Pocket Watch chase screws question

[Galilea]

I use a low speed Dremel for polishing my larger watches sometimes, and I use hanging string tags pretty much all the time, and tonight the two did not mix well. A Waltham 18s pocket watch, Sterling grade, model 1879, was thrown across the room and hit the opposite wall such force that it sounded like a shot was fired. Up to now it would wind but would not tick, even with strong encouragement. Now it works however the case screws are no longer connected to the case.

This is the only position in which it will work, dial side down. When I turn it over to see if the second hand is moving its stops, but when I lift it over my head and look at the second hand from underneath, it's ticking and moving and it keeps good time. I would like for this watch to work but I don't want to have to use Is only when it is overhead.  I’m also concerned about leaving the movement loose within the overall case, as it rumbles around.

What steps would you all recommend toward diagnosing the problem and then correcting the damage? Thank you.

[caseback]

The crash has caused damage, so disassembly is required to assess and repair that. (Unless you have a magic wand that is ). A crash like the one you discribed will very likely have at least caused one or more pivots to bend or break.

Edited November 1, 2024 by caseback

[JohnR725]

1 hour ago, Galilea said:

A Waltham 18s pocket watch, Sterling grade, model 1879, was thrown across the room and hit the opposite wall such force that it sounded like a shot was fired

modern watches have balance jewels to design to resist breakage. Vintage watches like an 18 size pocket watch if you drop them to the floor from even a couple of feet up will usually break off one or more of the balance pivots. Then if the forces well yours would be extreme in addition to breaking the pivots conceivably will break the jewels. Typically the hole jewel will get broken and worst-case the end stone's I've seen those broken also.

then unfortunately and watch repair I have never found in any material house a very necessary tool

1 hour ago, caseback said:

(Unless you have a magic wand that is ).

yes magic wand would be quite useful on the other hand watchmakers would not exist because you just wave a magic wand and make your vintage pocket watches run forever so maybe it's good we don't have a magic wand.

[Neverenoughwatches]

3 hours ago, Galilea said:

I use a low speed Dremel for polishing my larger watches sometimes, and I use hanging string tags pretty much all the time, and tonight the two did not mix well. A Waltham 18s pocket watch, Sterling grade, model 1879, was thrown across the room and hit the opposite wall such force that it sounded like a shot was fired. Up to now it would wind but would not tick, even with strong encouragement. Now it works however the case screws are no longer connected to the case.

This is the only position in which it will work, dial side down. When I turn it over to see if the second hand is moving its stops, but when I lift it over my head and look at the second hand from underneath, it's ticking and moving and it keeps good time. I would like for this watch to work but I don't want to have to use Is only when it is overhead.  I’m also concerned about leaving the movement loose within the overall case, as it rumbles around.

What steps would you all recommend toward diagnosing the problem and then correcting the damage? Thank you.

first off J, i think you need to re-assess your polishing technique, i cant quite picture what happened, but it sounds like a rather spectacular event took place. I'd also recommend working alone and putting your dog in the back yard until you have it figured out, I'll inform your local health and safety authority later today...send me your address. So anyway you will have to strip it down to find out what impact the impact has made, all the suggestions so far are almost certainly correct. Carefully take it apart and look at the dial side pivots and jewels, that caseback from the inside looks pretty battered. Start that ball !

Could i also suggest working with something more repairable to begin with, something not as old, 60s 70s would be a good place to start. A big ol' Smiths  Ingersoll Westcox Services type thing.

[rjenkinsgb]

1 hour ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

first off J, i think you need to re-assess your polishing technique

I'd suggest working on the bare case only! Take the movement & dial out first; it allow the case to be cleaned rather more easily, and the empty case is also easier to hold while working on it!

 

[Galilea]

Ha! John And Neverenough, it is so nice to hear from both of you again it's been quite a while! I've had the year to take care of some things I needed to do, and I am back attending my watch repair courses here, and I have made a firm resolution to be more focused about watches. Thank you very much and as rjenkinsgb and caseback suggest I'll be taking it apart.

And Rich, nooooooo, you do not need my address and you do not need to inform the authorities here in my town. Although I do appreciate your quick witted response to what you perceived as an emergency, the police have adopted the attitude that if you can't lick' em you should join them, and in my case that means they come for the complaints / concerns and stay for the coffee. They know all about me. Thank you anyway though that was lovely of you.

 

[Neverenoughwatches]

On 11/1/2024 at 3:15 PM, Galilea said:

you do not need my address and you do not need to inform the authorities here in my town. Although I do appreciate your quick witted response to what you perceived as an emergency

debatable Jill, t'was genuine concern..... mostly for your dog....a pocket watch missile lauched at his skull might leave him permanently keeping one eye on the time ma'am

Edited November 2, 2024 by Neverenoughwatches