Hi all,
i have a poljot ship chronometer, in like new conditions.
unfortunately, it is not working and it is missing the gimbal and inner box.
the problem is, the escape wheel staff is broken.
i was able to locate a spare escape wheel from a russian dealer (a very kind and honest one, i must say) and i had a local (italian) watchmaker trying to replace it.
it succeeded, but after winding the chronometer all of a sudden the new staff was broken as well.
I hate to have such a nice piece of equipment relegated as a paper weight.
can anybody suggest an expert watchmaker, used to service poljot ship chronometers?
looking forward to your advice,
paolo from italy

Hi Paolo. I do not know of anyone but hopefully someone here will be able to help. I am wondering why both the original staff and a new replacement staff would break so easily? It sounds like there may be a much bigger problem that will need to be repaired or else you will be wasting your money with additional replacement staffs.

GREETINGS PAOLO, DID YOU RELEASE ALL THE POWER WHEN YOU REPLACED THE ESCAPE WHEEL YOU MUST REMEMBER WHEN THE CLOCK RUNS DOWN OR THE POWER IS LET DOWN THERE IS STILL 1 TO 2 COMPLETE WINDS OF POWER LEFT IN THE MAINSPRING ALSO IT HAS A SPRING DETENT ECSCAPEMENT AND THE DETENT SPRING HAS ENOUGH STRENGTH TO BREAK THE PIVOTS YOU MUST ALSO RELEASE THE DETENT. MOST FUSEE MOVEMENTS ARE SET WITH 1 TO 2 FULL WINDS AT THE START OF THE WIND AND 1 TO 2 WINDS LEFT AT THE END OF THE WIND THIS HAS TO BE THAT WAY BECAUSE OF THE FUSEE CONTOUR IN OTHER WORDS IT BEGINS WITH POWER THERE AND ENDS WITH POWER LEFT IN THE SPRING. TAKE CARE. EDDIE

Hi Eddie,
yes, the power was fully released. I was not there, but the watchmaker (no previous experience on ship chronometers) was following the instructions for the hamilton 21, which are very similar.
as far as i know, he installed the escape wheel, checked the jewels for proper fitting and endplay, winded the barrel but the balance was not running properly; just half a dozen oscillations, then stopped.
he let down the chronometer in order to read the book, and all of a sudden the staff was gone with a snapping sound, and the wheels started whizzing.
as far as we can see, the detent jewels are still there and ok.
as i told you, the watchmaker had no specific experience, and maybe it's not telling me something relevant.

now, i wonder if there is any expert shop, or person, to refer to. i do realize that i'll have to pay for shipping, but i hate to give it up. apart from that problem, the chronometer is beautiful inside.

thanks,

paolo

Paolo,

Could you post pictures of this clock and the broken escape wheel? Did the pivot break on the same side in both cases? Do you have both broken escape wheels?

Hi Roger,
both the escape wheel had a broken staff pin, the one nearest to the wheel. One is still inside. i'm sending a few photos to you.I have both the wheels (one in, one out)
/Volumes/MacDisk Observatory/Poljot rotto/escapement wheel small.jpg
/Volumes/MacDisk Observatory/Poljot rotto/escapement wheel good side.jpg
/Volumes/MacDisk Observatory/Poljot rotto/escapement wheel 2.jpg
/Volumes/MacDisk Observatory/Poljot rotto/detent.jpg
/Volumes/MacDisk Observatory/Poljot rotto/detent 2.jpg
/Volumes/MacDisk Observatory/Poljot rotto/detent 3.jpg
/Volumes/MacDisk Observatory/Poljot rotto/detent 4.jpg

paolo

how do you attach multiple photos?
here is another

and another

another

one of the detent

more detent

detent 3

detent 4

as i told you, i hate to have this chronometer relegated to the paperweight role...
but how can be possible that two escape wheel failed, both on the upper side (the farthest from the driving pinion)?
i definitely will need to locate an EXPERT to work on it...
i know, shipping abroad will be costly and complicated, but i would like to try.
paolo

GREETINGS PAOLO, DID YOU RELEASE THE DETEN SPRING?EDDIE

Hi Eddie,
Don't know. the watchmaker did the job, not me. i can ask him; can you explain what do you mean?
paolo

Hi Paulo,
I bought a Kirova Chrono from Russia and it arrived here with a damaged balance and the detent jewels were also broken. After being unable to have it repaired here, I reluctantly sent it back to Russia to be repaired. It came back in perfect running order. The vendor apparantly has a good old watchmaker specialising in russian chronos.
get in touch with him, he´s selling a brass gimbal ring at the moment...
Best of luck on your quest.

by the way this is how it was packed, the damage was caused by an insufficiantly corked balance.

Paolo,

I only use Dewey Clark for my chronometers. He is able to make any part that is needed and I only trust him with my chronometers. He is here in the US, but would be worth it. I think his charges are reasonable considering the expertise that he has.

Historic TimeKeepers

As for gimbals/box, you might check ebay from time to time. There is Gary Sellick who can make these for you as well.

ShipsClock Cabinetry

Michael

I must agree with Michael on a referal in regards to Ships Clock Cabinitry. Gary Sellick is amazing in what he does and is a wealth of knowledge regarding chronometer boxes/cases. He gave me tremendous advice while I restored my Hamilton Navigation watch case. But be warned....he takes his time. But worth every minute and penny.

here´s a balance and the detent spring

and he´s got plenty of other parts for your chronometer... shop