Had an interesting issue with an Elgin 12s. The minute and hour hands stopped at random while the sub seconds hand continued moving. The crown turned smoothly when setting time, but if the minute hand was moved directly (gently with a toothpick, like setting a clock), it would jam at random points and resist rotation. This suggested some issue at the front of the watch, or perhaps a loose canon pinion or safety pinion. Checked pinions & they were ok. Found that the minute wheel is constantly engaged with the clutch. On inspection with dial off, the clutch teeth are uneven. With a little play, this would explain the random occurrence of jammed hands.
Thanks for confirming. This movement came without a case, and I have a crown and stem kicking around to set and wind it. To wind it, the stem must be pressed all the way in, against resistance from a spring. In the winding position, the unevenly-toothed clutch is disengaged from the minute wheel. So I suspect that a proper case tube would hold (click/snap) the stem all the way in for normal timekeeping, while keeping the clutch disengaged.
Sorry I'm late to the party, just found your channel, as I was looking up videos on Elgin. I have discovered something that just pisses me right off! a little back story: when I was about 19 years old, many moons ago, lol, i inherited some money, and unlike most kids my age i decided i would collect watches and clocks, and for the most part i did really good, i have a watch people laughed at me for buying at 70 or so bucks, it's now worth about 600 bucks, its rare and weird, but i digress, I walked into an antique store, now i had also inherited my great grandfather's Elgin pocket watch and had then and now fallen in love with Elgin, but I wanted an Elgin of my own and to add to my collection. in my defence I was super new to the watch collecting scene and trusted the Elderly man behind the counter who saw me coming, lol, and showed me a key wind key set size 18 pocket watch from Elgin, it was and is very pretty and very cool, but this joker tells me, it was made in 1868 one of the first runs, extremely rare, railroad grade, has, and please hold the laughter down, lol, omg, so he says to me, again remember I was new and trusting this old guy,,,,,it has 21 diamonds for jewel movement, (slaps forehead now) and it's a silver case, well anyway many moons later, I've recently decided to get into watch and clock repair as a good hobby, something I've been interested in for a while, so for the past month or so I've been diving in, reading, and watching videos, and learning, now in my youth the internet wasn't like it is today so, online research was not there, and none of my friends where into watches, I was flying solo, wet behind the years as it were. So here I am now, getting pissed off, that I was seriously screwed over by some old guy, I paid a tad over 1k USD $$$$ for that pocket watch, and now I have learned, it was not made in 1867 it was made inn 1889, it's a plated hunter's case, and not railroad grade, it has LMAO 7 damn jewels and none of them are diamonds, and it's rare but not to the extreme he was telling me. I think in the right market for the right buyer I think for its condition which isn't bad it's in working and running order and I'd say good condition, I might be able to get 250-300 bucks for it, but man I was screwed as a kid, what an evil old man to do that to someone, he basically lied and robbed me. I probably still would have bought it if he were honest with me, maybe not for 1k$...again I can't blame my younger self, I didn't know and I had good intentions...I would go back and yell at the guy, but he is most likely long been dead by now. But the lesson here is don't trust everyone especially old folks behind the cash machine and counter, do research first or show it to a watchmaker, take pictures and such, heck lol now there are apps on your phone you can get to do timing accuracy with!!! I wish I had all this back then. Probably would have been able to talk him done or better yet tell him he is full of poo poo! oh well, thanks for reading, I've subscribed, and thumbs up! I was robbed man! but I still have that Elgin, it's still a cool pocket watch, it's not too often you see one with key wind and key set, and I have a funny dumb kid story to go along with it!
@@JDRichard thank you Sir, I have, but for your viewing pleasure this is it's SN: 5020266. Yeah I was swindled as a kid, but it's still a cool Elgin in my collection. The history and life it's had for 130+ years 30 of those I know is mine. I need to service it as I put it on a timer and it's all over the place +147 s/d lol and I thought it kept good time at least the few hours I wore it to a wedding or funeral. Then again the timegrapher I have isn't a top quality one but I also did it on two phone apps that gave the same result or very close to it. I really enjoy your channel, there are 3 channels I watch no pun intended, lol, I really enjoy your humor, my Dad before he passed always called gizmos, or gear work or tools lol Gizmochies. On a funny note have you ever considered that somewhere in the world there is a man or woman on a train with a pocket watch that has a train bridge as the train he/she is on, is going over a train bridge? Lol life and it's wonders. I thank you for the response and I'm sorry this is a mini book reply. Good day to you Sir and Cheers!
