MINE, ON EBAY STARTING TONIGHT.

HEART SHAPED? NORMAL?

its normal only if beats.

funny but not too helpful Peter!! Is that what should be on the watch?

I have no clue but could not resist to crack a joke

I am as bad as you. I should have seen it coming.

A link please to your eBay listing Andy?

Andy

No idea how rare this type of regulator spring is but at least it is known (early full-plate Rockfords) and therefore it should be there.

Gerald

Andy,

Cool old complicated regulator! I hope someone can explain how it works, because it's not obvious to me.

Joe,

Here's a link to Andy's auctions:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/watchr...50&_trksid=p2053788S

I've seen these before, and not always on key-wind Rockfords.

It works like any other regulator, with an adjustment screw and a spring to keep tension on the regulator whip to prevent it from wandering. The head of the regulator screw is broken off in Andy's example, but that's easily replaced, and unlike a "gooseneck" spring, the heart-shaped one maintains pressure from both sides for a self-centering effect.

It's sitting right on Andy's kitchen table for anybody wanting a closer look.

Andy always anounces that he will put something at some tine on his eBay store and when we are looking all to find is: -straps

Gerald

Thank you Ed.

Thanks Eric, I think I can see the broken-off adjusting screw, just below the balance jewel setting, right?

One more question, what is that arm pointing straight up to the left of the fast/slow pointer arm?

It holds the end of the hairspring, rather than having it attached to the balance cock.

Thanks Kevin, that's cool, but I'll bet it's more expensive to do it that way. It's no wonder you don't see this type of regulator very often (this is the first one I've ever seen). It might be worthwhile going after this example just to own one.

Kevin, Is this what we sometimes see referred to as a vibrating hair spring? Or is that something different?

Ed, I too find myself interested in regulator designs and the evolution of regulators. For no particular reason... Some appear to be little more than better mouse traps. Some went by the wayside over patent and royalty issues (bottom line business decisions) and others came and went as more cost efficient designs in either material or ease of assembly and service (labor) came available.

The hairspring end is pinned to a fixture arm mounted on the mainplate (the old fashioned way).
The regulator has two arms, the long one reaches to the index and the short one is between the two springy sides of the heart.

Regards
Gerald

gerald - watch bands? pocket watch leathers? what do you need?

and.... is this desirable to have a regulator like this or just a novelty?

We missed valentines day, so I won't be looking for one for another half a year or so...

Andy, Your Heart shaped regulator is one that I have only seen on Rockfords. I love unusual regulators and try to keep a mental record of what watch they were on and the era they belong to. What do you expect from a Hampden nut who thinks Hampden designed theirs after a golf club? For whatever it is worth I have seen that regulator around 5 times over the years and to my knowledge never anything latter than 1900 and more likely 1895 or so. Of course you could use what you wanted and as Eric pointed out it should give constant pressure from both sides. I believe this was actually a Rockford product. I don't think it is more valuable except to those who like odd things. I believe several companies tried the even pressure idea including Peoria, Aurora and Illinois. Of course a jeweler may have simply changed the regulator for a patent one like the Teske or Tuckers seen on many Hampdens. I think it highly likely that it cost more to produce but perhaps Dave Abbe should speak to that.

Thank you Deacon and thanks for all the other answers. I love the knowledge you all share here. I hope some of it sinks in!