16sz Elgin 19j

Smells like someone dunked the movement in breakfree or some other nasty stuff. Oh it is really bad - you can see it oozing out the plate screws. Even with the oil dripping off the hairspring still had decent motion at the balance wheel, but the pallet fork was not moving.

Here is a picture - what could ever be wrong

The roller wheel and jewel appear to have indexed away from the corresponding notch on the safety roller which prevents proper cycling of the pallet fork. The result, the fork will not cycle at all, instead it will appear to be "overbanked". Because of the general description of this watch, it should be completely disassembled, cleaned, inspected and the balance assembly properly adjusted and poised.

I'm not a watch repair person . . . but it looks like the safety roller notch is not centered over the impulse jewel.

You can see the oil film sitting on the edge of the dial

And some puddles of the smelly green stuff - LoL

So Jon, are you going resurrect the watch to live to see another day?

Almost seems as though someone blasted it with 'Simple Green' ...doesn't it?

Joe,

Fingers crossed - the movement pieces are soaking/bubbling away...

Some soft scrub and old tooth brush have the old dial at the position of attention

Whew . . . nice! I noticed the dial was in good condition.

Dave - surely needed a complete tear down and clean. Got lucky on the balance wheel, though, was not bent and the roller table was just free and spinning between the bottom of the hub and the safety roller. I guess the good thing about the previous green oil bath there surely was no rust

Off and running, again...

Is that a 19J Grade 455? Beautifully done. Excellent condition, the green goo may have preserved it. Good Save!!!

Yes Sir - you know your Grades... 455

Made roughly 1919, 2nd yr, I believe

Thanks for the kind words - fun to save them, but it aint no fast process for sure

Yes - Yes - Yes! When you get there, maybe a pix with the dial and hands on, and maybe even a pix cased.

Wow Jon, nice work!

I once had a watch that stunk to high heaven. It was terrible. I COA'd it and sold it & all is good. Then a few months later I was in a automotive repair shop and caught a whiff of the same oder. Turns out it was Amsoil ATF. For $11.00 a quart they could kill the stink a little. So my conclusion is that the previous owner used ATF to oil the watch.

Evan - thank U STRANGER, danger...

Patrick, I concur 100%