Excellent tutorial. Two points to note. First, good job aligning the impulse jewel with the balance arm. This dictates that the hairspring stud will be visible through the spring coils, which makes it easier to reattach the balance bridge. Not such a big deal with a pocket watch, but for my skill set it’s a big deal with a small wrist watch movement. Second, the inside of the case back says that it’s gold filled, not gold plated. Gold plating is extremely thin and will wear through even with normal wear. Gold filled is much thicker, and can be safely hand polished using a jeweler’s red rouge cloth. But don’t let it even get close to a buffing wheel. Please keep up the great stuff.
When you described the Canon(spelling?) Pinion as the transmission, I suddenly got it. As in the pinion on a differential. I'm a mechanic on cars, not watches, but watching you repair these relaxes me. I watch these videos at night and fall asleep. Maybe its the calm narraration..... Very much enjoy these videos.
Loved watching a person admit they have limitations and are still learning but also for being proud but not boastful. First time watching a watch repair video. Thanks so much I learned a great deal. Keep at them!
@@henkholdingastate usually, the LH tread screws have score lines on each side of the screw head slot which is the indicator. Also, I believe it's usually just for the reduction wheel.
Man, watching this is crazy. I get so tensed up, every few minutes I have to tell myself to relax and unclench my fists. Love the background story and the repaired watch.
I wonder how many of your viewers just spent over$500 on watch repair tools after watching these videos? I know I did! It's such a fascinating hobby that I can't wait to start learning. Thanks Marshall for providing us with these awesome videos and inspiring us to tinker ourselves. I love the look of this movement by the way
Geeze! I'm way over $1000 in tools by now and it's all Marshall's fault! LOL! I'm also getting ready to replace a broken staff on a tiny balance wheel from a military A-11 watch. I just pulled the trigger on a K&D Inverto staking set, a vintage poising tool and a few other hand tools... (again, Marshall's fault). But how I love this hobby so far!
Indeed! Same here. I have started gathering all the tools and equipment to get started as well. While working at home, I have been watching the videos and really look forward in purchasing my first “non-working” watch to see if I can revive it.
I've been a mechanic, machinist, toolmaker, fifty plus years, and have done this a couple times, without certain knowledge, and that mainspring is very much reminiscent of reassembling an antique Harley transmission, that "decided clunk" of the spring setting home. I've gotten enormous satisfaction, watching it done with more knowledge than I've ever had. My grandfather was a watchmaker, as well as "sweeper, in boiler no 1" at the powerplant. I have several of his watches, to be "refurbished", just inherited from my father, who passed a couple years ago. This has been an awesome education, telling me what i was doing, when I didn't know, back then. Many of my tools are precisely as his, except weighting in a hundred times, and force, scaled equally. Thanks, now I get to figure out the same parts, in watches that look substantially different. Semper Fidelis, John McClain
That fix on the balance staff , and the skill, caution was sublime. I like the way you air on the side of caution and never rest on your laurels , its what will make you a very good watch repairer/servicer. I'd happliy trust you as others will with high end timepieces. Well done Marshall
Watching you do this, reliefs me from my depression of a break-up, how structurise the process, how you disassemble the watches, thanks i appreciate it! for me this is a sort of meditation, and a learning process.. as i feel i want to repair old vintage watches myself. and by watching is a good learning process to understand all the small mechanical aspects of the watches.
Marshall, your extra-pleasant delivery, commentary is such a joy, plus the effort made to share your humility and love for the horological work you do a great job producing! Very much appreciated!
I learned to repair old pocket watch movements pretty much the way you have, thru trial and error. I bought some excellent books and read them throughout before I even touched a screw. It's a delicate but exciting thing to replace a balance staff and get an old balance to vibrate again. Sometimes the staffs just aren't available and you have to find something close you can modify. Balance pivots, jewels and staffs also come in different sizes and the balance pivots need to be polished down for a proper fit. Every time I replace one I'm just as nervous as the first time I did it 40 years ago. I'm in awe of the old school watchmakers and the skill they possessed! I remember reading somewhere that ln the first decade of the 20th century there were only about a dozen watch adjusters known that could adjust a Railroad Watch to all positions. I'm happy just to get one to run well! Thanks for the great video. It's a pleasure to watch someone else repair a fine movement!
