Last weekend a friend told me they were going to "sell Dad's old bench". As "Dad" was a watchmaker, they asked me who might be interested . . .

So I called Earl McCranie (a nearby new IHC185 member this year) who has been "understudying" with me and asked if he wanted to see an "old bench" . . .

So we went to see it today . . . and after a short negotiation, this "diamond in the rough" was carefully packed into Earl's Pickup. Another "old watchmaker" back to work again! (btw the lathe did not go with the bench, it will probably show up on eBay soon.

It's always great to see a nice bench put back to use again! A little cleaning up and it will serve
Earl well for many more years.

I like the glass panels on three sides. Almost eliminates all the angles that those small parts can shoot off to!

I thought they were there to keep the crowds back .

Actually my friend told me that His dad taught watchmaking and the glass sides were there for both saving parts and keeping his students noses a safe distance from the work he was showing them.

I can honestly say I've never seen one with those glass sides myself. I've seen plenty of benches with the attachment hardware, but nothing to indicate what attached TO them.

That is neat!

Regards! Mark

What is so funny about that is that in all the jewelry stores in my home town, the watchmaker always jammed his bench to the rear of the work area, usually with his back to the door. None of them wanted anyone looking over their shoulder.

That's why seeing this one has been a real treat!

Regards! Mark

A "wrap" on this post . . . Earl just sent me pictures of this bench cleaned up and refinished to his liking. Nice Work Earl!

Love to see these benches put back to the use for which they were originally designed. Very nice and enjoy working on it!

Roger

If anybody's interested, there's been a similar bench listed in E-bay for some time.

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-ANTIQ...?hash=item4ce93abaee