Being an avid collector for over 30 years, I appreciate what you are doing here. Your video was spot on and the slight humor made me smile as I have been there on hands and knees looking for parts before.. Your style of story telling, description and method of filming was absolutely spot on. You have earned a fan here and I hope the you can do some other pocket watches. Sidenote here - Being as I am located in Germany (ex Military and stayed here) and collect only American pocket watches, there are no watch makers here that touch American pocket watches therefore, I have to do 90% of my own repairs, COA and other watch related things to keep my collection up and running. In extreme cases, I am forced to mail my watches back to the states to have them dealt with.. You video showed me a few things I was not aware of, so with that, I thank you for posting this.. Please keep the pocket watch history alive.
Thank you, Glenn. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. This all started out of a similar necessity and since then I have been hooked. I call it a journey as I started out doing really basic cleanings, and ever since I purchased Henry Fried’s book, it has really opened my eyes to what is possible and accessible to the average amateur/journeyman. I’ll continue making these videos thanks to your support. Thank you for your service. - Chris
Excellent video thanks, the narration is really informative, you're right up there with Marshall from Wristwatch Revival, hope you're channel grows well, keep up the great work.
I only just recently discovered your channel when I fell down another rabbit hole last light! Fascinating! I really enjoy your work! Especially your pocket watch restorations! Please keep the narration, it helps explain what you're doing, and it's sorta...I don't know...calming. like thorazinene, but much more informative. Keep up the great work!
❤ I enjoy the voice over. You explain what is going on and tell the history. It's interesting and I learn something new. I love the polished look, despite natural aging history. The point that everything is clean and in working order is important to me. Each to one's own. God bless
Hi, please don't stop narrating what you are doing step by step how to repair old pocket watches. Your work is so amazing and so gentle and I learn so much from you. You have an extremely gentle & beautiful way of using the old watchmaking art to repair old pocket watches and the tools for the repair are so expensive and you do it the old way. I hope to see many more videos and learn from you how to repair a modern automatic movement of wrist watches & this is so amazing & I am grateful & happy to learn this the old way combined with the new way of repairing a self-winding wrist watch or an automatic wrist watch. I've never repaired a pocket watch before, but I think they are beautiful, but I don't have the courage to tackle such a task. The the 21 jewels lubricating & replacing the jewels in the movement awesome & the same from the Balance stuff amd of course rhe hairspirng balance stuff was awesome too. I am learning this art from you right now. I taught myself just like you but I am still very inexperienced & new to this craft as a hobbyist. But I can repair 1 to 4 modern movements but this is how I learn to repair new ones. But your way is really very elaborate & interesting. All the best & greetings from Germany.
I really like the narration. I’m now watching one of your older videos without narration and I enjoy the music and the text but I really like it when you speak you do a great job of that explaining the given information. Thank you very much.
I like the narration it’s very informative. And I love the job you do on the watches you restore. This railroad watch restoration is beautiful!! Any railroader would love to have it in his pocket!! Well done!!
Love the narrative. Since i am bing watching your videos I must point out your efforts for maintaining or improving the dials of these vintage timepiece are surpassed by your attention to the movement! Your work should be accepted by any museum out there!also look at the artwork for the barrel lid. Omg!
I really enjoy the narration, and you’ve got a good voice for it as well! Lovely watch, I really would like a high quality pocket watch for my desk one day.
I am a little late to comment on your post but I just discovered, and subscribed to, your channel. I see that you decided to continue the narration. I think your clear descriptions are of great value to anyone watching who may not be familiar with certain watches and movements. I agree with your comment about hand winding the mainspring. Once you get beyond the standard set of winders there are a myriad of different size barrels and having winder for each would become very expensive. As long as you are careful, as you were, and do not kink the spring, the only difference between hand winding and a tool is convenience. Finally your mention of Henry Fried’s book brought back memories. My father and Henry were good friends and both belonged to the New York Horological association. Henry lived nearby and I knew him before I knew what he was. Later I got into the watch business and had many meetings and discussions with Dad and Mr. Fried. Bottom line, Henry was a very nice man and very helpful with information. Keep up the good work.
