Bill M., Author at RK Watch Service

1908 Hamilton grade 936 pocket watch clean up

I bought this pocket watch back in the mid 1980s, carried it for years, then just put it away. I don’t remember how much I paid for it, but it couldn’t have been more than $50, cause I didn’t have much money back then.
Anyway, I’ve been waiting to service this watch until my skill level was at a point I that I could get through it without damaging it.
It turned out great and is running extremely well. I‘m happy with it, so I thought I’d share.

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1908 Hamilton grade 936 pocket watch clean up

Who here has the VOH 12 set screwdrivers? Need a measurement.

I f you have the VOH set of 12 drivers with the rotating stand, Could you please measure the height from your bench top to the top of the screwdrivers handles?
The reason I ask is that I work in a glovebox, and would like to be sure I can pull a driver…

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Pocket watch screwdrivers-someone here suggested a set…

Hey guys,
I remember reading a post from one of the pro’s here about a specific set of screwdrivers they used just for pocket watches. Anyone here remember that?
There’s a huge difference in screw size between wrist watches and pocket watches. I work on both and would like a set just for pocket watches. (I am set for wrist watch sizes).
Thanks,
Bill

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Chipped pallet stone, how?

I’m working on an A.Schild 970 movement and found one of the pallet stones has a chip in its face. How does this happen?
The only other issue I’ve found with the watch, besides being dirty and dry, is the click will not stay engaged. ( looks like the …

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WOTB (Whats On The Bench) 4-28-25

I just finished this 1930s Hamilton Webster with a 987F movement.

When it was given to me, it had no crystal, only the seconds hand, a broken mainspring, broken balance staff and cracked upper balance jewel.
I went through 3 balance staffs trying to …

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Hampden Watch co. 16S 257559 running fast. Help

I’ve rebuilt this 1909 Hampden 16s pocket watch. New balance, Balance lower jewel replaced, cleaned & oiled.
The amplitude is only at 150, yet this thing runs 880 sd fast.
The hairspring is not magnetized and there are no coils rubbing or sticking together.
The gear train operates great. (checked with no balance and pallet fork). Pallet fork works free too.
I’ve added timing washers to the mean time balance screws, and that’s helped, but there’s no more thread left to add more washers…

Hampden Watch co. 16S 257559 running fast. Help

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Used sand when heat blueing hands this time

I‘ve been using brass file shavings when I heat blue watch hands, its worked well and usually get pretty even results.
I used fine sand this time and I think it worked a better, as in the consistency of color and even heating. Just thought I’d share.

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Do any of you use stsupply for watch parts? Update

I always try to support watch material houses when ordering parts.
But some places sure do make it hard to buy from them.

ST Supply – Watch Parts – Batteries – Bands – Tools ST Supply

Watch Parts and T…

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Ceramic dial cleaning

Working on an older Elgin 16s pocket watch, the ceramic dial has cracks, like most older pocket watches do. The cracks are filled with dirt and stand out pretty strongly. So I put it in my ultrasonic tank with Zenith watch cleaning solution, for 3 min, then ran it through a single rinse cycle. I’ve done this before, with pretty darn good results. Just thought I’d share.
Don’t try it with painted dials!
Before cleaning;