I just got this 15 jewel PS Bartlett c1870 in a nice hunting case,to add to my collection,Well It will be added after it is cleaned,but the button to open the front cover is knurled on the sides,like a winding crown. With the knurling,I'm wondering if maybe it is one of those hidden key models. I can't pull it out,but it will turn slightly in both directions. Any way I can tell if it is a hidden key? I don't want to use any force,and maybe break it. Do those hidden keys just pull straight out?

Forgot the picture

The ones that I have seen, Cecil, have been screw in types only....never seen one that pulled out but that doesn't mean there aren't any....

Please be careful when trying to remove the crown, it may not be the hidden key type and you will break the stem....

I think I would remove then movement the try to unscrew the crown....

Regards,
Jerry

Cecil

Odds are it is not the hidden key type, I have a few that look just like yours.

The stem is held in with a pin the runs through the opening where the bow attaches, that is why it will twist back & forth a little.

If you want to know for sure you can remove the bow & see if there is a pin there.

Hope this helps.

Tom

Hi Cecil, I think Tom is correct and I snapped a stem off about 30 years ago trying to get the movement out of a case I was sure had a hidden key. It didn't and I am marginally wiser.

Thanks guys,
I had the bow off earlier,while cleaning the case,and I did notice that the case had what looked like a pin through it. Well I have the case all cleaned up,and the movement is apart,cleaned,restaffed,and tomorrow I will reassemble the movement and put it all back together. I still can't get that "new" look to the plates,but I'm still just a novice.

Keep at it Cecil, you'll get the hang of it if you keep trying as Dave suggested in his post....

Good luck and I would like to see photos of the watch again after you get it back together....

Regards,
Jerry

Hey Jerry,since you asked,here it is all done. I can't compete with the pros,but I think it's a pretty good job for a truck driver. It runs strong and has stayed right with my stopwatch for 1 hour so far. This will be a keeper for me.

I get a lot of satisfaction,reviving these old watches that have not run for who knows how long. This one was a mess,inside ans out.

Another shot

Another

One more

Don't know how that one got in there.

Last one,alive and well

Wow, Cecil, you done good, real good....

Sometimes, if the Gilt isn't there, you can't do anything about it....If it ain't thar, it ain't thar....

Yeah, that second pic back is something, I was going to say that you were going to have a dickens of a time getting that nickel damaskeened movement to look like a gilt finish....

Really, you have done a commendable job and I really like that case....

Thanks for showing it....

Regards,
Jerry