Internet Horology Club 185
key wind, key set case stem question

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https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3426047761/m/1031007791

January 10, 2006, 10:58
David Douglas
key wind, key set case stem question
I'm working on a key wind / key set watch and the case is missing the stem and crown. Since this is a kw/ks case, the stem does not protrude through the case into the movement. I'm not sure what kind of stem this is or what it looks like. There are no set screws on the pendant, and no sleeve. Who out there is familiar with this style case (circa 1874). Regards, David
January 10, 2006, 12:25
Mark Cross
Not sure I understand your question, David. It being a keywind/key, there wouldn't BE a crown or stem, as the movement is technically operated independent of the case, as you wind the watch from the rear with the key, and set it at the front with the key.
Are you saying you're missing the piece on the case that the bow fastens to?
Confused
Regards! Mark
January 10, 2006, 12:32
David Douglas
OK - let me phrase this question differently. For this case, there is a spring and catch for the front cover of the hunter case. The spring obviously does not have a hole in it. This case is missing the "mechanism" to push the spring catch to open the hunter face. I'm assuming that this mechanism is made of a button or crown with a stem of some sort to push the spring down. What I don't know is - what did this stem mechanism look like? I can't figure out how it stayed secure in the case since there is not a screw in sleve like stem set cases.

-dd
January 10, 2006, 13:44
John D. Duvall
David,

Could you post a picture of the watch case?
January 10, 2006, 14:22
David Douglas
I'll do that tonight when I get home. I'll take several different angles. Thanks for the help! If I can figure out what the stem looks like I'll make one on my lathe if I can't find one.

-dd
January 10, 2006, 16:27
Frank Juchniewicz
I haven't seen too many KW/KS's in my very short carrer, but the one's I have seen didn't seem have a spring loaded cover. Do they come with spring loaded covers? Just curious.



Frank
January 10, 2006, 16:54
John D. Duvall
Frank,

Here's and example of a KW/KS case. It's a Newport Coin made around the late 1860's to early 1870's.

It doesn't have a crown but it does have a button to open the front (spring-loaded) cover. Some of the cases that you have seen in the past may have had a broken lift spring for the front cover.


January 10, 2006, 18:37
Lindell V. Riddle

David,

I believe that device is a "pusher" since all it really does is push against a spring to open the front cover. One way might be to modify one from another case or use one that is close as a template in order to fabricate a replacement.

For what it's worth I have an odd KW/KS from 1879 with what looks like a crown, again no retaining screw and all it does is act as a pusher. Apparently original to the Solid-Gold case.

They did some things that seem strange today.

John, any chance of showing David how yours is attached?

Lindell

Wink

January 10, 2006, 19:02
David Douglas
Yes, this looks very similar. I'd like to see how it's attached! Thanks!!!!
January 10, 2006, 20:26
John D. Duvall
David & Lin,

I wonder how many of these were trashed when someone tried to unscrew the pusher! Eek

Here's how to remove the pusher on this style of case:

1. Remove the bow.

2. Slide the pusher retaining pin out from either side of the pendant.

3. Pull out the pusher.

The ends of the bow keep the pusher retaining pin in place. The hole in each side of the pendant allows for just enough movement by the pusher to depress the case spring and still retain the pusher from falling out.

All the above are based assumptions that this case has not been modified!!!


January 10, 2006, 20:27
John D. Duvall
The pin and pusher.


January 10, 2006, 21:36
Tom McIntyre
Thank you John. I have never thought to look at one of these and the mechanism is quite clever. Cool
January 15, 2006, 20:18
Tom Huber
John, I have a case that the pusher fits like yours. So there are at least tow out there.

Tom
January 15, 2006, 20:27
Terry Hill
i will throw my thanks out there also... learned something new today.