Tool of the day.

[oldhippy]

38 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Slicing sausage for dolls?

What sort of mind do you have? A dirty one I think. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

55 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Slicing sausage for dolls?

Its rare that I'm ever stuck for words, but you got me with this Rich.

I paid good money for this and thats the best we got is it ? Ken and Barbie's  sausage slicer, cant wait to see it in Toys'R'Us , why do i even .......?

[Jon]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

And this one is ?................

I've seen this before, it's looks like a balance collet spinner

[Neverenoughwatches]

9 minutes ago, Jon said:

I've seen this before, it's looks like a balance collet spinner

Ah-ha, Jon that is only half of the answer, it does have another use although one that is a little bewildering to me. It is shown in picture on its original box i have with it, i searched for an explanation as well but it sounded dodgy to me, but the box does also confirm it in writing and yes its dodgy .Anyway its a Bergeon 2325

I was trying to figure out from the picture whats happening to the balance cock. Apparently its called a     "grenadier" 

[HectorLooi]

Hmmm.... looks like a good way to destroy a hairspring.

I think it could be used to oil those blasted balance jewels with the screws on the underside without removing the balance wheel. I just tried doing that last night, using my left hand to hold the wheel and my right hand to slip the oiler between the coils of the hairspring. Managed to get the oil to the jewel perfectly but while getting the oiler out from the coils, the tip accidentally touched the hairspring and got oil all over the hairspring. 

If it can hold the balance cock firmly enough, it can probably be used to hold the balance cock to unscrew the hairspring stud screw or unclip an Etachron stud, without having to screw the balance cock back onto the mainplate and taking it off again.

BTW watchmakers must have been a bunch of dirty minded creeps. Just look at the jargon in my above paragraph.

[Neverenoughwatches]

6 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

Hmmm.... looks like a good way to destroy a hairspring.

I think it could be used to oil those blasted balance jewels with the screws on the underside without removing the balance wheel. I just tried doing that last night, using my left hand to hold the wheel and my right hand to slip the oiler between the coils of the hairspring. Managed to get the oil to the jewel perfectly but while getting the oiler out from the coils, the tip accidentally touched the hairspring and got oil all over the hairspring. 

If it can hold the balance cock firmly enough, it can probably be used to hold the balance cock to unscrew the hairspring stud screw or unclip an Etachron stud, without having to screw the balance cock back onto the mainplate and taking it off again.

BTW watchmakers must have been a bunch of dirty minded creeps. Just look at the jargon in my above paragraph.

I guess this tool could be used for any procedure that requires the balance and it's cock to be separated and held firm so either can be worked on. But what Bergeon had in mind at the time of its production besides to correct the beat error via collet turning was in fact to raise a "grenadier" or as we know it to gouge the underside of the cock ( bin there a few times in my youth with the occasional over enthusiastic female- i somehow felt the need to reinforce Hector's last statement ) . Anyway i suppose Bergeon in their wisdom thought defacing watch components was ok if it had an endgoal that worked ( please nobody mention last weekend's footie, I'm still recouping ) .   Raise a " grenadier " -  gouging of a cock or a bridge or the plate  - to increase endshake, as mentioned previously " dodgy ". 

There's a different design of tool for the collet adjusting side of it, mentioned not so long back, @mikepilk made a pretty good job of making one.

[rossjackson01]

It looks like what I need. I have 4 balance hairsprings knackered early on in my self imposed apprenticeship. They are all bent off level. When you look at them, one side is higher and touches the bottom of the balance cock. 

It looks like it could be used to bend the hairspring down at a certain point to allow the hairspring to become level again. 

I'm at the stage, where I am beginning to get enough skill and confidence to be able to work on hairsprings. Have done one. Got it level but it is at the top, just below the cock. Too close. Will need to try again. Might use the method shown.

[gpraceman]

I've come to know a fellow watchmaker in Oregon.  He's been a great source for tips and vintage tools.  He sent me a mystery tool.  One that I haven't seen before and am rather puzzled by.  It is spring loaded and has a small pin on each jaw.  The pins are solid, so it doesn't look like they are intended to hold the pivots of a wheel.  I thought maybe that it was to measure the thickness of things, but there is no scale on the side with the pointer.

It looks like a dog used the handle as a chew toy.

[Neverenoughwatches]

On 7/17/2024 at 11:31 AM, rossjackson01 said:

It looks like what I need. I have 4 balance hairsprings knackered early on in my self imposed apprenticeship. They are all bent off level. When you look at them, one side is higher and touches the bottom of the balance cock. 

It looks like it could be used to bend the hairspring down at a certain point to allow the hairspring to become level again. 

I'm at the stage, where I am beginning to get enough skill and confidence to be able to work on hairsprings. Have done one. Got it level but it is at the top, just below the cock. Too close. Will need to try again. Might use the method shown.

