Hi all,
Just received a Seth Thomas, 18s 7j.
When I received it the hands had come of and the dial was loose.
Can anyone tell me how the dial is attached, I can see one foot, that being the loose one, but was wondering how the feet are attached or do they just push into the holes ?
I really did not want to start watch repair on this watch, but might have little choice.
Any help as to what attaches the dial would help.
Thanks,
Bill

Bill, Your dial is held on by small set screws in the edge of the pillar plate that bear on the dial feet. In some old watches the feet are pinned on. Prying the dial off without loosenng the set screws is what causes the horible cracking of the dial porcelain that you see on so many watches........Good luck.....Keith

You have to take the movement out of the case to get to the screws,and sometimes they aren't loose,but are missing.

Hi Keith and Cecil,
What I have is aGr. 36 7j ser#746539 I believe its a 3/4 plate. It seems that I have to take the complete back off the mvmt to get to these screws that hold the dial on. Cecil I do have the mvmt out of the case, for me that was all new in itself, I collect not repair, But it does look like I have to remove the plate, nothing easier huh ? I am afraid to take the plate off, as I can imagine wheels, gears, springs, etc. to go sproiiiing, and be gone, never to be found again.
I really am not sure that is what I want to do.
Let me ponder this for awhile.
Thanks for the assistance,
Bill
P.S the best of the Holidays to all the fine folks here, Merry Christmas and all the best.

The watch may have a dust ring on the movement if so you will have to remove it too get to the dial screws.

DONT REMOVE THE PLATE!!! If you have the movement out the little screws are very near the dial itself. If you can't see them you may have a dust ring that must be removed as Samie says, by slipping it off the movement to expose the screw heads. Good Luck and Happy Holidays.........Keith

Hey Bill, here are a couple of photos that may help. The first shows the movement with the dust ring intact. Use a small screwdriver or similar to remove the dust ring. It should just come off easily. You may have to work the screwdriver around the movement a little at a time if it is very tight,but not usually. The dial screws are at the edge of the top plate under the dust ring

This photo shows the dust ring moved,exposing the dial screws. The screws do not have to be removed,just loosened a couple of turns,to release the dial feet.

Or in your case,just tightened.

Upon looking at the underside of he mvmt one more time, I think I have found where the screwa attach. Can anyone tell me if there should only be 2 feet on this dial, as that what it appears to be, the plate is actually notched out to expose where the screws are. Secondly it appears that there are no screws in any of the holes, so do not know why the dial is not completely loose. Also upon tipping the dial up as it is loose enough to do this, there is onlt one of the feet binding. Also looking further there appears to be a 3rd hole for another foot. Makes me wonder if the dial has been changed or if there was a few dials used with either 2 or 3 feet ? It also appears that someone has tried to lift the dial prior to me, as ther are a couple of hailines across the dial.
The question now is where are the screws that should hold the dial, and what is holding it now ?
I think I will put this down for this day, and just carry on with Christmas, wait until tommorrow and look at it again.
Thanks for all the expert advise, and no there was no dust ring on this, should there have been ?
Thanks again all,
Bill

Good idea, Merry Christmas