I've signed up for the TimeZone course and have the ETA manual wind movement to learn on, but I'm thinking the scale and cost of pocket watches might make good learning vehicles? Are there any better choices than others, or should I just find a couple inexpensive wathches on eBay? Are there any I should avoid?

If you are looking for simplicity, IMO go for a 16S with separate bridges for the escape wheel and 4th wheel and 3d wheel and center wheel. That leaves a bridge for the mainspring and winding wheels. This way you have no more than 2 pivots to work back into holes at a time. If you get a 7 jewel movement that also minimizes the possibility of damaging jewels. Full plate 18S watches can be a challenge for the beginner when you are trying to tweak various pivots into their respective holes all at the same time.

Roger,
Thanks. While I understand 16S is a size, I have no clue what watch types/brands might have separate bridges for the escape wheel and train. I'm sure there are some reference materials that I can use to help me figure it out. Any additional info to steer me in the right direction would be appreciated.
Evan

Evan,

here is a quick search on ebay, three finger
often the bridge is one peice but lots of space to see what is going on.

Evan,

The diagram below (EA 472A) shows an Illinois model 9 open face movement that has the bridge configuration Roger describes above. The bridges are as follows:

1. Mainspring barrel (MB=1st wheel)
2. Center wheel (C=2nd wheel) and third wheel (3)
3. Fourth wheel (4) and escape wheel (E)

Bridge 3 looks like two separate bridges but it is only one held on by two screws. Illinois true center bridge model 9 movements are typically higher grade and bridges 1 and 2 in the diagram are separate pieces.


An alternative would be the model 9 shown in diagram EA 472. In the false center bridge configuration the bridges shown as 1 and 2 in green are one piece. False bridge configurations are usually more common and less expensive than a true bridge movement. It will be a little more difficult to assemble but the smaller wheels will still be separate from the larger ones. I wouldn’t get anything with over 17 jewels to start with. Parts are plentiful for the model 9 Illinois and they are great timekeepers. The grade 706 is a 17 jewel model 9 movement that’s most likely a false bridge.

If you can’t find a model 9 with 17 jewels the model 7 has the same configuration except it is pendant set rather than lever set. There are many model 7 movements with 17 jewels and they are not expensive. The Hunting model equivalents are the models 8 (lever set) and 6 (pendant set).

RR

Chris, Richard,
Thanks! Now I have yet another thing to search for on eBay!

Evan