Internet Horology Club 185
Lindell's Hampden Railway, now we know...

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https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1086047761/m/92610869

May 30, 2009, 18:09
David Abbe
Lindell's Hampden Railway, now we know...
Last September 11th, I recieved a Hampden 18s Railway watch from Lindell. The previous week Lin had asked that I look at it because someone else had told him they did not have many parts for these. Well now we know what happened to Joe Btsflk's Pocket watch! (Al Capp's Character from "Lil Abner" comic strip!)


May 30, 2009, 18:11
David Abbe
Just for openers . . . the Balance wheel was broken and SOLDERED back together! Not good!


May 30, 2009, 18:26
David Abbe
Digging deeper, it seemed that every time I had one thing fixed another turned up wrong or broken. Finding that someone had filed the winding arbor to accept a reverse wound mainspring almost put me off the boat. Roll Eyes (Lin had told me that when he bought the watch it "would not wind" and he was right.)

I worked on this in "shifts" over the past 8 months because you have to be really inspired to restore what falls apart more every time you touch it.

To get it running took a new Balance wheel, right length Pallet Fork and matching escape wheel, 4th wheel, three Jewels, the winding arbor and mainspring and about about 6 miscellaneous assembly screws.

(A funny aside; I took it to Vladimer when I hit the too short pallet fork along with 4 of my parts movements for him to use to get it running. Vladimer misunderstood me and got one of the parts movements going again and left this Railway alone as a "goner".)

All this because Lindell liked the case marked "Railway"


May 30, 2009, 18:28
David Abbe
It may never run a Railroad again, but it did turn out OK. Interesting to see a Stopworks on a Hampden Motor Barrel.


May 30, 2009, 18:29
David Abbe
These are purdy, but I would hesitate to let old "Joe Btsflk" carry this one again.


May 30, 2009, 19:35
Lindell V. Riddle

Dave,

I'm laughing so hard I have tears in my eyes!

What a great story Big Grin that poor old watch has sure has been through a lot.

Think about it, this one has already seen more than one hundred twenty years of hard life and near death at the hands of those who should have followed... "If you don't know what you are doing, don't do anything!" ...advice.

But now, thanks to your outstanding skills, your never-give-up attitude and your amazing tenacity the next one hundred twenty should be much easier. Thanks to your efforts this wonderful watch is finally getting the respect it deserves. As we discussed, this venerable old timer has a lot going for it, in addition to a stopworks and early motor barrel, not only does this one have a matching Hampden Railway Movement and Dueber Railway Case it dates as being one of the first watches produced during the late 1880s in their then-newly combined watch and case factories in Canton, Ohio. You saved an important piece of horological history, I am proud to be its caretaker.

We often say... "If only they could talk" ...this one would have a lot to tell us!

Thanks a million Dave, this is really great of you.

Lindell

Wink
May 30, 2009, 20:39
Mary Ann Scott
Great restoration, Dave! This one really put you through your paces. But it is so rewarding when you do get it fixed, assembled and running again.
Kudos to you! Big Grin
May 30, 2009, 21:38
Ernie Loga
Great story, I enjoyed it. That poor watch would have died or even worse had it been a human.
May 30, 2009, 21:40
Mike Sandell
Nice job on that one David.
May 30, 2009, 22:41
Sheila Gilbert
I'm so proud of you for sticking to it!

It's a beautiful watch, and no one would have really appreciated it, without the care you have so generously given it.

Does your heart good huh?

Does mine!


Sheila
May 31, 2009, 00:36
Jerry King
Way to go David, and a great story by a superb storyteller....

You remind me of the frog....you never give up.... Big Grin


May 31, 2009, 00:59
Gene Piano
Nice job David and what a killer marked case. Geno
May 31, 2009, 14:21
Carlos Cons
Great job David! Your one of the good guys in this hobby.
May 31, 2009, 15:30
Mitch Markovitz
Great work Dave.

Never run on a railroad again you say. Of course not. It's too good for that.

When they replaced our standard clock with one more suitable for a kitchen and accepted any "reliable" watch for train and engine service I turned in my overalls for paint brushes.