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Avatar Introducing the Tom Swift Method of Old Wristwatch Refurbishment. Post contains photos Post contains linked URL
Ricky Lee
March 10, 2009 06:15PM		 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 3,441 (2009-07)

Yeah, yeah, I know.

'net photo

Ol' Tom Swift's a pretty hard act for a caveman to follow. Wink, wink ... But bear with me! I am smiling...

Over the past year or so I've discovered that 'tis the tinkering with watches that's the most enjoyable part of the hobby, for me. And, for all the fun I have in my "Caveman Watchmaker" role, I do take pride in my work, and it's important to me to do a good job. But my professional life bleeds over into everything I do, so it's also important to be speedy and efficient in my avocations. Wink, wink ...

So I set out to develop a method for quickly turning 'dresser drawer specials" into wearable watches. Not a true no-holds-barred restoration, not a full COA overhaul, but a reliable way to efficiently turn the running but 50% to %65% TZ-condition watches you find in cheap eFlay job lots into serviceable beaters. For fodder, I chose a "Lot of Four Vintage Timex Wind-Up Watches" on eFlay for the princely sum of $16.99 shipped. These were "running strong" Laughing! but in obvious need of a cosmetic touch-up.

Here's the first victim, a Timex model 46561 03274..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

'tis a little 35mm-cased few-if-any-jewels Auto-Date. I did take before photos, but won't include them here for reasons that will be obvious later. Based on this watch, here's the procedure I came up with;
 Here are all the component parts, cleaned and ready to reassemble;

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

This watch was worthy of note for the wire clip you see on the bottom left. This bears on the back of the dial and snaps into a groove in the case to hold the dial. Pretty neat solution Thumbs Up!, and one I've never seen before. Here 'tis all reassembled..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..posing with a Rodico souvenier. Wink, wink ... Total time from start to finish was just over an hour. With practice and, barring unforeseen problems, I reckon I can get this down to 30, maybe 40 minutes. Here's a Wrist Shot fer ye..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Pretty sweet li'l watch, in my book! Thumbs Up! I reckon it went from TZ 50% to maybe TZ 80%? Sure, it's still got quite a rambunctious crystal scratch over the 5, but even that would polish out with enough patience. But it's patience I ain't got, 'cause I'm ready to move onto the second Rescue Watch of the evening. Laughing!

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

This one's a handwider, and swelp me if I didn't forget to write the model number down. I am sad...

In any case, this one forced me to add the {branch to Alternate Process} step. Why? Well, in a word 'cause this watch is a "front-loader", and I don't yet have one o' these gizmos in me arsenal;

'net photo

I'll remedy that soon. Soon's I decide if I should spring for the Bergeron tool, or save meself a $25 spot by goin' with the Indian-made tool. Wink, wink ... Note that a front-loading design is not the only reason one might decide to do the case-crystal cleaning with the movement in place. If the crown is held in place by a screw (as are these Timex'), and the screw head is damaged, removal may not be prudent. And, it must be said, that I've run across a couple of oddball movements with such non-intuitive stem release mechanisms that I simply couldn't figure 'em out. Oops! My goof! Laughing!

In any case, here's the modified procedure;
 Here's the li'l handwinder, right before it went into the baggie with the dessicant;

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Didn't come out quite as good, mind. For one there's the pesky pitting on the back of the lugs. And the crown is heavily brassed, as you'd expect from a handwinder. Then too, there's a speck or two on the dial that I couldn't access. But still, I'd give it a TZ 70%. Maybe even 75%?

And, yeah, I've got more lined up..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..and this is why there's no 'before' photos of the two above- they looked pretty much like these two. Wink, wink ... The eagle-eyed will note that the watch on the right is not a Timex at all, but a Buren.

Far from being upset with the seller, I'm WIS honeymooning this mistake, 'cause I've got big plans for that little Russian. A full-bore mod with modern hands, replacement crystal, and refinished case.

Stay tuned!

-Ricky



Messages In This Thread

Introducing the Tom Swift Method of Old Wristwatch Refurbishment Post contains photos Post contains linked URL URL (Views: 193)
Ricky Lee -- March 10, 2009 06:15PM
Looks great! Post contains linked URL (Views: 17)
bjohnson -- March 10, 2009 09:07PM
You might be interested to know 2 things:

1. Buren isn't Russian. They're usually Swiss or German movements. You might be confusing them with Buran

2. The Timex forum suggests washing the movements in hot soapy water, then clean hot water, then blow dry, then re-oil pivots you can see. Supposedly this gets some non-running Timexes running again. These things aren't really meant to be maintained (just thrown out) so anything is better than nothing
[www.network54.com]----

Don't miss out on all the sweets in the local candy stores: PMWF Sales & Trade Forum and The Poor Man's Watch Corner

You've heard of Ranfft's archive of watch movements: Ranfft's Pink Pages

He also hosts a free watch auction site: Ranfft's Watch and Watch Parts Auctions

Take THAT Ebay!

Re: Buren isn't Russian ..You might be confusing them with Buran (Views: 18)
Ricky Lee -- March 10, 2009 10:35PM
Doh! You're absolutely right. But hey, that's fine, too! Wink, wink ...
Quote
bjohnson
2. The Timex forum suggests washing the movements in hot soapy water, then clean hot water, then blow dry, then re-oil pivots you can see. Supposedly this gets some non-running Timexes running again. These things aren't really meant to be maintained (just thrown out) so anything is better than nothing
Whoa! Scary! That's a little caveman even for this card-carrying Caveman. Laughing!

Luckily, it's not an issue on this batch, as all four run fine, and are reasonably accurate (well under 1 minute/day error rate). If the future.. well, I just may try it. Wink, wink ...

Thanks!

-Ricky

Way to go. Nice to give them a second life. Thumbs Up! (n/t) (Views: 10)
Robmks -- March 10, 2009 07:39PM
Thank You! Bob! Yeah, I do get a lot of satisfaction out of givin' them Another Chance. I am smiling ... (n/t) (Views: 7)
Ricky Lee -- March 10, 2009 08:13PM
Holey Timex, Rickyman! (Views: 16)
Allan Zirlin -- March 10, 2009 07:37PM
Now mount one of those in your belt buckle, the one with all the other "get me out of here" gadgets!
That might be a little trickier. Scary! Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off! (n/t) (Views: 8)
Ricky Lee -- March 10, 2009 08:12PM
Best fun a cavemaker can have for 8 bucks! Laughing! (n/t) (Views: 11)
Dave Murphy -- March 10, 2009 07:29PM
Yup! Thumbs Up! And, of course, at some point these will start showin' up on the sales forum.. (Views: 13)
Ricky Lee -- March 10, 2009 08:11PM
..with ridiculously low price tags. Wink, wink ... Shoot, if I blow 'em out at $10 per, I've more than doubled my money. Laughing!

-Ricky

Re: Introducing the Tom Swift Method of Old Wristwatch Refurbishment (Views: 15)
hebertjb -- March 10, 2009 07:08PM
Best post I've read all day ! I am smiling ...

You post somehow satified my....well.....inner WIS! Thank You

Thank You! mate! (n/t) (Views: 10)
Ricky Lee -- March 10, 2009 08:09PM
It's Ricky Lee and his Amphibian Atomiwatch! Laughing! (n/t) (Views: 14)
MCV -- March 10, 2009 07:00PM
Yeah, I really did read those Tom Swift books as a lad. Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off! (n/t) (Views: 10)
Ricky Lee -- March 10, 2009 08:19PM


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