I’ve been watching your productions for a while and was delivered this gem today in my YT Feed. I find your voice relaxing and the work you do with added commentary to be relaxing and a nice bit of technical challenge to observe.
Observations: 1) patience of Job 2) photographic memory 3) very efficient, thorough, methodical 4) excellent teacher. More but I can’t remember! Thank you for sharing!
To be fair, as Marshall has explained in a few of his other videos, “photographic memory” is accomplished via a photographic camera lol. I’ve heard many other watchmakers say that (at least in the beginning) it really pays off to take pictures or videos of what you’re doing every step of the way, in order to make it easier to put things back the way you’ve found them. From there, it only takes some decent editing skills and a good personality to narrate your way into having a successful TH-cam channel!
Such a beautiful pocket watch! Its always good to see such beauty like this brought back to life again after decades. And also, beautiful movement, I love big pocket watch movement like this, nowaday they just dont make movement with separated bridges anymore. I also got one myself, its a Vulcain Grand prix pocket watch in all excellent condition, almost like a new old stock, the movement runs at a nice 280-290 amplitude on full wind, so good that I dont even have to service it, all that for just about 110$. I am also lucky to find a skilled watchmaker in my town, he once repaired and serviced a watch for me that its ended up took him to create a new balance staff (yes he did have to make a new one because couldnt find replacement part anymore). In the old days these staffs definitely get worn or broken alot since there was no shock protection systems invented yet, so I guess dealing with broken staff is really common for old watchmakers and even making new parts on their own, watchmakers are really so skilled back then. Now we have alot of people who try to charge you for a watch battery replacement job for 10$ :((
This is the first video I have ever watched on the repair and workings of a watch ever. For me to sit still and watch any you tube video without loosing interest is a feat in it self. Thanks you have added fuel to my interests in building a mechanical clock .
My Father started as a watch maker in the late 1920's. Most repairs were broken balance staffs. As there were no parts he hand turned balance staffs from steel rod. Real watchmaker.
Great video, what a beautiful watch with a lovely history. Also I really appreciate the clarity of the commentary and the excellent shots and editing. Thank you.
About to clean my local consignment shop out of old watches just to open them and look at movements. In all seriousness, I don’t think I could sit for 45 minutes on a video, your channel is the only one I can commit to on that for the sake that I learn something new every time and you do such a great job at it. Keep going up and keep it up!
I am not a watchmaker, but I have done some minor repairs on two of my watches in the past. Both were Casio Jogger watches from the 1980's. I watch you do these repairs because it is relaxing. When you got to the part @10:00 and couldn't remember the part name, I was saying Yoke Spring like you could hear me. I have only watched you do approx. 8 repairs. I also watch you as a memory building exercise because I have had a few mini strokes. You have helped me tremendously, so I will return the favor and subscribe. Thank you Marshall. Edit: When you mentioned what part is satisfying, mine was when one of the several super tiny c-clips fell out of my Casio Jogger watches when I opened it to change the battery, it flew off the table and landed on the carpet. The c-clip was the size of a pin head, and the same color of the grey carpet. It only took me 15 minutes thankfully.
@@Pythonaria Maybe not in TH-cam land, but in reality there are many Women involved within the watchmaking industry. I can see your advantages, smaller hands and a higher pain threshold. Deep level of patience is required and the ability not to be phased by having to do everything over again after you realise that something earlier was done wrongly. Give it a go, you don't need a fortune to make an initial investment in tools and equipment, just avoid buying crappy cheap tools and progress at your own pace.
I started watching your videos very recently and every one is as interesting as the last one. You are so honest with your progress and steps you take throughout the process.
I can't believe I wasn't breathing while watching you reassemble the balance and staff. It was like watching a suspense movie! I know I'm late to the party, but this was fantastic!
You did a great job, coming from a watchmaker. After replacing a balance staff you always have to rebalance it without and with the hairspring. Low amplitude most likely is from pivot wear, a weak non s main spring, arbor wear stuff like that. Hair springs always stay a little tricky, even after all my years of being a watchmaker. The key is to work from inwards to outwards, first make sure all the windings are evenly spaced, then make it flat, also don't forget to make it centered correctly :) . These old hair springs are always a bit finicky to adjust because theyre so weak in comparison of all the newer alloy hairsprings. Best to do is buy some old alarm clocks and practice hair spring bending with these, they are generally bigger on those kind of alarm clocks, so its easier on the eyes.