You are a real trooper working on a 16sz 7j gilded Elgin. So many people toss them due to the brass jewels being worn out and little collector value - unfortunately. Be well
I have 100s of watches that I work on regularly, and continue to collect new projects. Some of my favorite watches are 7 jewelers. Yes, sometimes the pivot holes are too far gone, but that isn't usually the case. 7 jewel watches are also great for learning watchmaking basic skills, so tossing them would be really wasteful.
Hi JD thankyou for your amazing help. I have a Waltham 18s ps Bartlett. Works well but there is no crown or stem to fit onto arbour which protrudes from the movement towards the missing stem. Also I think it needs a sleeve. Been looking for years be nice to use it.. love your work... John..
I would say thats not the wrong screw and all that was happening is the barrel arbor was just turning with the screw as you were loosening it since the mainspring was broken.
I have an ELGIN wrist watch that won't show the time. It's an automatic, I can see the movement of the watch both front and back, but the time doesn't change.... I'm not even sure it's a good watch, I just love to watch the movement.
@JDRichard I wish there was a way I can send you a video. It doesn't look like a very expensive watch at all, but I love the movement of it. If there was a way I can send you a video let me know.
@@JDRichard the min and hour hand don't move. No matter how much time has passed. The winding spring mechanism still tics, but no movement from the hands.
@JDRichard I think I figured it out. It's a hybrid motion and quartz watch. Only thing the pretty mechanism does is keep the second hand wound up. The hour and min hand are controlled by a battery.
I have two of the same movements for a elgin 291 16s open face. Solidarity case. I can't get the stem to set the time. It is not a railroad approved model. No arm to pull out.....stem clicks up but time won't set on either movement in the same case. The stem is pretty hard to pull out and the main string is very hard to turn on the one that runs and keeps time. I'm thinking there's a problem with the stem.....that's the only thing that's common to both movements. ???? Is there a tool to wind the movement that will check both modes of the stem? I've been trying to find a close up picture to see if the stem is worn....Can't find one.
I was wondering if you are in Canada or the United States and if you do work on vintage pocket watches? I live in Manitoba Canada I am a Senior Citizen with low fixed income only cpp and oas/gis month to month. I am looking for someone that can clean oil adjust vintage pocket watches at reasonable rate. I would have preferred to private message you but wasnt sure how so hopeing you read my comment. Thank You. Respectfully, Daryl
@@JDRichard sent an email couple days ago...I appolagize for babbling and making it so long. Wondered what all is Full Service on vintage pocket watch and what you charge? Also.what do you charge for clean, oil, adjust to.best accuracy time ? If you willing I'd like to.send my watches one at a time after the new year for at least clean oil adjust on 6 of them one currently not running full service. As for the rate list 9f the guy in.the United states I sent that's all usd and as such I doubt here in Canada anyone will come close but I know 1000 and up.just for clean oil adjust as quoted by Roger Watson Jewelers who admitted they do not work on vintage pocket watches but have someone they ship them to. At that rate if my eye sight was better and I didnt shake so much I'd get the tools and do it myself. Again I Appolagize for the long boring email.
I have an elgin pocket watch my father purchase when my mother was pregnat with me i am 96 i had it repaired but it only run a few minuets ,before it did not run can this problem be solve.... Y
Had an interesting issue with an Elgin 12s. The minute and hour hands stopped at random while the sub seconds hand continued moving. The crown turned smoothly when setting time, but if the minute hand was moved directly (gently with a toothpick, like setting a clock), it would jam at random points and resist rotation. This suggested some issue at the front of the watch, or perhaps a loose canon pinion or safety pinion. Checked pinions & they were ok. Found that the minute wheel is constantly engaged with the clutch. On inspection with dial off, the clutch teeth are uneven. With a little play, this would explain the random occurrence of jammed hands.
That is what I was going to say. A tooth issue for sure
Thanks for confirming. This movement came without a case, and I have a crown and stem kicking around to set and wind it. To wind it, the stem must be pressed all the way in, against resistance from a spring. In the winding position, the unevenly-toothed clutch is disengaged from the minute wheel. So I suspect that a proper case tube would hold (click/snap) the stem all the way in for normal timekeeping, while keeping the clutch disengaged.
