Another post discussed our dearth of Hampden discussions and I promised top show this Hampden made in 1878 during the "reign" of James Abbe when I was done with it after cleaning. Before . . .
Posts: 6492 | Location: Southern California in the USA | Registered: July 19, 2007
Hey David, Very nice job. I'm curious,Is this your watch? I have one just like it and,while I do my own repair work,I really don't know how to get that "new" look to the plates.
Posts: 475 | Location: Gainesville, Florida in the USA | Registered: January 22, 2009
As for cleaning the plates, with the exception of screwed in Hole Jewels, EVERYTHING comes off the plates. Then I do an Alcohol*/Toothbrush plate wash to remove the organic stuff and a 15-18 minute spin clean with L&R "extra fine" Watch Cleaning solution, 5 minutes in L&R #3 rinse, dry and a complete plate wipe-down with clean Rodico. By that time anything that is "gonna come off came off" *Printer's pure 100% isopropyl Aclohol cleaner is good for this
ABRASIVE STUFF OF ANY KIND IS A NO-NO
btw, some of the early cleaners actually dulled the plate finish, God knows what that stuff was, but I think it is only used in the Gas Chamber now.
Posts: 6492 | Location: Southern California in the USA | Registered: July 19, 2007