Thread: Lady Elgin Pocket Watch Restoration

Hello all

I'm relatively new to the world of watches, though I have always been interested in them thanks to my Dad. Recently I started reading about vintage pocket watches and information regarding them. I decided to take the plunge and attempt to restore one. I didn't want to start with a $100 Hamilton or Elgin so I was keeping my eyes out for something a little less expensive. I came across this old "Lady Elgin" for a good price and decided to pick it up. It was advertised as not working, which I was perfectly fine with. I figured if I couldn't fix it my first try (I didn't really expect to) I would at least learn more about how they operate and eventually get it working in the future.

Upon inspection when I got it home I gave it a few turns on the crown to wind the spring in the barrel to see if it would work, it didn't. Then I opened the case back to inspect a little more, as I was fidgeting with it I could see the balance wheel acting like it wanted to turn. So I gave it a slight "push" with a screwdriver and I saw that it wanted to turn. It would spring to the other side then stop again, after a few rounds of this it would go for a couple rotations then stop again. I tried adding a touch of oil to the jewel that the balance staff was resting in and gave the wheel another push, it ticked for even longer this time and came to a halt. So I wound it a little more, sat and kept pushing the balance wheel when it would stop, each time running a little longer. Just another touch of oil and I watched it turn for 5 minutes.

After this I fully wound it and let her go. After leaving it tick away for a couple hours I saw that it was still going so I set the time and walked away and would periodically check whenever I would walk past it on my desk. It ran for 24 hours and was ahead 4 minutes. I don't know about all you watch experts, but I was and still am happy about this only being +/- 4 minutes per day. For it being my attempt at a restore I was happy at how it all came together. It wasn't a difficult job and I didn't have to take it apart but I got my toes wet in the world of pocket watch restorations. I fully intend to disassemble it in the future and try my hand at cleaning the insides. I gave the case a light polish and and going to still keep track of how well it keeps time.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and attached are a few pictures. They aren't the best quality due to lighting not being the best and not having a magnifying glass at my apartment at school.

Regards,
Zac

That is pretty neat, Muskieman. Are you keeping it or is it going to be a Christmas gift? Also, I am curious about the name. It looks like a masculine watch.

Mechanical watches need periodic service. Usually with pocketwatches if you want them to run at peak efficiency and if they are used under average conditions 5-10 years is the magic time frame. You really didn't do a restoration. That would entail new face, hands case work. Fixing a non working watch is simply a repair. It's not like a straight razor.

Watches are made to be totally disassembled and that is what you should do to really learn how they work. For a device that is really a transmission and is pretty straight forward they can be very difficult to fix often times. usually the repair is simple, the diagnosis is the hard part. You should get a non working 16 or 18 sized watch with big parts and practice with that. The one you have is a quality piece but not much larger than a wrist watch.

Historically, many famous inventors started out fixing pocket watches as a kids. Henry Ford is a famous example.

Leatherstockiings, Thank you for the kind words! I didn't get it as a gift because I wasn't sure if I would be able to get it running or not. It was relatively cheap so if I couldn't fix it, I wasn't out that much money and I'd be learning in the process. Right now I plan on just keeping it for myself until I get the chance to really clean it well. I believe it is a ladies watch (of course because of the name which can be seen in the images) due to the small size of the piece.

thebigspendur, I know it technically wasn't a restoration, how about I call it a polish and oil? haha. I fully intend to restore it when I have all the necessary tools. I have access to a small set of screw drivers but the screws in this watch are even smaller than the screw drivers I have. Eventually I'd like to get it all disassembled and cleaned up in as close to "new" condition as I can. The reason I chose this watch is because as I mentioned it was very cheap and I thought my screw drivers would fit it. I plan on getting more watches in the future (bigger) but am tight on money at the moment and thought groceries for finals week is a little more important than getting a nice sized watch. Most of the larger Elgin, Hamilton, and Illinois are upwards of $50 and $100, the ones I see around town at least. Hopefully I'll be able to post more real restorations/cleanings in the future.

Thank you both for taking the time to reply!
Regards,
Zac

I don't know what part I played in you being interested in watches. Yes I like them and have a few but never crossed my mind to take one apart.
With the size of my hands and fingers I felt it would be a little difficult to concentrate on parts that are a thousand times smaller than what I work on now. Plus you throw in the fact that my vision isn't like it used to be would hamper me even more. Then throw in the fact that I couldn't hear it running might be an issue also.
I am sure getting it apart would be the easy part. Putting it back together, well that may be a little difficult!!
I admire you for taking an interest and taking the steps to take them apart.
Looks good!!

Ray

Thats a cheap common movement,any watchmaker can clean it and make run like new for cheap.