Thank you so much for fixing my grandfather’s watch. Not only did it mean a lot to my dad, it means a lot to the grandchildren and great grandchildren who have a tangible memory of our grandpa. That watch was handed down from my great grandpa Bill to grandpa Raye when he joined the railroad. It has now been a part of our family for 5 generations. We are so grateful for your skill and talent, as our grandpa would be to. Watchmakers and watchsmith’s are a lost art. Thank you.
My pleasure! It’s an honor to be entrusted with the repair of a beautiful timepiece. Knowing how special it is to your family makes it even more meaningful to me.
Enjoyed the video, hope to see more soon. The older watches are some of the best to watch, they put so much work in to parts that most people never get to see..
I too watched to the end. I am delighted by the "Gold" etching in the bridges, which is really pretty and tells of the quality. There is a certain elegance with the enumeration of the faces that use the "Dido" style font. Beautiful restoration and lathe work. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Chris, What a fantastic restoration, your ability to source parts like specific sized jewels is amazing. the TG readings are a testament of good inspection, cleaning and not skimping on procedure....amazing results!!
I stayed to the very end... for the history and because I love Waltham watches. Turning that new stem was mighty impressive. Pretty fiddly stuff there. The final result was beautiful... nicely done!
Thank you for the video. I fix watches as a hobby myself, and I just bought a Waltham 645. I found a lot of your tips like the denture cleaner really helpful.
You did a superb job on that watch!! Any railroader would be proud to call that his own!! Well done and please DO keep the restoration videos coming!!!
I was enjoying the video, and didn't want to stop it.. how far away every word in all your videos that I've watched. I think they're great - very informative.. I want to add something else to this comment.. I thoroughly enjoy your entertaining and informative content. Very well done!
Another very informative and entertaining video! I'm 73 and have several vintage and RR grade pocket watches. Watching you has inspired me to gather a few tools and supplies to try cleaning and lubricating a few that few of the lesser watches to try and develop a little skill. Thank you and yes, keep the videos coming. This was my first viewing of a jeweled motor barrel. Thanks ahain.
Thank you for the close-up of the bow-driven lathe - I've seen you use it on so many videos, but without the close shot I never knew how it actually worked. I love watching your videos with the sound off, they are great visual ASMR for me.
Well Chris, you did it again. Another 5 star repair. You have come a really long way since the beginning, and it is great to see you saving the American pocket watch history. P.S. Funny that you posted this video as I just received an Waltham Vanguard 23J, 6pos from 1937 for almost next to nothing, thanks to ebay. The previous owner could not open it )case was cross threaded on both sides), and put it up for auction. No one over here knew what it was, but I sort of did. Got it for almost next to nothing compared to what they normally run for. Again, thanks Chris for posting these and letting others know about the American pocket watch history. WOuld be a shame to see these amazing time pieces die out due to lack of interest.
Very impressive! Thank you for making detailed service videos! A great learning tool for all of us. Your restorations are great, and you spare no detail. I have watched them in full length. You do a great and amazing job sir, thank you for sharing your trade!
First time watching. This is incredibly fascinating and satisfying to watch. I stuck through until I fast-forwarded the last few parts put in before you got to the case, but I've always been a tad impatient🙈 I got a giggle from being able to see your tiny face reflecting back at me on the various dials!😅 Keep up your great work!
This is very interesting to me as a lifelong industrial maintenance person. Such fine and precision fitted pieces and craftsmanship, and the art that is etched and cut into the case and movement is amazing. Thanks for the videos. You truly have a passion for your craft.
Fantastic video of a fantastic watch I have a watch that belonged to my great grandmother, she past away in 1943. She was a very special woman who made a living under harsh circumstances, there has been a book written about her life. My father, who is a journeyman joiner, made a case of oak looking like a miniture floor clock for this watch. He did it while my mother was pregnant with me, but he didnt quite finish so I had to finish it myself when I was grown up. It stands on the mantelpiece of our 220 years old summerhouse. The watch works a while and then stops I think it only needs cleaning and oiling. But our local watchmaker wont do it, as he says it isnt worth it. I think it would be worth it, even though it probably is a simple watch. I watch theese videos to learn how to do it myself, and one day I will, thank you for the teaching!
American pocket watches are by far the best way to get the best finished movements possible for the least amount of cash outlay. Some of these pieces, such as the subject Waltham, could challenge the best of the Swiss watch industry both back then and nowadays. Lovely example here made all the more charming by the personal story behind it. Excellent work as always and can't wait to see the next one!
Wonderful to see this. My Great Uncle was an Engineer with the T&P until '35. I have is original Dollar Turnip he bought when he first marked up, and a similar Waltham he used until he died in service. Also a Company Jeweler's card. Wonderful experience to watch you.