This tool is really just for use to adjust the beat of a watch- correcting the beat error when there is no adjustment arm that changes the position of the hairspring stud. Accomplished by safely separating the balance cock from the balance wheel but by still having the hairspring attached.  Once seperated and firmly held a screwdriver can then be passed between the hairspring coils to reach and turn the staff collet which has the same effect as moving stud holding arm.  You could I suppose use it to adjust a hairspring's shape but its better to do that when the balance and cock are fitted to the watch or flat on a bench either fitted or not to the balance depending on what adjustments need to be made. What you're describing as out of flat Ross is usually an adjustment to be made directly at the pinning point to the stud.

Often just a twist to one side or the other, which can be done while the balance and cock are installed in the movement. Just get some practice in Ross and you'll soon see how easy it can be.

[rjenkinsgb]

1 hour ago, gpraceman said:

It is spring loaded and has a small pin on each jaw.  The pins are solid, so it doesn't look like they are intended to hold the pivots of a wheel.  I thought maybe that it was to measure the thickness of things, but there is no scale on the side with the pointer.

It is a caliper and should have a scale attached somehow:

https://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=1295327&id=14987

 

[gpraceman]

11 hours ago, rjenkinsgb said:

It is a caliper and should have a scale attached somehow:

https://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=1295327&id=14987

 

Good sleuthing!  It is rather strange that there is no graduated scale on this thing.

[Neverenoughwatches]

On 7/23/2024 at 8:07 AM, rjenkinsgb said:

It is a caliper and should have a scale attached somehow:

https://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?pn=1295327&id=14987

 

Well found Rob,  Gpraceman's  version looks simpler or modified without the thumbscrew adjustment but still works. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

Been a while.....so another mystery tool, this time a pair of tweezers. Its a manufacture not a mod,a pair of locking tweezers but for what purpose the tips will tell us.......so people some ideas please.

[rehajm]

There’s a slide lock so we’re holding something…if the round hole end does not pass all the way thru maybe we’re holding and gripping to push out a pin but these are large for something like a pinned hairspring. Maybe for pins in a clock movement?

If the hole does pass thru then no idea…

[Neverenoughwatches]

4 hours ago, rehajm said:

There’s a slide lock so we’re holding something…if the round hole end does not pass all the way thru maybe we’re holding and gripping to push out a pin but these are large for something like a pinned hairspring. Maybe for pins in a clock movement?

If the hole does pass thru then no idea…

The hole does go all the way through

Think I've worked it out, looking closer under the microscope i suspect it is probably not manufactued . Also  another reason , the slide slot cuts out the tweezer maker's name and logo. But it is very well made and i think is something I've been looking for, for ages.  Any guesses anyone ?

[HectorLooi]

Pallet fork tweezers?

[Neverenoughwatches]

29 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

Pallet fork tweezers?

Why a pallet fork hector ? The two holes quite big 0.75 with a cut out in one of them. They look very handy for pressing on a roller and a collet.

[HectorLooi]

But the jaws of those tweezers are so thick, it wouldn't get the roller or collet down enough. And if the cutout is meant for the roller jewel, that means the complete hole side would get trapped on the staff after pressing on the roller.

A staking set would work better.

[Neverenoughwatches]

6 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

But the jaws of those tweezers are so thick, it wouldn't get the roller or collet down enough. And if the cutout is meant for the roller jewel, that means the complete hole side would get trapped on the staff after pressing on the roller.

A staking set would work better.

I dont understand what you mean hector, the jaws work just like ends of two stakes. The complete hole presses the collet on and the hole with a slot will press on the roller table of a single roller balance.

I cant think of any other use that they were modded for.

[HectorLooi]

https://www.scienceservices.eu/dumont-tweezers-style-25b-h-p-grade-inox-02-inventory-sale.html

Have a look at the above link. Does that look familiar. 

[oldhippy]

They look very alike Rat Tooth tweezers used by vets. 

[RichardHarris123]

6 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

They look very alike Rat Tooth tweezers used by vets. 

For doing what?  Sounds dodgy.  Hehe  

[oldhippy]

49 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

For doing what?  Sounds dodgy.  Hehe  

Holding tissue/ skin they don't slip. 

[HectorLooi]

4 hours ago, oldhippy said:

They look very alike Rat Tooth tweezers used by vets. 

That's the first time I've heard them being called that. 

Vets must have a different vocabulary. 

We call them Gillies forceps or Adson forceps. But the tooth design is different. It doesn't have a through-hole in the jaws. Here is a closeup photo of a Gillies.

And tissue forceps don't have a sliding lock.

[Neverenoughwatches]

12 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

https://www.scienceservices.eu/dumont-tweezers-style-25b-h-p-grade-inox-02-inventory-sale.html

Have a look at the above link. Does that look familiar. 

Ahh well found hector , these look exactly like the ones i have. They looked factory made at first but then the maker name and logo had been cut away by the slotting.....?  They make good collet and roller presses as well though .

6 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

That's the first time I've heard them being called that. 

Vets must have a different vocabulary. 

We call them Gillies forceps or Adson forceps. But the tooth design is different. It doesn't have a through-hole in the jaws. Here is a closeup photo of a Gillies.

And tissue forceps don't have a sliding lock.

These give me the shivers