How I installed a pocket watch crystal that was to small, Illinois
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- Опубліковано 22 жов 2024
- This is what I call cheating. This form of cheating is okay because I did not alter the watch and it is reversible. Currier, 18 size, made around 1881. I forgot to mention that they sometimes heat the bezel to make the hole bigger so the crystal goes in easier. I could push on this crystal pretty hard because it is really thick. A thinner crystal may chip or break. This watch is also seen in the 'Possible broken mainspring' and 'How I take apart a pocket watch, Illinois Currier' videos now playing. Correction, the section drawing doesn't really match the top view.
This video performed by an amateur. Do not attempt at home. No watches were harmed in the making of this video. For entertainment only.
A wonderful tutorial. You made a semicircle crystal gasket for this Illinois pocket watch.
The antique crystals were much thicker and heavier than crystals available today. Another
excellent video by you. Thank you for your upload.
I've got the exact same problem with a case that's nearly identical to this one. I would have never figured out how to do this. Thanks for the tip.
Hi, I have just tried this on a laminated crystal that had a design in between, worked great, and best of all, its reversible. BIG THANKS.
I agree, that might work and it will give a tighter fit. Thanks for the info.
Interesting, from your description and explanation, it appears that you made what is termed today to be a crystal gasket to stabilize and secure your crystal into the bezel. Nice application using the tape depending on how thick the mil dimension of your tape could have made seating this crystal almost impossible. Nice job.
I am glad it worked for you. I didn't want to buy glue so I figured out this method.
You are one resourceful fellow!
Yes. I have a degree in Engineering and worked for a metal stamping company. I saw many wonderful things and worked with many talented people.
thank you, that works great
did it on a j. g. graves 1862 and was the same problem as you had
with a 14 karat gold bezel on a pocket watch will it stay on without the crystal? It pops off when I go to snap it on - I was going to use a plastic crystal but Im seeing that that won’t stay unless bezel stays on-Help!
I have an open face Hampden in a style similar to this, and I'd like to open it and try to find a serial number to figure out the year, but I'm having no luck getting it open. any tips?
tip n tricks alway appreciated. I would mot mind doing this as a quick fix for a watch I was using but would not seem ethicle to repair a watch like this for sale. unless full disclosure was made to buyer. but I do appreciate yours and anybody else that has learned a trick or two. these 100 year old works of genius can be tempermental at best.
You are the smartest jerry rigging man I have ever seen. Why waste such intelligence?
Good stuff... Thank you for your time
creative !!!!!!!
There are several types of cases. Here are some I know of. Some are screw on, snap on and snap on with hinge. Screw on and snap on look the same except the snap on might have a small recess where it meets the case so you can use a watch opening knife to pry it off. If it has a hinge you can figure out how to open it. Some people destroy a screw on by trying to pry it off as if it were a snap on type.
I will be doing this soon. Thanks!
For about $10 you can buy UV curing glue that would be a better way to repair it. Not hating, just pointing that out.
I agree. When I did this video I was out of work and had little money so I did things on the cheap. Now I have a job so I am getting some glue. It is difficult finding a crystal to fit correctly so now I will use some chemical help.
I have a cheap mechanical pocket watch with a plastic crystal that popped out and broke. I ordered a glass crystal on ebay but it was just a tiny bit too large (the opposite of your video). I put the copper watch case on my 7 inch harbor freight lathe and widened up the case diameter where the crystal fit a tiny bit. Then I used a toothpick to put crazy glue in the channel where the crystal fits into, and pressed the crystal in place. If the crystal comes out again I will use your tape method to fix it.
thanks this really helped
Very nice!
I wonder why you don't have patience to record the work but patience to draw pictures then record. 😳😕☹️
The camera is in the way and it slows me down.
if you have a movement lets say a 12s elgin, could you put that movement into any 12s case? if i want to change the case that i have can i do that? does it matter if its lever set or what case i want like open face to a hunter ? i think that would be amazing if anyone can give me any info on this.
I think it can be done most of the time. There is some slight variation between companies so the best bet is to get a case that an Elgin is already in. A lever set watch must be in a lever set case. A lever set case is a regular case with a cut out for the lever. A stem set movement can go in a lever set case. An open face movement has the winding stem at 12 and a hunter movement has the winding stem at 3. So if you don't mind having the 12 on the side it will work.
"too" small
This sort of slipshod work is to be avoided. I'll refrain from extensive analysis and just point out one concern which should have been obvious enough to deter you from proceeding. Though the fit is closer than it was before you rigged it, you still have space between the crystal and bezel in any spot where you didn't place tape. Since it fits better, you're unlikely to actually fix it unless it becomes loose again. So, now you have nice gaps where moisture and dirt can easily find their way in. Hopefully you aren't carrying it around any more than you were before you rigged it. You collect a few watches, bother to buy a few tools to enable yourself to do some amount of servicing, but won't spend a few bucks and a few moments of time to do this the right way? That isn't just cheap, it is illogical. People should not watch this and think of it as a good solution that they will use.
What is the best solution to this problem?