and it lists it and the Helvetia 837 together so you are correct, I didn’t know that so thanks again.

Have broadened my search now to include both movements but still no joy, will just have keep looking and be patient.

regards

Graham

P.S. not been able to find data sheets for either….

[Gra]

Just now, Gra said:

Thanks for that Nucejoe, 

Have checked out the listing for Duggan 1021 and it lists it and the Helvetia 837 together so you are correct, I didn’t know that so thanks again.

Have broadened my search now to include both movements but still no joy, will just have keep looking and be patient.

regards

Graham

P.S. not been able to find data sheets for either….

[WatchMaker]

Hi @Gra - this might seem like a funny question but are you sure we're dealing with an 837? It's just that the bridge picture you're showing doesn't seem to tie up. Here's a nice pic showing an 837-sans-rotor compared to your bridge pic.

Do you just want to confirm so we can make sure we're going down the right track?

[Gra]

1 hour ago, WatchMaker said:

Hi @Gra - this might seem like a funny question but are you sure we're dealing with an 837? It's just that the bridge picture you're showing doesn't seem to tie up. Here's a nice pic showing an 837-sans-rotor compared to your bridge pic.

Do you just want to confirm so we can make sure we're going down the right track?

Hi WatchMaker,

Yes it’s definitely an 837, the bridge in question sits under the auto mechanism and spans the barrel.

I thought I was being careful but as I tightened the screw the little lug just sheared.

Rotor say’s Elmo but is exactly the same as my Helvetia (which is working but being serviced)

 

[WatchMaker]

Hi again @Gra. Ah right ... I hope you can see why I asked as the obvious uppermost visible parts look nothing like your part!

Mmm. Information on 837 seems sparse. Here's the information from Bestfit which you may already have but at least is in this forum thread for the record:

It can be really frustrating trying to find an elusive part. Finding parts from movements from the same family is usually a good course of action i.e. not specifically looking for a match to an 837 in this case but also 830 and 838. 
A good spot from @Nucejoetoo on that this is equivalent to the Dugena so looking out for 996, 1021 and 1022 may be useful. And note that in Bestfit they refer to General in the same context as Helvetia.

On this matter of family interchangeability that's perhaps where things get interesting. Go to Cousins UK and do a watch parts search against Helvetia and an 837 and there are no parts that describe yours. Now look against an 830 instead and tantalisingly there is a part called a 'Barrel & Train Wheel Bridge' which kind of fits to your part description. If nothing else seeing if Cousins could send you a pic might at least allow you to see and make a decision.

As a final consideration ... whilst none of us on the forum are going to go around liberally suggesting applications of superglue there can be a time and a place; especially for the hobbyist who has a nice watch that would otherwise loiter in a drawer. Since you have the accidentally sheared part it is at least worth considering this approach if this is only aspect not getting you to a working watch! What's the worse that could happen? Even if it gets the watch working whilst you keep your eagle eye out on ebay for a replacement Helvetia (or General ... or Dugena) part. 
 

[Gra]

4 hours ago, WatchMaker said:

Hi again @Gra. Ah right ... I hope you can see why I asked as the obvious uppermost visible parts look nothing like your part!

Mmm. Information on 837 seems sparse. Here's the information from Bestfit which you may already have but at least is in this forum thread for the record:

It can be really frustrating trying to find an elusive part. Finding parts from movements from the same family is usually a good course of action i.e. not specifically looking for a match to an 837 in this case but also 830 and 838. 
A good spot from @Nucejoetoo on that this is equivalent to the Dugena so looking out for 996, 1021 and 1022 may be useful. And note that in Bestfit they refer to General in the same context as Helvetia.

On this matter of family interchangeability that's perhaps where things get interesting. Go to Cousins UK and do a watch parts search against Helvetia and an 837 and there are no parts that describe yours. Now look against an 830 instead and tantalisingly there is a part called a 'Barrel & Train Wheel Bridge' which kind of fits to your part description. If nothing else seeing if Cousins could send you a pic might at least allow you to see and make a decision.

As a final consideration ... whilst none of us on the forum are going to go around liberally suggesting applications of superglue there can be a time and a place; especially for the hobbyist who has a nice watch that would otherwise loiter in a drawer. Since you have the accidentally sheared part it is at least worth considering this approach if this is only aspect not getting you to a working watch! What's the worse that could happen? Even if it gets the watch working whilst you keep your eagle eye out on ebay for a replacement Helvetia (or General ... or Dugena) part. 
 

Thanks WatchMaker,

I have been given some great information from both yourself and Nucejoe.

I checked with Cousins but only for the 837 part, I now have a much wider field of options to check out thanks to the information you have both supplied.

I may be a while before reporting back while I follow up with a wider search but will definitely post updates.

If any other newbies like myself read this posting it just goes to show how much help is readily and willingly given, just don’t be afraid to ask, a great site.

Will consider the superglue as a last resort, will probably glue the damn thing to my finger

cheers guys

Graham

[Gra]

Hi Guys,

Just an update, I found a guy in Poland on eBay (werk24watches) he is breaking a 836 & 837. Tried to contact him but he is not as yet responding, anyone come across this guy? will keep trying.

Regards

Graham

[jdm]

6 minutes ago, Gra said:

I  found a guy in Poland on eBay (werk24watches) he is breaking a 836 & 837. Tried to contact him but he is not as yet responding

If he's on Ebay there should be a listing for the part you're looking for, fixed price or auction, or you need to contact him for a specific reason?

 

6 minutes ago, Gra said:

 anyone come across this guy?

If you're  concerned about the reliability of a seller his feedbacks page is the place to start.

[Gra]

16 minutes ago, jdm said:

If he's on Ebay there should be a listing for the part you're looking for, fixed price or auction, or you need to contact him for a specific reason?

 

If you're  concerned about the reliability of a seller his feedbacks page is the place to start.

Hi jdm,

His rating is good, however, the part I want is not listed on either sale and I was just wondering if anyone has dealt with him as I have tried several times to request if he has this part but he’s not responding.

cheers

[JohnC]

8 hours ago, Gra said:

Hi Guys,

Just an update, I found a guy in Poland on eBay (werk24watches) he is breaking a 836 & 837. Tried to contact him but he is not as yet responding, anyone come across this guy? will keep trying.

Regards

Graham

He is reliable but does not answer questions. I can't say I blame him as he strips dozens of calibers and the messages must be endless.

[jdm]

4 hours ago, JohnC said:

He is reliable but does not answer questions. I can't say I blame him as he strips dozens of calibers and the messages must be endless.

I suppose that when a part becomes available will be listed eventually. That is more effective than going back and forth with messages. Yet, even a canned response is better than none.

[Penfold]

Hi,

The 830 is manual wind so may not be the same. 836 and 838 have very minor differences so worth a look and even the 844 and 845 may use the same part.

Have a look at my site here:

https://www.helvetiahistory.co.uk/movements

Thanks.

Carl

[Gra]

Hi Carl,

Thanks for the link, very interesting site. Unfortunately the 830 will not fit as the 836/7/8 bridge holds the autowinding mechanism.

Will just have to keep looking, just missed an 837 selling for parts the other week.

regards

Graham