I have a 1927 Elgin 12s Grade 345 with a peacock dial. It is running intermittently and I believe it needs a good clean, could have a damaged staff or possibly one of the balance jewels is damaged. Only thing is...how do I get it out of the case??? I am used to Elgin and Waltham 16s timers which have a crown stem screw. This has nothing. I remove the case screws, and the movement is loose in the case, but I cannot shift the crown. I'm sure I'm missing something obvious here - probably my lack of experience with this type of watch. Any help?
Posts: 8 | Location: Bristol, United Kingdom | Registered: February 13, 2008
You should be able to pull it down and out of the case. Pull the crown up to make this easier. There is no stem/crown retaining screw etc. for this movement. I'm not in any way a skilled repair person, but I've take movements like this out of dozens of cases. If it doesn't come out with a little fidgeting the something is wrong.
best, Tom O.
Posts: 94 | Location: Collinsville, Virginia in the USA | Registered: January 01, 2008
Tom is correct, if you pull the stem out to the set mode & then with the movement screws removed the watch should tip out the dial side starting at the 6 o'clock end first & then pulling the movement off the remainder of the stem.
As Tom said, most American made pocket watches do not have a stem retaining screw, the stem stays in the case while putting the movement in or out.
Good Luck Tom
Posts: 5107 | Location: New Mexico in the USA | Registered: January 27, 2007
I agree with Tom; if the stem is up like I said earlier and she's still stubborn, slowly turn the crown while gently jiggling the movement...that should do it...
Dial-side!! Ah-ha!! You see, my collection is mostly military stopwatches and timers and almost all my pieces come out back side (if you'll excuse the expression). I assume this is a snap fit bezel and not a screw? I don't want to force it off with a case opener when I should be twisting it! Thanks to all of you for your responses thus far.
Posts: 8 | Location: Bristol, United Kingdom | Registered: February 13, 2008
I believe you will find the bezel is snap-fit in the same manner as the back. The big difference is, the bezel is not usually hinged. The little "ear" that is used to pry should be between 5 and 10 minutes but may not be installed in the correct position.
Like Marty advised, be very careful, work only in a well-lighted area over table or desk-top and use great caution because when it un-snaps it can get away from you. The reason they used a snap-fit design on these was in order to make the case design slimmer.
Lindell
Posts: 10553 | Location: Northeastern Ohio in the USA | Registered: November 19, 2002
Many thanks for your help, guys. The movement is now out and waiting for me to dig in. The bezel was a snap fit (thanks Lindell) but was very difficult to detect as there were no witness marks where it had been removed before (or someone had been very careful/professional).
Posts: 8 | Location: Bristol, United Kingdom | Registered: February 13, 2008
