Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hi all - I have always loved watches since a child, I don't have anything fancy but like them all the same. I stopped wearing regular watches once covid hit and I was working from home. Previously I would change my watch daily to go to work. My grandmother gave me an old Charlie Tuna watch that I discovered did not run when I changed the battery, and now I am down the rabbit hole. I'm afraid I don't think I can get that movement to turn again, but looking inside watches seems an extension of the making/fixing that are also my hobbies.

 

Posted

27 Sorry Charlie watches on eBay now...

Have you opened any watches yet?

Welcome to the forum. Here you'll hear the triumphs of those who succeed as well as the moans and pleas for help from those who don't.

Posted
5 hours ago, Charette said:

Hi all - I have always loved watches since a child, I don't have anything fancy but like them all the same. I stopped wearing regular watches once covid hit and I was working from home. Previously I would change my watch daily to go to work. My grandmother gave me an old Charlie Tuna watch that I discovered did not run when I changed the battery, and now I am down the rabbit hole. I'm afraid I don't think I can get that movement to turn again, but looking inside watches seems an extension of the making/fixing that are also my hobbies.

 

Hi Charette and welcome. You maybe very well suited to this hobby. A lot of learning to do but it is very rewarding. Dont give up on your grandma's watch, this is something a watch repairer doesnt do, not until we know the work is finished and no more can practically be done. Post up some close photos of the inside and lets all have a look to see what we can do for you. 

Posted

Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum.

We all look forward to your contributions and continued involvement. 

Posted

Thanks all for the welcome. I see the 25th anniversary Charlie watches are fairly common - not something I would have gone out of my way to get but did think it was cool and would wear if I could get it running. I did take apart - movement is discontinued to go the replacement route. At first I had some minor movement of the second hand, indicating dry/dirty inside. I removed many of the gears, front and back, marvelling at the size of them and the screws. All seemed clean. On my second look inside I did use low pressure air (<20psi) and after that I had no more movement. I was wondering if I damaged the coil.

I will refer to the two attached pdfs, thank you. I do know I need some smaller screwdrivers for sure - the 'regular' small ones I had already only went down to 1.0mm and were too thick. I will have to research a set or individuals to start with that do not break the bank.

Have a good day all.

  • Like 1
  • 2 weeks later...

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

    • I have stripped and cleaned a Hermle ships clock. It was just oily, no major faults, and I reassembled it, following my photos in reverse order. The time train is fine but the strike train will not play the ships bell strike for half-past. Ships bells play a four hour sequence for the 'watches' and play double 'ding' for the hour and the double dings plus one for the half past (eg half past the second hour is 'ding-ding' 'ding-ding' 'ding'). Sounds complicated but it isn't really. The strike wheel consists of pairs of bumps (for the ding-ding) and no single bumps. There must me some mechanism on the half-past that lifts the strike lever over one of the bumps so only one ding is played. When I get to a half past, it still plays double ding. I have a feeling it is to do with the lever in front of the rack (there is a sprung attachment  on it) and the position of the wheel (to the right) with the two pins that lets that lever fall, but no matter where I place that wheel I cannot get a single ding at half past! Please can someone help with advice on positioning so I can fix this? BTW Happy Easter 🐣 
    • No it's not 52. I had looked at the Pocket Watch lift angles thread, which lists Elgin 6s as something really high like 62° but visually that is not at all what this watch is doing. I think 42° is more correct and that's where my machine is setup. The watch has a million problems but I have made solid progress. Impulse jewel replaced. Hairspring didn't match the balance (which also doesn't match the serial) but I got it down into range this weekend with 8 or 10 huge timing washers. Replaced the mainspring, balance and train are nice and free. At this point it is running consistently and in beat at about 160°, the third wheel has a bend that sends the timegrapher on a little roller coaster every 8 minutes or so. Remaining amplitude problems may be down to the escapement. The banking pins were way out and it didn't run at all before I started. It has one of the old brass escape wheels rather than steel, and I assume the faces its teeth are probably worn or scored in a way I can't yet fix (or see without a microscope). I know this watch is not going to run above 250° but I am going to keep trying to get above 200. But the best part about this watch? Some unscrupulous person stamped "21 JEWELS" on the train bridge sometime in the past, right on top of the Damascening. It's a 15 jewel movement.
    • I think it would rather be the blast of high current drain that would do the damage. But if used occasionally to maybe fix a mainspring or do dial feet it might be worth trying especially if the mainspring or a replacement couldn’t be found.    Tom
    • This is indeed a unique site and members including myself genuinely care about it.  All we want is the site to continue. 
    • Hello Mark,  thank you for the ad removal , like JohnR725 , I appreciate any revenue from such would be helpful.  This is the one forum which encourages conversation and social interaction and in that sense it is unique  All the others I frequent can be a little intimidating and answers some what terse some quite rude. I think on here we try to do justice to your site in keeping with your principals. In my opinion it is like no other. The contributors  behave and act like gentlemen and ladies. And long may it continue to be so.
×
×
  • Create New...