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Pocket watch parts

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Carl West

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Feb 9, 2004, 4:10:22 PM2/9/04
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I normally deal with wristwatches and have suppliers for most of my needs...

But:

I'm looking for some gasket crystals that are bigger than my suppliers carry.
Could someone please point me to someone who carries the larger crystals and gaskets for pocketwatches?

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Elbert

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Feb 9, 2004, 11:18:15 PM2/9/04
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Carl West <carlD...@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<2HSVb.262689$xy6.1332551@attbi_s02>...

> I normally deal with wristwatches and have suppliers for most of my needs...
>
> But:
>
> I'm looking for some gasket crystals that are bigger than my suppliers carry.
> Could someone please point me to someone who carries the larger crystals and gaskets for pocketwatches?
>

Unless you get lucky, I don't think you're going to find bezels. You
probably will have to make them yourself. For American made pocket
watches, there's both new and old material available. New
mainsprings are available, useable (but not authentic) crowns can be
found, but stems and stem seleves are a problem--or at least they were
years ago when I was doing lots of pocket watches. Hopefully somebody
is now making them annd they are not a problem anymore.

Most crystal companies make plastic crystals which fit pocket watches,
but I think you will want glass. There is an outfit in California
which custom makes them. Pocket watch crystals don't have gaskets
because pocket watches aren't (usually) water proof.

If you look on the net, you'll find lots of outfits carrying repair
material for American pocket watches.

As for Swiss PWs, much of that repair material is still available from
regular material houses.

Sam Elbert

Carl West

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Feb 10, 2004, 1:33:24 AM2/10/04
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Elbert wrote:
>
> Carl West <carlD...@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<2HSVb.262689$xy6.1332551@attbi_s02>...
> > I normally deal with wristwatches and have suppliers for most of my needs...
> >
> > But:
> >
> > I'm looking for some gasket crystals that are bigger than my suppliers carry.

Oops. Now _that's_ a typo... should be 'crystal gaskets'


> ... Pocket watch crystals don't have gaskets


> because pocket watches aren't (usually) water proof.

Hmmm... that's gonna be news the the folks that made this PW for Emporio Armani. I'm sure it's not water resistant, but the crystal _is_ in with a plastic gasket. Well almost, something Bad happened and the gasket is damaged.

The other large gasket I need is for a large wrist-watch, the crystal is 34.45mm according to my vernier caliper. My suppliers stop at ~32mm.
It's one of those awful watches that plays a tune when the secondary button is pushed. Trouble is, it has sentimental value. It was a gift from the customer's now-deceased grandmother. The only maker's mark is HK on the inside of the caseback, nothing on the outside, they weren't proud of it.

The previous 'repair' person attempted to glue the crystal in without a gasket and got it terribly crooked. The same person seems to have made off with the music module. Got any sources for those? this watch wants one that plays the Marine Corps Hymn. The customer doesn't expect it, but if I can find one, I'm sure he'll go for it.


> If you look on the net, you'll find lots of outfits carrying repair
> material for American pocket watches.

I'll give it a shot.
Any pointers?

The Baron

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Feb 10, 2004, 12:39:33 PM2/10/04
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What grade of pocket watches are you working on? Are these quartz
wristwatch movement placed in large cases?

"Carl West" <carlD...@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:UW_Vb.14334$032.62689@attbi_s53...

Carl West

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Feb 10, 2004, 2:34:23 PM2/10/04
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The Baron wrote:
>
> What grade of pocket watches are you working on?

Dunno. Low? C? The PW is a step up from POS, the WW isn't.


>...Are these quartz


> wristwatch movement placed in large cases?

Exactly.


> "Carl West" <carlD...@comcast.net> wrote
> > ...the folks that made this PW for Emporio


> Armani. I'm sure it's not water resistant, but the crystal _is_ in with a
> plastic gasket. Well almost, something Bad happened and the gasket is
> damaged.
> >

> > The other large gasket I need is for a large wrist-watch,...


> > It's one of those awful watches that plays a tune when the secondary

> button is pushed... The only maker's mark is HK on the


> inside of the caseback, nothing on the outside, they weren't proud of it.

I'm looking for a place where I can order a large crystal gasket by actual size instead of case number. These things don't _have_ case numbers.

The Baron

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Feb 10, 2004, 3:35:07 PM2/10/04
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My experience with this type is that there are no parts. Parts might be
available, but at more than the cost of replacement.

"Carl West" <carlD...@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:3naWb.220812$nt4.1039926@attbi_s51...

Elbert

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Feb 10, 2004, 8:57:08 PM2/10/04
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>
>
> > "Carl West" <carlD...@comcast.net> wrote
> > > ...the folks that made this PW for Emporio
> > Armani. I'm sure it's not water resistant, but the crystal _is_ in with a
> > plastic gasket. Well almost, something Bad happened and the gasket is
> > damaged.
> > >
> > > The other large gasket I need is for a large wrist-watch,...
> > > It's one of those awful watches that plays a tune when the secondary
> > button is pushed... The only maker's mark is HK on the
> > inside of the caseback, nothing on the outside, they weren't proud of it.
>
> I'm looking for a place where I can order a large crystal gasket by actual size instead of case number. These things don't _have_ case numbers.
>

Ooops, Sorry, I always get antiques on the mind when I talk about
Pocket Watches. There are two firms that immediately come to mind
that can supply a gasket that size. One is SUC crystals in Rochester
New York, and the other is Muenchmeyer Sternkreuz at Yeostrasse 2,
Verden/Aller, D 27265, Germany. Both of these firms deal directly with
watchmakers, and I've found both of them very helpful. I don't think
that either one, by the way, has an internet site.

Sam Elbert

Carl West

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Feb 11, 2004, 11:48:03 PM2/11/04
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Elbert wrote:
> ... One is SUC crystals in Rochester
> New York... I don't think

> that either one, by the way, has an internet site.

Sure enough, no SUC on-line.
Nor do they seem to have a phone. Not in Rochester, New York anyway.
They don't show up in the Thomas Register either.

SUC _does_ stand for "Standard Unbreakable (Watch) Crystals" doesn't it?
That's what it says on the case for the crystal installation tool I have.

Anyone have contact info for these people?

Elbert

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Feb 12, 2004, 9:17:05 PM2/12/04
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Carl West <carlD...@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<6ADWb.281119$I06.2962931@attbi_s01>...

> Elbert wrote:
> > ... One is SUC crystals in Rochester
> > New York... I don't think
> > that either one, by the way, has an internet site.
>
> Sure enough, no SUC on-line.
> Nor do they seem to have a phone. Not in Rochester, New York anyway.
> They don't show up in the Thomas Register either.
>
> SUC _does_ stand for "Standard Unbreakable (Watch) Crystals" doesn't it?
> That's what it says on the case for the crystal installation tool I have.
>
> Anyone have contact info for these people?
>

Sorry Carl, I wrote down the old SUC brand name of GS Crrystals,
which is Germanow-Simon Corporation in Rochester, New York. They offer
an outstanding selection of crystals for every type of new and vintage
wattch on the marrket and custom make whatever they don't have. Their
website is

http://www.gssupplies.com/watch-gauge.html

Hope this is of some use

Sam Elbert

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