Restoring A Vintage Tudor - Tudor Chronograph 7031 ‘HOMEPLATE’: Making A Custom Barrel Bushing

In this video I restore a very rare vintage Tudor Chronograph 7031. I will make and installing a custom brass barrel bushing for a vintage Tudor chronograph with the rare Homeplate’ dial. The movement is a valjoux 7734 chronograph. If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe to the channel. You can also check out my website www.precisionhorology.com and my Instagram @precision_horology.

[@jooo270]

Wish I had all those tools! Great video with clear explanation.

[@TenAfterTen]

Great skills!

[@mitchelllee6267]

GREAT!

[@boydsargeant7496]

Thanks Ashton, another lovely job! Would have loved to have seen you press the bush in, what do you use for that? Do you use a staking set to make the plate hole smaller if you don’t need to go to bushing?

[@awolff2007]

Very informational. It would have been helpful to see the process of fitting the bushing in the plate and reaming it to size. Keep up the good work!

[@howiewoiwod2173]

Great video!! I’m curious how you use the microscope to center the hole in the plate so that it aligns with the Mainplate hole..

[@PrecisionHorology]

Thanks! In this particular example there was a raised section underneath the bridge that I could use as a reference point for being true. I lined it up and compared it to the worn hole and I could see it was true with the original hole. You can’t rely on things like that, as there is no guarantee they will be true. You could also line up the main-plate hole in the faceplate and then put the bridge on top.

[@johnsanabria3279]

Can you tell me where to get the eyepiece holder that fits around your head ? Haven't seen one like it anywhere.

[@PrecisionHorology]

You can get those at any watch material and tool supply house. Common watchmaking item. Try places like Cousins UK, Jules Borel, Casker, HS Walsh, etc.

[@johnsanabria3279]

@@PrecisionHorology Thanks! Will look into any one of those.

[@shawnstuart1029]

why not hammer it more closed with a staking set and smooth broach it open to size

[@PrecisionHorology]

This is an option if the wear isn't too bad. But you need to remember that the hole has worn oval, so really you are closing an oval again, not a round hole. The correct way to repair it is by installing a new bushing.

[@troynasello2085]

Can't you put in a jewel?

[@PrecisionHorology]

You could, but finding the right size jewel is going to be nearly impossible. You can buy a selection of train wheel jewels but traditionally barrels always had bushings. So finding large diameter jewels like this is impossible. Certain movements, like the Seiko 6139 have had jewels made for the barrel specifically by individuals. You have to have thousands made though, so it’s only economical if you can move them.