For the not-Roger-Nolfes out there like me, I'd like to point out a good book in addition to the venerable The Watch Repairer's Manual by H. B. Fried. It's called Modern Watch and Clock Repairing by P. Buford Harris. It's a good book - ie., easy to understand, correct in the methodology, and thorough enough to be a companion to the Fried book, or a stand-alone go-to for understanding and help, and it is readily available and inexpensive, the main reason that I'm piping up about it. Not everyone can afford or even find the H.B. Fried.

[Sold on Amazon]

kh

That's funny Ken.

Good books like the one you suggest are an essential part of gaining knowledge. I will never know all there is to know and will never stop learning something new.

I reckon that partially explains why you're so good at it, Roger. You and some other experts here have that great attitude.

K.

If you have a watch timing machine a good book to get (Hard to find) is "Science of Watch Repairing Simplified", by Thisell. 1946, Thisell was the instructor at Elgin Watch School. In this book he lists most of the patterns output by a Watch Machine. How to spot loose pallets, bad jewels, problem Mainsprings to just plain wore out. Amazon.com found me a copy, but it took two weeks to get it.
I am going to check on Kens suggestion.