July 18, 2012, 16:48
Melvin SiedmanWALTHAM UNIVERSAL STEM
I recently got a WALTHAM s/n 13594489 and began taking it apart
The stem seemed quite strange because it was very FLOPPY.
I finally removed it only to find it had a universal joint between the square end and the rest of the stem. It is not a true universal because it will wind and set the watch. So it is somehow keyed so it turns when the crown is turned.
Has any body seen anything like this? IN my LIMITED experience I have never.
July 18, 2012, 19:14
Martin WagnerYou need to resize your photos to make them readable.
July 18, 2012, 22:45
Martin WagnerYou make the pictures smaller.

Seriously, you can do it in one of two ways, either set you camera to shoot smaller pictures or reduce the monsters that you take in your picture program.
Try bringing your camera settings down to about 480-600.
Marty
July 18, 2012, 22:51
David Abbedownload the free picasa program which is very very user friendly. It does the whole thing and when you upload back to your desktop at about 480 it usually is below the IHC185 210KB limit
July 19, 2012, 05:05
Phillip SanchezMelvin I have resized your photo. To get a better understanding you can go
Here to this forum to learn more.
July 19, 2012, 06:36
Dan CarterI have not either but find it curious. I imagine it pivots in four directions? Also, it seems like it might be one of 2 things. It was either made to allow someone to align the dial better once the movement was installed (does not seem like a high end watchmaker would make parts that do not match up. I have only seem dials be so far off if they are after market ones) or someone actually repaired a broken stem by drilling it out and making a socket in order to insert the square portion. Just my thoughts on this topic.
Dan
July 19, 2012, 07:55
Melvin SiedmanThanks for the advice on re-sizing, and the actual resized picture. Will try to do better in the future.
Asfar as the design (modificaton) of a std stem, the dial does not seem to be the issue.the whole movement can be rotated as normal to align the winding/ setting socket.
Was this someones idea as to bypass the not so critical positioning?
July 19, 2012, 22:33
Melvin Siedmanafter further disassembly, found a cracked roller jewel. Hard to measure, only a stub left. Looks like a .40mm diameter ruby . Don't know how long. or how to reassemble a new one as the s**t fingered guy staked the old one in (probably what caused the crack)
Can any body give me the dimensions for the roller jewel. Or anybody have a roller table with jewel Waltham s/n 13594489 I think colonial 12s
Thanks to all so far!!!
July 20, 2012, 20:05
Melvin SiedmanThe movement I have just identified as a Waltham Colonial. From what I have read it was supposed to be a high end thin movement, not a 12s nor a 14s. Perhaps a "N" size.
If any one has some additional info I would appreciate chiming in.
Particularly the roller jewel size. The one I have some one did some damage to by staking the jewel in place instead of shellacking it in place.