How do you safely remove a movement from a pocket watch case?

OK...probably sounds like a dumb question, but I want to switch movements between two like sized pocket watch cases, but not sure how to remove the movement without damage. One is a Hamilton 992 and the other an Illinois Bunn special. Thoughts, cautions???

thanks,
Roger

There are a lot of thoughts, considerations, and cautions, and a tool or two needed, along with your experience as to what you have done with pocket watches up until now and why you want to swap the cases around. This information will all be helpful.

It will probably be best if we started with a few front and back pictures so we can see what we will be working with along with serial numbers.

regards,
bb

Roger, before you start, check the position of the lever set of the two movement and confirm they are EXACTLY in the same place . If they are not, leave them alone.

Also by swaping cases you might just down grade
the value of your watches.

Basically the Hamilton 992 & the Illinois Bunn Special use the same 6 minute lever-set cut out slot.

If the two cases are generic cases and not Hamilton and Bunn Special marked cases, one of the problems with "swapping" cases will be leaving additional case screw marks in both cases once the swap is completed. Collectors look down on cases with multiple case screw marks showing from different brands of watches. These two watches have different case screw locations.

What holds and keeps these two watch movements in a case are the 2 case screws and the winding stem. The winding stem hangs down slightly into the bowels of the movement.

If one just wants to swap cases around without good cause, I wouldn't recommend it. That's why I requested pictures to begin with to see if a case swaperoo was/is warranted. Sometimes watch cases are from different era's and a case swap may be necessary on two watches.

I have known two entrepreneurs in the watch trade that swapped cases around at two day watch shows nightly to make people think they had more watches

regards,
bb

Roger if you are unused to removing the movement from the case: 1. Buster, Peter and Dave gave excellent advice. Always check the lever position. As a Hampden collector I have screwed this one up more than once. 2. On a swing ring case make sure the stem is pulled up or out to avoid damage. 3. Make sure your screw driver fits the slot on the case screw. 4. I do this on a soft rubber mat to avoid damage if the movement slips or I am clumsy. 5. Try to have carpet on the floor where you are doing the work because if you do enough you will drop a movement.