Internet Horology Club 185
Did James Garner's Rockford Files solve this one??

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https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/9091041613

July 15, 2008, 21:26
David Abbe
Did James Garner's Rockford Files solve this one??
More stuff during my "July Roundup" of watch stuff! I rescued this semi-tired Rockford off of someone's clothesline some time ago, as it looked pretty poorly next to glitz and old suspenders. Alas it did not check out on my lists, I forgot to even enter it! Roll Eyes


July 15, 2008, 21:36
David Abbe
Thanks to Greg Frauenhof's "Rockford watch company primer, I learned two things;
1. This is 1 of 1,000 model 6 Rockford movement.
2. The movement plate is not even machined to fit the Balance spring and regulator scales shown on the dwg. But it is unequivocally a serial number 248476 model 6.

Looking at this movement, it appears that Rockford's "experimental" run of movements varied in finishing while they attempted to created a separately serviceable assemblage of the escape wheel and pallet arm. No doubt this was a real adventure to manufacture in these kinds of little itty bitty pieces. Clearly they tried to "improve" (simplify) this movement by adding a Breguet Balance spring, and foregoing the fussiness of the flat spring arrangement. Any thoughts on this anybody?


July 15, 2008, 21:38
David Abbe
A closeup of the little "bits and pieces". It is really odd that there seems to be no provision anywhere to "scale" the regulator adjustments.


July 15, 2008, 22:47
James H. Miller
that is odd dave you say the balance bridge s.n. matches the plate s.n.?
July 16, 2008, 00:08
David Abbe
I pulled the Balance Cock and it is a different number 370377 or something and the Balance wheel has no numbers at all.. Now I have to look at this herder. That may explian the regulator question too, as the "original" may have reversed back on the Balance Cock body.

I think I will disassemble and clean it when I get done with this inventory. There may be more little "surprises".
July 16, 2008, 13:51
Jerry Freedman
David: Here is another version of the model 6. See how the regulator has migrated to the balance cock.


July 16, 2008, 13:51
Jerry Freedman
FWIW, here is the dial


July 16, 2008, 19:37
David Abbe
Thank you Jerry, that puts it together better. I wonder how many varieties of this movement were actually done. It is certainly a very laborious looking movement. (Parts count and all the fitment that it looks like it wants.)