Greetings

[Indy]

Hi, I’m Indy (it’s been my nickname since long before Harrison Ford appeared in American Graffiti).  I’m new to watch repairing, just watching a lot of YT stuff at present to learn as much as I can.  I’ve gotten a lot of the tools to start with, and my first project will be the pocket watch I inherited from my Grandfather, just waiting for the lubricants to arrive so I can get started.  Anyway…pics of the watch are attached.

[Klassiker]

Hello and welcome. That's a nice watch, with a fine regulation mechanism I've not seen before.

You might want to practise on something less important to you.  Most of us caused some level of irreversible damage to the first watches we worked on.

[RichardHarris123]

Hello and welcome from Leeds, England. 

[Nucejoe]

 As said, start with inexpensive watches say seiko 5's  for parts /in need of repair perhaps even some scraps. Stay with one calib  Seiko 7009 for instance, you would then have your own inventory  of spare  parts and save $ £ €. Select pieces so you can eventually  makes at least one good running watches out of them all.

Welcome to the forum Pal.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 16 by Nucejoe
Correct

[mbwatch]

11 hours ago, Klassiker said:

You might want to practise on something less important to you.  Most of us caused some level of irreversible damage to the first watches we worked on.

Can't stress this enough! That is an exquisite watch, and best set aside for a year while you gather some experience on movements you can afford to damage. Welcome - this is a very helpful forum.

[RichardHarris123]

What is it?  Do we know the caliber, what does it say on the dial, I  can't read fancy writing. 

[watchweasol]

Hello and welcome to the forum.  You have had some very good advice regarding  putting this one aside and honing your skills on cheap jobs that will stand a bit of messing about with. Best to destroy a $10 watch than a family piece.

[mbwatch]

1 hour ago, RichardHarris123 said:

what does it say on the dial, I  can't read fancy writing. 

Hampden Watch Company - Hampden was one of the big American watch companies (but still a tiny maker when compared against the giants Waltham, Elgin)

[Knebo]

1 hour ago, watchweasol said:

You have had some very good advice regarding  putting this one aside and honing your skills on cheap jobs that will stand a bit of messing about with. Best to destroy a $10 watch than a family piece.

 

3 hours ago, mbwatch said:

Can't stress this enough! That is an exquisite watch, and best set aside for a year while you gather some experience on movements you can afford to damage

 

14 hours ago, Klassiker said:

You might want to practise on something less important to you.  Most of us caused some level of irreversible damage to the first watches we worked on.

 

100% to all of the above! 

@Indy, PLEASE practice on a few other watches before. 

[Indy]

Hi again.  A little history on the watch I want to ultimately work on.  It is a Hampden Watch Company, Model 4, William McKinley, 17 jewel.  It belonged to my paternal Grandfather, a great man to me as I was growing up.  I looked up the serial number, and learned the watch was made in 1915, which means my Grandfather would have gotten it when he was 17 or 18.  I don’t know if he purchased it himself or received it as a gift.  At this time, the watch doesn’t work, I think it’s a broken mainspring.  When I opened it recently, I got the balance running for a short time.  When it was running, it appeared to keep time well, but since it was only running for about 1 1/2 minutes, I didn’t have time to check it accurately.  I don’t yet know what size mainspring to get, I think there are four sizes for Hampdens of the period.  So I’ll have to measure it once I open it and begin the repair.

In the meantime, I’ve been watching a bunch of videos, mostly Wristwatch Repair, and Watch Repairs Tutorials on YT.  Fortunately, mechanical things come extremely easy to me (I took my bicycle apart, including the rear hub, and put it back together when I was 10.  I’ve had automobile engines torn apart and put together again, without ever going to an auto mechanics school.  My brain may work a little differently, as I can easily learn by watching a video, or watching somebody else doing a job before I get “hands on”.  Still, I’ve gotten a Seagull ST36 to do some practicing on before I tackle the Hampden.  The ST36 is the closest I’ve been able to find to the Hampden, the watch works appear the be similar, also the off center second hand appears to be similar.  I’ve also gotten a bunch of tools in preparation.  Hopefully I’ve made a good choice with them.  (I was thinking of getting a kit from Sutcliff Hansen, but decided to search for my own through Amazon.). Most of what I got appears to be what Sutcliff Hansen offers, and I got a huge discount by opening a Prime account at the same time.

Anyway, if you’d like, I’ll keep you posted, and post a video of my Grandfathers watch running once I fix it.