Internet Horology Club 185
Rockford 18s KW - Stemwind Conversion?

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/8553988197

August 24, 2018, 22:25
Douglas D. Weaver
Rockford 18s KW - Stemwind Conversion?
I recently picked up this Rockford movement, thinking it was KW/KS, but when I looked closer, I saw a winding arbor at the edge of the movement. The movement # is 15323. I figured this was too early to be a transitional mvmt.

Does anyone recognize this? Is it factory, or a conversion of some kind?


August 24, 2018, 22:25
Douglas D. Weaver
Dial side


August 24, 2018, 22:26
Douglas D. Weaver
Dial removed


August 24, 2018, 23:41
Harry J. Hyaduck Sr.
I just sold two Rockfords like that one. Both were transitional and one even had a very low serial number of 7280. Both had different stem winding arrangements. I posted here and most thought they were conversions and probably Abbott conversions.

Harry
August 30, 2018, 17:28
Timothy Fitzgerald
I have a transition model very much like it.
September 01, 2018, 11:37
Kevin Hoffman
That is an interesting rockford , I thought I read somewhere that some early rockfords had been sent out for conversion , I was unable to find the article , but it is out there , I also ran across this early conversion

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rockf...?hash=item2cd77c8200
September 01, 2018, 20:43
Douglas D. Weaver
I saw that one, too. It is an Abbott's Patent conversion. When I disassembled mine, I found that the winding bridge has the movement serial number on it - so I'm assuming it was done at the factory. It just seems strange that mine, with such a low serial number would be a transition model when the Rockford parts list doesn't show stem winding parts until Model 2's came out - at serial # 115,000. I'm trying to decide whether to track down the broken and missing winding/setting parts, or just case it as a KW/KS.
September 01, 2018, 22:37
Kevin Hoffman
I have an early one for stem wind , 53195, it appears to be a model 2 , and I believe it is one of the earliest runs to have stem wind , I have seen 1-2 others of close serialnumber, if you trust the serial runs are done in order . this one has 23 jewels scribed under the regulator , if only they put the thought into action !