Amazing 1930s Marvin Watch Restoration! 

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I'm not a grave robber Mike but there's a thought.. Fabulous work mate and definitely not a failure if its running. I promise the next one will be a doddle!

Hello Mike, Anybody that works on watches will have had similar experiences of a watch's problem escalate during the repair/service process. Credit to you that you made it to the other side with a running watch and credit to you that you kept it on film to show all of us. Not many would. These extras are what adds to our experience to make the next repair better and smoother! Keep up the good work!!.

All I could think of as I watched this video was the phrase my Mother often used: "The patience of Job". My spouse is an avid modeler--mostly aircraft--and I've watched her literally stress-sweat over old, discontinued and rare kits. I am way more "macro" in my chosen hobbies of quilting and jewelry making so it's an abiding mystery as to why such finicky twiddling gives you all such joy! Yet, still, when I want to relax and feel good about things, watching watch repair and restoration is really satisfying. I could watch other people doing it for days ; ) Thanks for the opportunity to entertained by another persons frustration and tenacity--better you than me!

"A+" for effort. Better you than me, my friend. I wondered what had happened to you. Glad to hear that you're back on your feet.

I suspect this watch had a life similar to the one in Pulp Fiction! Having it running is an accomplishment. It will have to be wound daily so resetting the time isn't an issue.

Radium is highly radioactive, regardless and has a half life of 1600 years. Finger cots will help against alpha and beta radiation but won't do anything against gamma and x rays. I would avoid radium dialed watches in general. I like my DNA intact, thank you.

New for new, I wonder how accurate a watch from the 30s would be compared to a later watch from the 70s. While craftmanship was much higher in the early century, tooling was much improved in the last decades - much more precision tooling and accuracy. If you could compare a new luxury watch from the 30s-40s with a new luxury watch from the 70s-80s, which one would be more accurate ?

In my book a fail is when you don't or you cannot get an old watch back working again , this Mervin watch looks very similar to my 1940's Gruen Veri Thin Tank Watch . Excellent work my friend

Glad to see you are back. Your videos are great! They actually helped me through a bad patch where I watched a couple of them from a hospital bed. I have adopted a few of your methods and my results are much better. Thanks Mike, and keep up the good work.

Spring setting is due to Hooks Law. Metal looses its flex after it is repeatedly activated over time because the act of stressing the metal causes its crystaline structure to change. When a spring is under tension in a barrel even the changes in temperature from day to day will eventually cause this, but mostly it is everyday use. Often springs on broken watches sit 'overwound too' which doesnt help. Set springs are on the way to break but not necessarily quickly.

33:33 a couple days ago, i had exactly the same problem for more than 2 hours. Then the spring went flying and i went crawling with a magnet, couldn't find it. Now i have a gorgeous Fama, 25 jewels, not working automatic, calender watch, with a damned rare caliber, without clickspring.

In the Patrick O’Brian stories, when Maturin goes into the briney with his Breguet, he dunks it in sweet oil and this works … in the books. Who knows, maybe this did work with a 1790 watch.

That was great Mike! The results don't really matter to me, it was just interesting to see the works explained and demonstrations of real-life problems! I get a lot of these c.1930/40 deco watches through my business and I've often wondered how much effort would be required to get them going! Clearly, a lot!! Cheers, Chris

I have a Hamilton watch that my Grandfather got from Western Union for 50 years of service. It needs a cleaning and someone wound it completely and it does not run. Paying you is no problem I just want it done by someone who knows what he is doing and enjoys his work. It is a 1950 era with a 770 model and 22 jewels. Just let me know. Thank you, either way, in advance--Bob PS It looks just like the one you are doing on August 27,2021

With all other factors ignored, a watch that runs too slow that has the regulator pinned far to the (+) means the hairspring is too long. I watched a fantastic representation of this by some youtube teacher (can't remember which) who held a vertical pendulum. As it swung, the distance it swung left to right (amplitude) didn't change the time it took to swing. But shortening the string (or lengthening it) changed it dramatically. The shorter the string, the faster it ran. The longer the string, the slower it ran. This in essence is what the regulator does. It shortens or lengthens the "string", or hairspring. So if your regulator is pegged, and you know everything else is right, I'd have to assume the overall hairspring is too long. Maybe you were sent the wrong one?

Thanks Mike for such an educational and funny (oily) video!. I have a small army of radioactive old watches and what do you think, is safe to use it? is safe to work on it, restoring it? After I tested with the Geiger counter, I isolated all of them that shown above 1 mR/hr... I do not feel comfortable working with them... but all are really beautiful watches. Your advice is to keep them or discard them? Thanks and a hug from Saudi Arabia!!!

