Hello everyone;

I was browsing eBay just now and came across a watch that apears to have been re-cased.

What I am wondering most of all is why is there a half-headed screw inside.

If anyone can tell why this is done I would really appreciate it.

I know nothing about pocket watches at all, but my instinct tells me that this appears to be shady.

Thank you.

Bud

Bad Screw?

Half head case screw? No, those can be found quite easily, and were considered a 'better' screw as they would 'bite' into the case and be less prone to loosen up in use. A 'quick fix' repairshop trick.

Problem was, they DO bite into the case ledge, and cause those awful gouges you see on old cases. Sometimes after a lot of use, they actually cut the ledge out.

So, nothing shady. Just an 'improvement' in the repair process, or so they surmised.

Regards! Mark

Hello Mark;

Thank you very much for this information. I guess I'm beginning to worry too much now. First I didn't know anything, and now I know just enough to be dangerous.

Really appreciate your reply Mark.

Bud

Hi Bud, those horrible half-head case screws are, as Mark and Lindell said, only good for ruining cases.They are the dumbest invention in all of watchmaking!By the way, the picture you showed is an 18size model 1892 Waltham, one of the nicest and highest-quality American watches.Whatever grade name or number that is, it's a keeper.Best Regards, Ted.

I agree with Lindell. You might see a lot of these half screws but they are not original. They are not polished on the cut side. And would not of been shipped from any watch co. As it states poor quality.

To take the movement completely apart you have to remove the case- screws any way.

My assumption is that a lot of shady repairmen did this to speed there cleaning time up. Thus not even disassembling the watches completely to clean.

When you do not disassemble the watch to clean it you normally have to clean it two are three times. To get them to run for very long.

So by cutting the screw they are SAVING A LOT OF TIME. DUH!!!!!!

Those were the same "ilk" who tossed out the dust covers, stopworks parts, and "shaved" Jewel mounts to "squeeze a fix" out of a broken staff!

How do you fix that Staff David?

Regards,
Larry

I have to find a new Mounted Jewel and then re-staff the balance wheel with a new Staff, and Pray . . .

Bending the balance cock, gouging the underside of the balance cock and pillar plate anything to get around using a balloon chuck to dress the staff properly.....such laziness and all to save a buck and then we have the oldest one in the book ...Why would anyone in thier right mind want to steal the jewels out of a movement?? No wonder there aren't enough hours in a day....

Here is one I found recently...Both pivots bent, not broken, so to prevent binding in the jewel hole? Bigger hole jewels of course!! What are they thinking??

It would take a watchmaker of moderate skill and in no hurry ten minutes to replace a balnce staff at most. I wonder some times how long a list you generate of shortcuts with bad out comes. Another one I love to see is a watch that has obviuosly been dropped the balance repaired properly but the train hole jewels still fractured. They're not thinking!

Hey Bud

Back to the topic on the half head case screws

Nothing shady, just a very poor unproven attempt to save time in the aftermarket of watch repair. The first rule of thumb in watch repair 101 is to never make shortcuts that can't be undone. So the watchmakers[if you will] were in violation of the basic rule

Now years and decades later, we are the ones that suffer I ALWAYS try and replace half head screws with factory correct full head screws and THROW AWAY those half head screws. As a group we can make a difference but we may have to have some factory correct NEW screws made up, which I would gladly buy a 100 pc. pack right now for say $25-30.

Anyone out there that would like to entertain such an endeavor, I'm you're Huckleberry

regards,
bb

John, I agree with everything you say exceptin the "ten minutes to replace a Balance staff". The "average" (for me) is about 40 - 60 minutes IF I quickly find a "right" (all dimensions match exactly) staff, the Jewels are good, the clearances are good, the pivots and end-play need not be re-done and the Wheel, Roller(s), and balance spring collet all fit without "resizing".

Buster, I'll SECOND that emotion....

Regards,

Jerry

My feral Amish watchmaker will make case screws for me, as on one of my two-tone Seths:

Great looking screws on a great looking watch, Eric....

Regards,

Jerry

Yeah, Jerry, he does do an incredible job, considering his lathe is foot-powered and the fact that he works by lamplight.

Wow, gentlemen, I can't thank you enough for all the replies about thos nasty looking half-headed screws. I didn't like the look of them when I first saw them and still don't. However, I now see why you guys dislike them terribly and I would have to agree 1oo%.

Thanks again, and I sure am glad I joined this club. Thank you for that.

Bud