What a stunning watch, I want one like this so badly that I can almost taste it. It is really hard to find a movement that has at least 21 jewels from the current market, by this I mean a newly made watch, a early 20th century piece is way outside my budget range unless it is in really bad shape. most new watches has 17 jewels and I don't have the faith in the materials they use to make them than the ones that were made in the late 1800s to early 1900s. they simply don't make them like they used to. Deliberate adulteration of materials is rampant in today's economic landscape with the intent to make the consumer return again and again. I Love the face of this watch, with the beautiful calligraphic numbers on a porcelain white background. As far as the polished look is concerned, to me it is better for the item to look as pristine as it did when it was brand new, so a beautifully polished sterling silver case is what I love. Knowing the History of the watch and that it saw years of used as a conductor's timepiece is more than enough for me. Silver is meant to be polished to a mirror finish, no other metal can match it's incredible color. Gold has it's place but I prefer Silver for it's pure color and mirror-like qualities.
Great video and narration of your restoration to this fabulou movement. Excellent workmanship on that staff replacement. I have a 12S Hampden from my grandfather that is a my watchmaker. Hopefully the staffs I found on the Bay work. And as someone mention a comparison to Marshall, that too is pretty right on. Really enjoyed your vid. Kudos. Thanks...
Hey brother, I just got into the watching repairing part of this hobby. I am a "collector' per say, and I just got into the internal parts of the watch. I must say that the narrative with knowledgeable content is very helpful and its well received.
I agree with you about doing all the cap jewels. If the last time it was serviced it were oiled there could be gunk on it that the cleaning machine did not remove. Short cuts should be avoided
Nicely done. Keep em coming. I dunno...I'm in between-I like to polish some of the wristwatches if they're not too old. But pocketwatches...I've never polished a one. Something about patina and what it would tell me where it's been if it could, ya know? Meh I'm old.
Thank you ! For the basic nickel alloy cases, I tend to polish them. I’ve done a few older English ones that were sterling silver where I left them alone. I feel they age so beautifully
This must be an earlier RR approved model, the Micrometer adjustment for the hair spring to slow or advance the rate isn’t present 🧐 They also where adjusted for “isochronism” meaning it would operate optimally regardless of how little or how much power remained in the main spring 🤓
very informative video really appreciated. I have a question for you : where can I find the top and bottom balance wheel jewels 0.14 and 0.16 hole diameter ? thanks , I'm looking forward for you answer.
Keep the narration, please. Your voice on the equipment you use, produces very audible narration, which is particularly appreciated by me, as I have hearing impairment which would be equal to a normal person's average hearing with two levels of protection in one ear, the other, only one. For your audio, I require no extra amplification. I would favorably compare your audio with Marshall of Wristwatch Revival and no one else comes close. Good clear, clean audio is a gift to your viewers, please I'll beg of you, do not take it away. The content and what you say is also top notch. I could listen to you read the dictionary for entertainment, it's better than over half of TV network programming because TV networks don't seem to work hard at keeping audio quality to high standards. You quite apparently DO! Thank you for great content and some of the best narration around. Your voice reminds me of actor - singer Robert Picardo, who played the EMH - Emergency Medical Hologram - in Star Trek Voyager. Keep up the excellent work, it's greatly appreciated! 😊
Thanks! John, I’m a huge Trekky so I’m absolutely honored to have drawn that comparison. I have narrated many videos since this one- but there are a couple videos where I may have gotten carried away with the volume of the background music, so I do apologize if you come across those. I think I’ve since dialed it in with the last couple videos. There’s another one coming tomorrow that will be focused on the full disassembly and repair of an Accutron. Hope you enjoy it. - Chris
Thank you! I use a kit by “wrist and style”. You can get them on Amazon and they’re not as solid as bergeon or other name brands but they’ve never done me wrong. I’ve had to dress and sharpen them from time to time but you need to do that for any screw driver
Thanks for the amazing video! I would like to start repairing and restoring pocket watches too, but I'm not sure what are the essential tools for a beginner. The huge press you're using seems to be quite essential but what is it called and are there some more compact sized options?
Thanks for the comment! You’re probably seeing the “staking set”, which is essential for most repairs. It was one of the first major tools I bought (after the basics). There’s a great channel for beginners I recommend you check out. It’s called “it’s about time”. He’s a retired watchmaker, professionally trained (unlike me) and offers really great practical advice geared towards beginners
Jusr so happens... My grandfatherhad one of these. Rail road. Inside looks very much the same. More filigree on the case, i think its silver. How can i contact you, since it is not working?
This is a beautiful watch, inside and outside. Thank you for narrating the video. It adds to the experience of seeing this little old clock being brought to life again.
Wow!! That is some next level restoration!! I’ve never seen the balance wheel repaired before, especially with the old and unusual tool set you used to do so! Well done! And thank you!