Great entertaining video as always. I feel your pain. Try a ORIS 471, Very similar to your Marvin. Its being on the headache shelf of my bench from the beginning of my adventures in watchmaking. The original was as full of oil, as yours, I can get the arm flicking smoothly between the posts, have a new mainspring and two balance cocks and springs with wheels. Can i get it ticking,,,,,,NO. I just cant see in it to line it up all up. When i feel particularly sadistic I have another go. I will get it going but look at it like this: A VW polo will wear out before a VW passat or combi van because everything is smaller. If the wheel is smaller it still needs to go around either the same or more times to go the same distance. The metal is the same. The bearings are also smaller so will wear more. I am no expert but damn these things hurt my eyes. :)

So thats where all the oil from the EXXON VALDIZ spill went. LOL!!!!!!

Hello Mike. Mike d stateside. Your method of getting the watch in best is best. My why is to risky the spring would have to come off the staff. Blessings.

Gonna grab one of them t shirts when me disability hits the bank this month... oh yes I have done that on me hands and knees lol

This watch looks like a 39s or 40s. I work on the Ingersoll 40s watches and only get a series of dots for one quarter of the screen on my time o graphed no matter what I do I can't get any reading at all. I some time the watch manually with another watches second hand and it comes out well.

A great class! Not all is about success but perseverance and dedication. It is not a failure as you said. Is another step on the road. Big thanks for letting us watch this video

This is proper watchmaking , not maintenance. You should go for such challenges. That will move your skills forward. Don't leave it as is go for better performance. I think bottom jewel is cracked.

on these older watches as long as it runs well in all positions then its fixed.

Can you please share what is the level of magnification for example in 10:40 minute of the video?

I don't think it's all that lethal - Famous last words there mate haha

My grandfathers Rolex has radium on the dial, it still glows.

Probably need to demagnetize the complete watch.

Nick owes you a number of beers! Great video as always.

Hi Mike. How are you doing with yours? I've seen salads with less oil than that watch.

Interesting one Mike. I share your disappointment with this one. I'm wondering if you bothered to strip the balance jewels as normal. It's a pity you didn't attempt to shorten the hairspring a smidgeon- fiddly of course but not too difficult if you take your time. I've seen the you undertake much more challenging procedures! Altering the beat error on these old watches is, I know a pain in the bum. I can understand your trepidation if the watch belongs to someone else, but given the condition to start with, there was not much to lose! But we'll done for getting the beast running. Keep up the good work

Stout fellow! You bore that well, and I admire you for revealing your adversities as well as your triumphs. I do believe that because of the fixed lugs and the dial face that the watch may be from the 1920s or perhaps the early 1930s so I think it’s even older than you guess. Also, it was probably also an economy type watch to begin with, so you are not really working with a watch that had a descent build quality and that would make it all the more difficult to restore 90 to 100 years later. Again I’m not an expert but just offering my insights for your consideration. Thank you! I’ve enjoyed your video! I have bought you 3 beers as per the above link! Cheers Mate!

Oh dear, you've been so patient with this one, you deserve its gratitude as well as ours. Great job and video as always, really good to watch you doing your best to keep old runners ticking on👍 have a deep breath and a good beer before you start a new one in need of care!

Just use a bit of oil if it doesn't want to come out :)

I think tanks getting more popular, very neat and clean watches, will definitely look into buy one.

Lovely watch Mike I have one very similar

What a pain you had with this watch, I hope Nate really enjoyed the watch

I am sorry but this is not a restoration, but oridinary watch maintance, You didn't do anything to make this watch look better - just to keep it running. Some people like "patina" but I think that the looks of the watch should be preserved according to the vision of it's designer. And designer wouldn't like to see his work age. And to be honest - watches age more like milk than wine.

i would have taken a 5 lb hammer and anvil, fix it once and for all!

Isnt that kind of a thing filling the case with oil ive seen videos on here showing how to do the mod

Hi Mike am a new watcher and enjoying it very much. Will be thinking of you during this struggle you are going through. Keep them coming am about to try my first repair soon.

I've just upped a video showing some really cool watches on my channel, Seiko's 7019 and 6309, a correct bracelet for my 6349 plus an exceptionally rare Pulsar Kinetic designed by the chap who voices Puss in Boots in the Shrek film, an astonishing gold Avia Olympic... Also got a Citizen radio controlled titanium eco-drive the seller said was dead and yes it was but following Citizen's advice of putting it for a night under a bright light source... it sprang into life and its like a new watch. Tomorrow I am putting a new lithium cell upgrade into the Antonio (that sounds a bit weird...) to replace the weak capacitor cell it has, the watch is amazing being a see thru baby blue acrylic and the dial is skeletonised as well as the bottom case section has an exhibition caseback to show off the rotor. Glad to see you are out and about on the videos again.

