I took on a job for a friend to get her husband's Grandfather's Bunn Special working. It had a broken staff. After I got into it I saw it also had broken balance jewels (lower shattered, upper cracked). I replaced the staff and found jewels and replaced them but the pallet stones were both loose. In the process of my first attempt ever I managed to get one in backwards. The watch doesn't run with a backward jewel! Finally I took it back out, turned it around and the watch still didn't run. I was really bummed out. After trying all sorts of things I reheated the pallet fork on the warmer and repositioned the stones. IT WORKS! For a guy with all thumbs, no mechanical ability and little faith I am thrilled.
I do not have a photo of the watch but it is a model 9 variety 6 like my watch, but this one has a very cool Montgomery, Gothic, Straight Illinois signature.

Congrads

Mike, way to go, it feels great when you get one all back together, especially when you're fussing with pallet or roller jewels, give it a couple winds and it starts to run.
Gary

I have one project for you once you back in Az.
roller jewel (hint)have shellack ready.
BTW great to know you got it ticking once again.

That is very cool. I wish I could do that. But I would probably burn my self catch my bench on fire and lose the pallet jewel and brake the pallet fork or the earth would stop rotating.

Thanks guys. What makes this so special to me is that I worked on the watch for several weeks. Needed balance jewels, needed staff, mainspring, crystal, etc. When the thing wouldn't run I was very unhappy because I was doing it for someone else and it is a family heirloom. Sure wasn't an overnight success, but it was worth the effort for the satisfaction.

congratulation on your success, seems we both have the same affliction 10 thumbs

Good job Mike.
Stories like this keep me going when I can't figure out what to do next.

Nice work Mike!

Good going Mike!

Nice job Mike!....

Nice one, by the way does anyone know somewhere which can offer a good explanation of the technique, either on-line or a book, I'd like to look at learning myself but having trouble finding someone to show me here. Thanks,
-Joe

Joe, Henry Fried's book "The Watch Repairers Manual" has a whole chapter on replacing pallet jewels. Here is a link to a previous thread about the book.

Fried Book

Bob

Thanks Bob, I'll see if I can find a nice copy.
-Joe