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Eterna 1237 C With Massive Rust Update

noirrac1j
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noirrac1j Distinguished Member

noirrac1j

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Hello, I know you've all waited with baited breath for the outcome of this one! Well I've succesfully brought the watch back from the edge of the spare-parts pile. Here are the fotos.

 

First I had to soak all of the rusted parts in Bigelow tea (constant comment) a good strong tea I am hopeful all my my U.K. friends will approve of. Fortunately none of the screws gave me any problems: post-328-0-17529300-1413219148_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-17529300-1413219148_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-82015900-1413219181_thumb.jpg

 

The rotor was very very bad. All of the ball bearins and rotor assembly were very badly rusted:

post-328-0-52813300-1413219236_thumb.jpg

 

I cleaned the  plate and all other parts by soaking in Napthalene and rinsing in fresh naphtha afterward. The barrel I took apart by hand and cleaned the mainspring rewinding by hand:

post-328-0-42371900-1413219551_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-36416400-1413219561_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-49737000-1413219566_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-16893300-1413219571_thumb.jpg

 

Now I began the reassembly and oiling:post-328-0-70505200-1413220105_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-74010400-1413220149_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-93188700-1413220159_thumb.jpg

 

post-328-0-69251000-1413220273_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-78820500-1413220304_thumb.jpg

 

The ratchet wheel looks like its been burned after the tea bath, but it still fits.post-328-0-45848700-1413220335_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-13554100-1413220345_thumb.jpg

 

post-328-0-86012600-1413220466_thumb.jpg

 

With the balance in place and a few winds, the movement springs to life.

post-328-0-31194700-1413220531_thumb.jpg

 

A few more cleaning steps.post-328-0-41060500-1413220575_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-02435400-1413220582_thumb.jpg

post-328-0-19712400-1413220623_thumb.jpgpost-328-0-91558200-1413220627_thumb.jpg

Now the calendar works go back on.

 

 

 

 

post-328-0-84542200-1413220666_thumb.jpg

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Geo Distinguished Member

Geo

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Good job Joe.

Can I suggest that you take the ratchet wheel off and polish it with wet or dry paper. Get a piece of plate glass to place the paper on and start with 400 grit. Rub the wheel on the paper to remove the rust and pitting, then progress to 600 then 800 grit. Next use metal polish on the worn piece of 800, then finish off with metal polish on standard A4 printing paper or flat wood. You should be able to obtain a very fine shine with a bit of hard work.

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anilv Distinguished Member

anilv

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Nice.. the dial and hands really make the watch! Notice how the seconds hand stops at the inner track? That is how it should be..details..details..!

 

I would use it as it is and keep my eye out for a similar movement, they do turn up on ebay from time to time... I managed to get one from Pakistan of all places!

 

Good rescue!!

 

Anil

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noirrac1j Distinguished Member

noirrac1j

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Hello, Yes thanks for the comments and sorry for the double image shots there. I might try polishing the ratchet wheel as Geo suggested and also keep an eye out for another movement to take some parts off. The autowind feature would be nice. Right now I am very happy to have it running.  I wore it today and thought about what the movement was like before I cleaned it. It was very bad. I didn't think it would run. I got it through ebay for $34.00, and like Anilv has noticed it has original hands and the dial is like a pie-pan, so its good that he watch is now working.  Next is a Bulova.....and I've already managed to lose the setting lever spring...oh well. Thanks for the comments!

 

JC

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