Great job Mike, I'm glad to see that you are feeling better and I hope your family are doing good as well.

The best way to stop that is to refit the balance wheel then wash

I am watching your channel for about 4 days, love your videos, thanks for content!

Great content Mike and what a good attitude you have in the face of such a challenging restoration . Onwards and upwards mate ! Well done. 👍

Looking at the timegrapher 52 mins in, the balance wheel seems very much more in harmony with that nice close tracking so thats a plus. Thing is, in the 30's what you have there is just about what you got back then, super precision didn't really come in until WW2 where great advances in engineering and machining allowed watches with amazing precision, my 1947 Avia is the most accurate of all my mechanicals, puts the Seiko's and others to absolute shame how good it is. Saying that, my recent 7019 acquisition has knocked my Poljot Schturmanskie Gagarin from second spot to third as that is a very good movement in the 7019 but not quite where the '47 is hehe I suspect your other issues are simply pivot and gear wear being a 90 year ish old watch and likely all original I suspect if you refreshed the train, the escapement etc, replace the ankh and def look at the jewel settings on the balance staff you might see a nice improvement but that suggests many hours and finding almost impossible to find parts if they are unique to the works unless you can make new ones on a microlathe. Def have a look at the jewels themselves as I thought a couple looked a bit enlarged to my eye but I am no expert and compared to you mate I am like stone age in comparison. One of my subscribers is sending me from America a USB stick stuffed full of Seiko technicians manuals covering just about every Seiko movement going, I am also investing in a 20 diopter large lens on a lamp arm, going to cost a lot but a 20X large lit lens is what I need to do real precision work.

That’s hilarious 😂 filling up with oil. I haven’t seen that. But I can see where people might try that

How did you know which replacement hairspring would fit?

What do you use for first and second rinses?

Did you check the hairspring was being gripped properly by the pins in the regulator?

Finally I completed to see the video. I can't avoid hear Marvin and remember to Marvin the Martian

Why not just just soak the watch or parts in acetone or isopropyl alcohol? Just asking out of curiosity.

I can't believe someone used that much oil. one good thing about it though you won't have to worry about rust.

Best advice I have ever recieved " never become emotionally involved with inanimate objects "

Very good service mister👍🥇

Well done Mike. You got there 👏

nick is your secret teacher haha

I'm glad to see you back one thing good about too much oil if it was done a long time ago is it keeps rust down

Great Bluegraas music for the cleaning montage. Great rebuild. Sometimes a 1940's watch won't go as good as a 21st century watch. Good vid. Keep at it!

Nick doesn’t love you... 😂 You have displayed the patience of a saint, for I would be in the same situation cursing like a sailor. Of course, you had your time off camera... 😉

Wow what a bugger that was. Congrats on keeping calm Mike it's gotta be the hardest thing in this business. Great results as far as i can say. I would imagine the look on your face when it didn't wind in the end. Very frustrating back and forth assembly disassembly Maddening but remarkably fun because It worked , Not great but it worked and that's where it counts. Cool stuff mike. See you on the next one. Cheers

Hello Mike. Mike d. Here stateside. My tip for hairspring d is this. I have had luck simply while the hairspring is on the balance turn the balance upside down holding down the bridge grab the balance wheel with tweezers keeping the balance wheel straight up lift the balance until 3 quarters of the coils are seperate move the balance wheel north about 5 to 10 mm then south then east then west. I have found many times this will help remove any natural defects in the spring from wear while working in the watch. But first I clean the spring as you did. Blessings to all. Oh Mike that collet would be moved to the left to out that dot at 3 o clock. Twist the fine screwdriver to your right just 1 mm. Mike d Stateside.

Good to see you are up and running m8, thanks for your inspiring video.

like for your passion

Great video mike!!! I think I’ve learned a few things from this exercise and that’s well worth the effort you put into it for your viewers. Well done and appreciated!

Amazing and fascinating to watch the process, warts and all. Makes you wonder how hard it must have been to design and develop these movements. Thanks

Is the Marvin watch worth to buy?

It's not far off, if you can get that beat error down the time keeping might possably settle, good job with what you've done because it wasn't going to run in it's oil bath.

This one's making me crave a Mediterranean salad. Nice to see you back to full health and posting again.

Good try Michael! What movement is it?