Subscribed! Beautiful watch. Beautiful work. I just bid on my first Elgin pocket watch from 1910, it's 18 size, 15 jewel. It says it almost wants to run with a good balance. They think it needs a cleaning. Looks like I might get it for under $50.
Came across your videos recently and quite like your style of teaching, pointing out the good and not so good practices. I must say, I'm jealous of the tools you have acquired to further your hobby. I'm sure some are rare and lucky acquisitions. I like your commentary and parts identification during your videos. Thanks from all of us.
New to your channel. Love the content so far. I have a soft spot for RR approved watches of all types. Thanks for narrating, I really like the tutorial aspect.
I like the narration very much. In my opinion, narration is always better than silence and written text which half the time one has to stop the video to read. Good job, thank you.
44 seconds in and: yes please narrate, it gives context and you can add so much more when you explain what and why you are doing something (I skip video only, music or not). Also, background music will never be to everyone's taste and when mixed with commentary makes it a difficult task to mute the noise/music (depending on your view/taste) and listen to the words.
Thanks, more to come. I played around with music in some videos- in some, music plays more a central role but feedback I’ve received is it’s distracting. I’ll stick with subtle background music for a bit - Chris
Ever considered being a neurosurgeon? Thanks for another great post. One of my top five favorite YT channels of all time. Great content, production and presentation. Cheers.
Love the denture cleaner trick. Your the first channel I've seen to that and wow awesome difference! Would have liked to see it on the time graph. To see if not replacing blue mainspring was worth it.
Thanks, Scott! Good suggestion on the timegrapher- I actually just bought a Weishi (upgraded from the phone based timegrapher) so the next video will certainly feature it
Yes continue to narrate . Whites crystal mfg. makes new glass and He is my guy for all my crystal needs. I have got warped glass from nos . So it is a crap shoot on E bay.
Thanks!! Good old eBay for the replacement hand, but it was quite a hunt. I very well could have out bid you! Most of the watches you see are eBay finds, but some come from Invaluable.
I'm here simply because of the Soviet association. You see, the tooling for the Hampden Watch Factory was sold to the USSR immediately following the Great Depression. Once in the USSR, the production of Hampden Type 1, 2, 3, and 4 movements was overseen by Gostrest Tochmech. "The State Trust for Precision Mechanics" in English, some of my family worked there as the first Soviet watchmaking concern. Its interesting to see where we came from in such detail, so excellent video. If you could get a hold of one of these Gostrest Tochmech watches, or even one of the later Molnijas, I think you'd be rather impressed by it for another video.
Thank you for sharing! What an amazing piece of history. I’ve also had the pleasure of working on some Soviet era wrist watches. Great craftsmanship there as well
@@csspinner Yes, it was tough work. My great-great uncle Victor wrote in his journal that everything was piecemeal at first. Whatever fit and would work, be it Hampden or old Tsarist stock, would be cased and sent out. For new production movements, the manufacture of balances was a problem to the point they often needed to be remade three times before they were acceptable. Still, we overcame these challenges and birthed a grand and noble enterprise indeed. Thanks for responding and have a good one! I'll be sure to stick around, especially if a Soviet watch appears on this channel.
My Grandfather William Mckinley from N.Ireland, was a relative of the President. My uncle Billy was named after him, They lost 2 brothers in World War 1 , Robert at Gallipoli, and Robinson at Baupame on the Somme, there are still some McKinleys left, and they would be fascinated to know that these watches exist. Your restoration work is ,apart from your excellent restoration work, also restoring a small piece of history. I will definitely be on the lookout now for one of these watches. Great work as per usual, I find watching these videos very calming
I like your narration because you don’t yabber through 100% of the video and you have a nice ASMR voice with natural neutral accent with nice tone and range. Lovely background soothing music and generally soothing voice.
Thank You Chris... I am slowly getting through your videos. Need to watch when I have the time to focus. Your voice over is extremally important. Several decades ago, I walked into a watch supply/repair shop on Market Street San Francisco 3 floors up in a very old spooky elevator. The owner Larry was very nice and patient with all of my silly naive questions. He brought out pocket watch movements filled in a shoe box. Very high-end movements 21 Jewels which at the time I had zero knowledge of. I asked Larry what happened to all of these pocket watches? He told me that when the price of gold went up the cases were scrapped, and this is all that remained. Larry saw my interest and gave me a dozen movements. I have always thought of the waste of such beautiful craftsmanship. Oh well, time marches on.... TM
Please dont change a thing. If it was'nt for you I would'nt know the difference between a third wheel or a cart wheel. Im getting an education listening to you.Thank you!