@@Mars-zgblbl if you have to press the stem in all the way to wind it, this means you have to adjust the depth of the sleeve
Sorry I'm late to the party, just found your channel, as I was looking up videos on Elgin. I have discovered something that just pisses me right off! a little back story: when I was about 19 years old, many moons ago, lol, i inherited some money, and unlike most kids my age i decided i would collect watches and clocks, and for the most part i did really good, i have a watch people laughed at me for buying at 70 or so bucks, it's now worth about 600 bucks, its rare and weird, but i digress, I walked into an antique store, now i had also inherited my great grandfather's Elgin pocket watch and had then and now fallen in love with Elgin, but I wanted an Elgin of my own and to add to my collection. in my defence I was super new to the watch collecting scene and trusted the Elderly man behind the counter who saw me coming, lol, and showed me a key wind key set size 18 pocket watch from Elgin, it was and is very pretty and very cool, but this joker tells me, it was made in 1868 one of the first runs, extremely rare, railroad grade, has, and please hold the laughter down, lol, omg, so he says to me, again remember I was new and trusting this old guy,,,,,it has 21 diamonds for jewel movement, (slaps forehead now) and it's a silver case, well anyway many moons later, I've recently decided to get into watch and clock repair as a good hobby, something I've been interested in for a while, so for the past month or so I've been diving in, reading, and watching videos, and learning, now in my youth the internet wasn't like it is today so, online research was not there, and none of my friends where into watches, I was flying solo, wet behind the years as it were. So here I am now, getting pissed off, that I was seriously screwed over by some old guy, I paid a tad over 1k USD $$$$ for that pocket watch, and now I have learned, it was not made in 1867 it was made inn 1889, it's a plated hunter's case, and not railroad grade, it has LMAO 7 damn jewels and none of them are diamonds, and it's rare but not to the extreme he was telling me. I think in the right market for the right buyer I think for its condition which isn't bad it's in working and running order and I'd say good condition, I might be able to get 250-300 bucks for it, but man I was screwed as a kid, what an evil old man to do that to someone, he basically lied and robbed me. I probably still would have bought it if he were honest with me, maybe not for 1k$...again I can't blame my younger self, I didn't know and I had good intentions...I would go back and yell at the guy, but he is most likely long been dead by now. But the lesson here is don't trust everyone especially old folks behind the cash machine and counter, do research first or show it to a watchmaker, take pictures and such, heck lol now there are apps on your phone you can get to do timing accuracy with!!! I wish I had all this back then. Probably would have been able to talk him done or better yet tell him he is full of poo poo! oh well, thanks for reading, I've subscribed, and thumbs up! I was robbed man! but I still have that Elgin, it's still a cool pocket watch, it's not too often you see one with key wind and key set, and I have a funny dumb kid story to go along with it!
Get the serial number and look up the data and value on pocketwatchdatabase.com
Or pass the sn to me and I’ll look it up
@@JDRichard thank you Sir, I have, but for your viewing pleasure this is it's SN:
5020266. Yeah I was swindled as a kid, but it's still a cool Elgin in my collection. The history and life it's had for 130+ years 30 of those I know is mine. I need to service it as I put it on a timer and it's all over the place +147 s/d lol and I thought it kept good time at least the few hours I wore it to a wedding or funeral. Then again the timegrapher I have isn't a top quality one but I also did it on two phone apps that gave the same result or very close to it.
I really enjoy your channel, there are 3 channels I watch no pun intended, lol, I really enjoy your humor, my Dad before he passed always called gizmos, or gear work or tools lol Gizmochies.
On a funny note have you ever considered that somewhere in the world there is a man or woman on a train with a pocket watch that has a train bridge as the train he/she is on, is going over a train bridge? Lol life and it's wonders. I thank you for the response and I'm sorry this is a mini book reply. Good day to you Sir and Cheers!
You are a real trooper working on a 16sz 7j gilded Elgin. So many people toss them due to the brass jewels being worn out and little collector value - unfortunately. Be well
They still mean something to the owner…usually was grandfathers watch.
I have 100s of watches that I work on regularly, and continue to collect new projects. Some of my favorite watches are 7 jewelers. Yes, sometimes the pivot holes are too far gone, but that isn't usually the case. 7 jewel watches are also great for learning watchmaking basic skills, so tossing them would be really wasteful.
Hi JD thankyou for your amazing help. I have a Waltham 18s ps Bartlett. Works well but there is no crown or stem to fit onto arbour which protrudes from the movement towards the missing stem. Also I think it needs a sleeve. Been looking for years be nice to use it.. love your work... John..
