Okay... so I found a couple watches at an estate auction Saturday... a Waltham Colonial 17J and a an Elgin 12s, 7J, double roller, neither seemed to be working and they seemed like good "see if I can fix it" candidates. $35 and $40 respectivly.

So I dig into the Elgin tonight and it comes apart nicely. I took the parts onto my back porch to clean with some naptha and a brush, and promptly managed to lose the escapement wheel under the porch. UGH. Dug around in the mud and dirt and spiders for an hour plus... no luck. So I cleaned the rest of the parts and was finishing the bottom plate... when...... I think you can guess where this is going. Did you know that the winding mechanism will just fall out of the plate if you turn it upside down? DOUBLE UGH!

So... I was just wondering if by chance anyone out there has these two parts for my basket case elgin? Or if you know where I might find them. Here's the details: 1917 Elgin 7J, serial number 20287155. Says "double roller" on the movement. Thanks guys! I'll certainly be more cautious when I dig into the Waltham...

Heck... the Elgin's only managed to stay in one piece since 1917. And it only took me 45 minutes to trash it! Sheesh.

--Mike

You may have your first "parts watch". Double Roller Seven jewel Elgins are kind of "hit and miss" when it comes to repairing them with other watch parts. For example, to replace the escape wheel would best be to replace the pallet fork and escape wheel from another watch, then there is the fitment of the pivots.

Please hold on to the colonial until you have had a little more experience!

Suggestion: Buy a 10 foot diameter inflatable swimming pool with a white bottom and work in the middle of it with a minimum of clothing on, or try what I do;

I like the swimming pool idea! I normally use a folding table and a sheet of white paper to work on. Dropped parts are usually found on the rug pretty easily. However... to clean the parts, I go outside so as not to inhale nasty toxic fumes... The naptha worked great, by the way... the parts I have left sparkle and shine....
--Mike

Hi Mike, You could try using a magnet to retrieve your missing parts. I've never worked outside, but have picked up lots of errant parts from the floor this way.

Mike,
I'm so sorry about what happened, but I have to tell you, it made me laugh, because it has happened to me too. I was right here at my desk, had everything out of the way, was super careful, and BOOM! parts went everywhere! I have no idea what I did, but when everything went into the carpet, I thought it was a lost cause. Then I remembered the magnet deal, and it saved the day.
I found all but one itty bitty screw. Mine was a watch that was in really bad shape that didn't have all the parts anyway, but I sure know how you feel, and I sure learned a lesson that day.
I've even seen a small part BOUNCE into outer space when it only dropped about 2-3 inches, so you never know.
If I knew more about my watches, I could look for your parts in my "stash" of parts, but sorry, I'm at a loss. Hope you find your parts, someone must have something, hang in there, and good luck.

You know, I thought about using a magnet, but I thought it would magnatize the part, and interfere with it running correctly. Of course, I guess even if that were correct, it would still run better than it does with the wheel under the porch!

I could hear muffled astonishment in some of the responses to my working outside... only did the cleaning there. I bought a couple of those pill boxes, with little compartments for each day of the week, that I use to put my parts in as I take the watch apart. (works great, by the way) Once it was all in the little compartments, I close the lids and move to my table on the porch (open, but covered) to use the Naptha. (baby food jars work nicely to hold the Naptha in...) After cleaning each part, it dries on a paper towel and then I move back inside to reassemble. I'd love to have a professional, permanent work space, but there simply is no room right now. (My oldest two kids go to college in a year... so then I'll have the space --- but zero money to buy watches!)

David -- Are you suggesting I wait on the colonial because it's more difficult, or more rare? I've done a couple 17J watches so far with some success...

Thanks!
Mike

Mike

If you can't find the parts I have several 12s 7J Elgin's that are the same grade as yours you can have if you want, none of them are complete but they have the parts you lost. Just let me know.

Tom

I feel your pain. I have a nice work area in the basement but whenever I take a watch apart, I use the table in our eating area, good lighting and white flooring. But I have a secret weapon - my cat. She watches me like a hawk and whenever a part hits the floor, she runs right to it. Just waiting for the day when she eats the part. Good kitty. The magnet is a very good idea.

Tom! Once again, you're a livesaver and an incredibly generous individual! I'm picking up a magnet today, and if I don't find the little bugar, I'll likely take you up on your offer! By the way... could you email me your address. I've misplaced it, and I have something to send you...

--Mike

SUCCESS! The magnet did the trick and I found the parts! The winding mechanism is in four pieces, so it'll be a challenge to figure out how it goes back in. I'm going to get started on it tonight!

The parts are magnetized now. They stuck to my tweezers in a nice long train 'o parts. Will that wear off, or do I need to do something to de-magnetize them? Or will it not hurt anything?

Thanks again, everyone!
--Mike

Beautiful,Mike-I never give up when I lose a part. And if I use naphta I keep the parts in a jar with an air-tight lid,coffee can,etc. Something I can swirl a bit. I'm not much into sniffing that stuff,either. Anymore.(ha!)

yeah.. I'm super careful with the naptha, and keep it in airtight jars. I've used it to clean 4 or 5 watches now and I haven't noticed any bad effects yet.

Plus, it really gets the parts clean!

I've used it to clean 4 or 5 watches now and I haven't noticed any bad effects yet.

Cheers!
--Mike