A fantastic restoration on a beautiful movement. love the lathe.. Very cool and efficient and delicate at the same time to remove the scorring. Then, doing your own stem by hand...Just facinating work in my opinion..!!
Amazing job - and really educative for newbies into watch-dabbling like myself. Thanks for keeping a craft alive and passing it on like this. Even if I will never be a real watchmaker, you inspire me to press on and learn more!
Awesome job, I’ve been into watchmaking as a hobby for the last 5 years. I was a hobbyist luthier for 14 years before that. I became very sensitive to saw dust and decided I needed to trade in my luthier tools for horology tools. I’ve taken some classes online. You always end with the statement, “I hope you learned something,” I sure do every time. Especially knowing the challenge some of these time pieces pose. Cheers and continue what you do! You have a faithful subscriber.
I did watch this video through to the end. Great work, Chris! I’ve also listened to your participation in JD’s watch chats. Oiling and choice of oils is certainly a controversial topic, with many conflicting or contrasting opinions put forth by many experienced watchmakers. Your choice of lubricants here is fine, but in my opinion could be improved if you do already have the relevant products to hand. Most of my suggestions are from the BHI pdf on watch lubrication (free online, just search if you haven’t already got it) and are the practices that I follow myself. On a movement this size and beat rate, 9020 would be my choice where you used 9010. 9010 will suffice if you don’t have 9020. For all lever escapement watches, and cylinders too for that matter) I now use Moebius 9415 for the pallet stones. When 9415 was introduced it was initially recommended for high beat movements, it’s thixotropic properties helping to keep it in place. Real world use showed 9415 to also be excellent on slower beat movements, an improvement on 941. It is now recommended for use on all lever escapements, regardless of beat rate. 941 will still work on watches like this Waltham, and are adequate. Once you’ve used up your 941, I suggest you only keep 9415 in stock. Keep up the great work, Mark
Wow, I really enjoyed this video. Great work on a beautiful watch. I'll be sending my 2nd Hamilton Railroad watch in as soon as I get your approval after you see the pictures. Great work.
I love what you do and am in awe of some of the skills you demonstrate. This video will be watch again and again by me as I have just taken up the hobby and dismantled an old, non-running fob watch just like this. I need to know how to put it together again.
Wow, I learned a bunch! Beautiful job all around, and I especially appreciate the closeup angles of the Jacot tool and lathe in action. I can only imagine how happy the owner of this timepiece must feel! 😁
Watched to the end, really enjoyed. The Vangard is a beautiful watch. If my hands did not tremble at times I would live to work on pocket watches. Have a collection of 40+ pocket watches, railroad grade, hunter case watches and standard open face. I had an older watchmaker that did my work. Unfortunately he passed away.
I've enjoyed watching you repair this watch. It looks exactly like one I found among old family heirlooms. My watch is very worn, but it works. It was so surprising! To think someone in my family line used to wear it & heard the same lovely ticktock as we did, who knows how many years ago! I found another watch that my parents kept in a little display dome case. It seems more intricate than the one like you repaired here. While it appears to be in good condition, it does not work. I would like to contact you about these watches. Your craftsmanship is evident by your results. Thanks for sharing this!
Beautiful video, I watched it to the end. As well as the sensitivity of the restoration itself and the way you handle each piece, there are lots of other elements that make your videos so engaging: the camera work and editing; your voice, which is exactly the right pitch and pace (have you ever thought of doing radio) and the quiet dramatic tension of the story itself. It's a real moment of joy and relief when that balance wheel starts spinning. My grandfather introduced me to Waltham watches when I was a teenager, over 50 years ago, and watching this video reminds me of watching him patiently re-assembling clocks and pocket watches. But the biggest surprise for me was the moment at 13.46 when we got to see what kind of watch you wear for your own use. I have no idea what make of watch you wear, but bright yellow of the dial was something of a shock! Thanks for another excellent video. Very best wishes!
Wow, it is very impressive to see a true Craftsman performing at such a small scale. That timepiece is a work of art and engineering. Thank you so very much for sharing this wonderful video!
Never in my life would I believe that I could repair a pocket watch, but I couldn't pull myself away from the craftsmanship that you put into each watch that you work on. Amazing job and a subscriber for life. I have to see what the next job will entail.
I mean, not forever. Eventually the original parts supplies will dry up, either used in projects like this or simply lost to the sands of time. Hopefully by then we'll have the technology to easily make such unobtainium parts fairly easily and cheaply.
Nice movement, Great work on that stem. One step that I have been doing lately is when replacing a staff is now I set the balance wheel less the roller table and HS in the movement. This is less all the wheels, then check for freedom and endshake. Saves time if I do it then before the roller table and hair spring plus I can really see around the balance without the bridge plate in place. Keep up the good work!