Hey, thanks a lot. Looks like you have a real challenge in front of you.
Thanks JD my real challenge is finishing a balance staff
@@johnrogers2253 with great patience there's no issue finishing a balance staff
I would say thats not the wrong screw and all that was happening is the barrel arbor was just turning with the screw as you were loosening it since the mainspring was broken.
Makes sense, thanks
Very cool wrist watch!
Thanks
This videos are fascinating
Thanks, I shall therefor continue making them
Say I need to get new jewels in my grandpa’s pocket watch. I’m in Alberta
Could perhaps do the repair
I should know this but sometimes I need to hear it again.. thankyou...
No priblem
I have an ELGIN wrist watch that won't show the time. It's an automatic, I can see the movement of the watch both front and back, but the time doesn't change.... I'm not even sure it's a good watch, I just love to watch the movement.
That is interesting. Not sure how it does not show the time?
@JDRichard I wish there was a way I can send you a video. It doesn't look like a very expensive watch at all, but I love the movement of it. If there was a way I can send you a video let me know.
@@JDRichard the min and hour hand don't move. No matter how much time has passed. The winding spring mechanism still tics, but no movement from the hands.
Send video to jdwatchservice@gmail.com
@JDRichard I think I figured it out. It's a hybrid motion and quartz watch. Only thing the pretty mechanism does is keep the second hand wound up. The hour and min hand are controlled by a battery.
I have one that is quite similar made in 1902 and it runs quite well but the back of the Wadsworth case is missing
Too bad
I have two of the same movements for a elgin 291 16s open face. Solidarity case.
I can't get the stem to set the time. It is not a railroad approved model. No arm to pull out.....stem clicks up but time won't set on either movement in the same case. The stem is pretty hard to pull out and the main string is very hard to turn on the one that runs and keeps time.
I'm thinking there's a problem with the stem.....that's the only thing that's common to both movements. ???? Is there a tool to wind the movement that will check both modes of the stem? I've been trying to find a close up picture to see if the stem is worn....Can't find one.
Look for pocket watch Bench Keys on eBay
@@JDRichard thanks....
I was wondering if you are in Canada or the United States and if you do work on vintage pocket watches?
I live in Manitoba Canada I am a Senior Citizen with low fixed income only cpp and oas/gis month to month.
I am looking for someone that can clean oil adjust vintage pocket watches at reasonable rate. I would have preferred to private message you but wasnt sure how so hopeing you read my comment. Thank You.
Respectfully,
Daryl
I am in Ottawa. Not sure what a reasonable rate would be for you. Email me at jdwatchservice@gmail.com
@@JDRichard sent an email couple days ago...I appolagize for babbling and making it so long.
Wondered what all is Full Service on vintage pocket watch and what you charge?
Also.what do you charge for clean, oil, adjust to.best accuracy time ?
If you willing I'd like to.send my watches one at a time after the new year for at least clean oil adjust on 6 of them one currently not running full service.
As for the rate list 9f the guy in.the United states I sent that's all usd and as such I doubt here in Canada anyone will come close but I know 1000 and up.just for clean oil adjust as quoted by Roger Watson Jewelers who admitted they do not work on vintage pocket watches but have someone they ship them to. At that rate if my eye sight was better and I didnt shake so much I'd get the tools and do it myself.
Again I Appolagize for the long boring email.
I have the same watch 23413891 did you ever find a glass for it?one day I want to send it for servicing and re-gold plating of the case
Yep
😍😍😍
Nice job, do you know what year watch was made?
Not yet…will find out
@@JDRichard Thanks
1912, Elgin Grade 292, 7 Jewels
@@JDRichard A oldie but goodie, will great to see it ticking with new life.
You’ve likely seen this but, Beyond the Press pressure tested a Vostok to failure: ua-cam.com/video/FwNFy2A7rmU/v-deo.html
Watch this guy and it was nuts. Thanks for the reference
Kinda watch your videos with those long fingernails. Cut them!
I do cut them down every few weeks, but I am a guitar player and need them for plucking.
😍😍😍
😍😍😍
I have an elgin pocket watch my father purchase when my mother was pregnat with me i am 96 i had it repaired but it only run a few minuets ,before it did not run can this problem be solve....
Y
ua-cam.com/video/xn-fyfvcP7w/v-deo.html