Internet Horology Club 185
Elgin B.W. Raymond Grade 478 Balance Staff
January 24, 2015, 10:40
Dan CarterElgin B.W. Raymond Grade 478 Balance Staff
I am replacing a staff for an Elgin B.W. Raymond grade 478 and want to make sure I have the correct part number. Is it a 2532C Balance Staff? The roller table is a one piece double roller. The posts and research I have looked at have lead me to that, but just want to make sure. Serial number is: 30926906. Thanks.
Dan
January 24, 2015, 10:52
Brian C.2532-C is the staff a grade 478 should have.
January 24, 2015, 11:02
Dan CarterGreat, thanks for the info. I will start my search for one

Dan
January 24, 2015, 13:09
Paul D. TrombleyDan,
a 2532 will fit and perform well. The 2532-C is a designator for the oil groove and is more correct for the BWR.
Let me know if you have trouble locating a staff. I think Mel has some. I snapped up everyone I could find this past year... which is still a pretty small stash.
I'm surprised Brian didn't say he had one available... he may be out.
January 24, 2015, 13:29
Melvin SiedmanHi Guys I do have some left 2532
Do not know what the oil groove looks like.
Mel at
mrmel.mrmel@gmail.com
January 24, 2015, 15:27
Gary E. CochranTried to get a picture of the difference..The staff on the right is the "2532C"...The one on the left is the 2532...The difference is in the taper on the pivots...
January 24, 2015, 15:44
Melvin SiedmanLooks like the one has less taper.
Mine is like the picture attached.
January 24, 2015, 18:40
Dan CarterThanks, this is what I pulled out of the watch (see below). I will also post a pic of the watch.
January 24, 2015, 18:50
Dan CarterMovement...
January 24, 2015, 18:50
Dan CarterBalance incomplete...
I don't think that the roller table will fit based on the way the old balance staff looks. Could it have been the wrong balance (complete) in the original?
January 24, 2015, 19:18
Paul D. TrombleyDan,
The one I did last fall is much earlier - SN: 17337424
My parts book shows both the two piece roller and safety roller or the one piece double roller both being correct for this model. I assume they changed over but have no idea at what serial number.
Your roller should fit either staff. The shoulders are the same. And I believe, oil groove is a misnomer.... if memory serves me correctly... it's actually an oil "anti-travel" relief... to prevent oil from an over oiled pivot from traveling up the staff.
My balance is serialized to my movement.
January 24, 2015, 19:26
Dan CarterThe one I am working on did not have a serial number on the balance. Plus the balance I have looks like an Elinvar type (solid) and the balance spring is silver instead of blued. I tried a balance from a 7 jewel Elgin I had laying around and it fit pretty good ... The plot thickens...
January 24, 2015, 19:29
Gary E. CochranDan,
That looks like the balance assembly, with the one piece roller, out of a 571...I would try a balance staff number 6166 (571 21 jewel staff)...A 6167 might work also if the balance was out of a lower jewel movement..
January 24, 2015, 19:32
David AbbeDan, I confirmed the Factory s/n/gr#/p/n list shows Part" 2532C for your S/N movement. As I no longer have my Elgin Parts cabinets, I cannot validate the earlier pictures of the parts. But your parts picture is unmistakably for a single piece double roller.
The rather high serial number of your movement suggests that this SHOULD BE a single piece double roller but if the pictures of the 2-piece D.R. staff are this P/N, then still the fact remains you "have what you have"
In these cases, I would "match up" the correct staff to fix your watch due to the possibility that a different staff (or balance wheel assembly) was used to repair your watch in the past.
January 24, 2015, 19:35
Gary E. CochranNotice Paul's balance is a split balance and yours is a solid balance...This tells you that good possibility yours has been swapped out...
January 24, 2015, 20:13
Dan CarterThe 6167 does look closer to what is in the watch. I will look through my stuff and see if I have a 6167 laying around. Thanks everyone for the info and helping me figure this out. I will let you know how things turn out.
Dan
January 24, 2015, 20:37
Gary E. CochranDan,
If you don't have one I can send you one...Gary