This video here is why i haven't jumped waist deep into this hobby dont get me wrong i do love it but just watching this video had my nerves tied in a knot im just not sure I have the patience i was upset for you lol

Love your videos. A pleasure to watch. I'm an amateur and have fixed a few watches (I broken a few). Keep up the great work

Ah well done Mike, nightmare watch for sure!. You did your best. Adrian

I think it's awesome. I have an idea. Maybe the oil on a few of the pivots became laminated. You never know how long ago the oil was put in the watch and the oil mixed with the dirt to almost make it like malasis in February. We all know I'm no expert here at all but it's a thought.

Do you where a mask when you work on these old watches?

Просто Super!

That much of oil turns to a glue like consistency over time. Well done with getting it working.

Hi Mike This is a great video and your efforts to get this sucker up and running are marathon. I noticed that the original hairspring has 11 coils and the new one has 13. Can you not shorten the hairspring by one coil which will increase the speed an decrease the amplitude?

Funny LOL

Mistakes. Thats just like the rest of us Mike. Your doing great.

Well Mike, at least you got the bloody thing running eventually!

Well Mike, I got a bag of watches for about a tenner. Just one looked interesting but a non runner, the winder had been replaced with what I discern as from a Fossil watch. Nothing to lose, I did the oil trick and a wash with IPO and dry. Oil is a very thin one, not 3in1. You did have me laughing with all the oil in yours by the way, looked like it had fallen into an engine! The face looked like it had been wire brushed which had sadly removed the plating but apart from that, it cleaned up and now runs within a minute a day. Hunting on Google, I discover it is a 1932 watch, Swiss made 15 jewels, small ladies, imported to New York and the jewellers name "Newsol" engraved on the main plate. Only thing I am uncertain of is whether the 14K inside the back is a model number, or indicates the white metal is 14K gold. As you can tell, I enjoy my experiments but am not a repairer in the true sense. I do have a quartz watch filled with baby oil, and running well for some months! Thank you for your RU-vid channel which inspires me to go on and maybe attempt a strip down one day.

Great video Mike, what an oil filled mess, brought back to working order it's definitely not a loss, thanks lad, i myself just fixed and seviced a Raketa 2609 ha in a Seconda 36mm gold plated case, i was impressed with the 2nd wheel which the cannon pinion goes on, it was jeweld for the seconds i like that alot, not seen on others eta or Seiko, impressive, enjoyed you video cheers Mike, glad you and your family are ok mate, thank you. 👍 P.S i have a dedicated pair of tweezers extremely sharp just for hair springs, they are challenging for sure.

Hi Mike. Firstly, good to see you better after the 'Rona. Secondly, when I get frustrated like that I go off & do something unrelated to settle my head, then come back to it fresh. Good vid, you did your best there. Oh yeah, that wasn't the crown, it was a sump drain plug :-D

Well still a great job, great to see you back hope you and family are well.

Interesting swiss movement. Figured there would be issues with that hairspring. I respect the fact that you know your limitations and stop rather than risking damage. Also, looks like you're using a better camera, video looked crisp and sharp.

I bought 2 watches like this from ebay and I went crazy with them. Full of problems, and none of them work. They drove me insane. The moral of the story is that tank watches are cool to see in instagram, but I don't want to work with them ever again.

Superb. It's great to see real problems with an old watch. I have a Seiko, Orient, and Waltham with this type of problem. Thanks for including the problems in the video.

One thing for sure Mike, those vintage watches never stop surprising. I think I might be in for the same kind of experience as a friend of mine has asked me to get her ETA 761 going. This video will definitely help!

Loved it! Like all great stories, there has to be some conflict and tension, otherwise it's just boring and predictable. Now go find yourself a boring and predictable watch to fix so you can recover from the madness.

Fair play Mike i would have launched it out the window, we have all been there with these restorations, simple movements that are nothing but grief. I have an old Certina thats next up on the bench and i think this is going to be similar to yours. Great effort though!!!!!

Well done, an interesting and informative video. I've recently started tinkering mainly 70's stuff. So I'll be glued to your work.

Can anyone here recommend a good reliable watch restorer?

What a repair well done 👍

Really enjoy your videos, it is interesting to see the renovation 'warts and all'! Just a thought, did you clean the lower balance cap jewel? I didn't see anything in the video about it.

Nice work ! and applause for patience!

Admire your patience...Maybe Marvin caught the kung flu...

Great video as usual. Bringing a dead watch back to life is always a win inspite of the obvious hurdles and obstacles. With regard to the timegrapher readings, have you tried other lift angles? Thanks again for a very informative and educational video. Stay safe!