Elgin 18-size Model 1 in thin Dueber case
More pictures below!
A common 18-size Elgin Model 1, low serial number 1032958 produced in 1883. Usually these were 7-jewel movements but this one currently has six jewels (more on this below). This watch is far from perfect but it is rugged and reliable in spite of its warts; it would make a great reenacting watch!
This little Elgin was a challenging restoration, and I have to say in full disclosure, it has been monkeyed with by a so-called watchmaker at some point in the past. But don’t let that discourage you because now that I have repaired and cleaned it, the movement is running with really exceptional performance.
And it is running better than it has any right to, with very good amplitude and an error of just a few seconds per day. This surprised me because the roller jewel had been replaced with a metal pin by a botchwork watchmaker, some point in the past. The escape wheel pivot also broke at one point, and the botchwork "repair" involved bending the brass plate. I've replaced the broken escape wheel and corrected the bent plate.
Unfortunately these sort of shoddy "repairs" are done by unscrupulous flippers and resellers who want to quickly and cheaply get the watch running, so they can sell it as a "running" watch to an unsuspecting buyer. I refuse to play these dishonest games and if you buy a watch from me, I want you to know exactly what you're getting. This watch is priced accordingly, and would be a great one for reenacting or living history.
Dial has some unfortunate chips and hairlines, but all three pinned dial feet are intact and it is stable and secure. The seconds hand has a piece broken off but is still serviceable.
The Dueber Silverine (nickel alloy) case is a thinner version than the regular 18-size watch cases, which are enormous and bulky. It's in really good condition and the hinges are strong, with the case back and bezel opening slightly beyond the 90 degrees. They snap shut securely.
I will include a key.
$165
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Pick it up for free at the Gettysburg shop, or add $15 for insured shipping to the U.S.
The restoration
The movement as it arrived. At first glance it looked good, just another common 7-jewel Model 1 Elgin.
Somebody soaked this thing in oil, and at first that’s what I thought had stopped it from running. Here is the balance and hairspring, soaked in oil.
Oil in the hairspring causes the coils to cling together. Lots of oil will stop the watch but even a small bit of oil on the hairspring can cause coils to stick to each other, which will make the watch run erratic and fast.
Just smeared with old dried grease and oil. But that’s an easy clean as long as nothing is broken.
Uh oh… with the balance wheel out of the movement, I always check the roller jewel (also called the impulse jewel) to make sure it’s there, not chipped or cracked, and not loose. About 50% of the time on these old movements the roller jewel is either missing, broken, or wiggling loose. But on this one, there is no jewel at all! It’s a steel pin.
Replacing a jewel with a metal pin is a form
of lazy botchwork, and was fairly common in the past, because it will get a movement to run even though it’s not right. I determined to replace the steel pin with the correct jewel, and to get the metal pin out without breaking the mercifully intact balance staff, the roller table had to come off.
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