Impressed or what! I have been trying refurbish watches as a hobby for about 4 years now, all completely due to watching Mark Lovick with his remarkable skill. Watching you replacing the balance arbor was way ahead of where I am and I commend you for that, simply we'll done! I still quake at oiling the end stone's. Very impressed!
My grandfather worked for the railroads as a young boy, through WWII, and into the 1950s. When he died we found he had a beautiful Elgin watch with engraved hunters case and machine decoration on all the bridges. I’ve never seen anything as well in modern times.
Marshall congrats on that balance repair. I know your joy. I don't even breathe hard around a balance; the thought of disassembling one is mind-numbing. Nice work.
a few advice for your future balance work: -Mark the position of the collet in regards to the balance weel before dissasembling but also the position of the double roller. - before fitting a balance clean the jewels to avoid transfer of any residue (a clean pivot in a dirty jewel becomes dirty) -before puting the movement on the timegrapher make sure you have determined the correct lift angle otherwise your data will make no sense - if you need to regulate it set your balance alone and make sure the roller jewel is perfectly align with the center of the banking pins on its resting position (with a bit of skill you can adjust the rolle position with a screwdriver by widening the collet, rotating the staff and straightening the collet) this is how you correct your beat error -you'd be wise to invest in a poising tool to make sure your balance are at equilibrium. Keep on the good work you are on the right track
@@ohger1 the lift angle is a data supplied by the manufacturer but you can determine it yourself Ti do so you need to wind the watch until your balance has a 180 degree of amplitude You put the watch on the timegrapher and you change the lift angle value until the timegrapher gives you a 180 degree of amplitude in it's result
@@kegluneqs1011 Thanks, I had to read that a few times but I think I get it. The balance wheel total rotational swing is determined by the energy from the mainspring, so adjusting the wind until we reach 180 degrees (I assume we mark a spot on the balance to see the swing rotation) is our starting point. Learning slowly..
I think you're a better person knowing your boundaries, 10 seconds, honestly it's a pocket watch, to be set every morning anyway. Great great job!! So much fun watching your channel Thank You!!
Watching this for the seond or third time, I'm pleased once more by your respect and enthusiasm for the history of these timepieces. Also impressed (again) by the extraordinarily good macrophotography as well as overall production values. Thanks for making these civilized and absorbing videos available!
You should do a follow-up video where you try to bring the balance wheel back into "balance" with respect of the horizontal plane. Long time ago, I used to fix bicycle wheels by tweaking the spokes back into alignment. Such will not be the case here. Anyway, I really enjoy you videos and your delivery style is top notch and professional. Keep them coming.
Love your channel, I learned all by myself the same as you did and I really enjoy your videos. I personally dont care much about protecting watch parts during disassembly if im going to wash it right afterwards. And if I may give just one advice, maybe the base of your stacking tool is not the best place to assemble cleaned parts, in your great macro shots you can see the holes accumulate particles and actually one tiny fiber was transfered to your cleaned, freshly oiled balance components.
One of my favourite channels...this man gives me heart...currently servicing an skxoo7 and on a journey of discovery. This chap, The Nekkid Watchmaker and Mark Lovick are my total inspriration.
Gradually catching up with your videos Marshall. have to say they are very satisfying and love the anticipation of seeing these old watches come back to life.
Congrats. You pushed your boundaries now you reap the reward in the satisfaction of a job really well done. This video really came at an excellent time as I recently purchased a Timothy Eaton railroad grade watch from the turn of the century. It has a Gallet movement which is keeping time to within two seconds per day after I had it cleaned, oiled and adjusted. As you probably know, Eatons was a Canadian retailer no longer in business. I’m looking forward to more videos of yours. Keep them coming.
I have always loved to take things apart, including watches just to see what makes them go , never in my wildest dreams would I attempt to try to put it back together . . . . . .soooooo who wants all my watch parts :) Cause I get almost as much pleasure watching you do this and explain each part and sometimes what their particular job is because that may help me to identify what each thing and what it does and that will help me decide where it goes , cause I need to know what it does to know where it goes :)
Thank you so much for the wonderful detail you put into videoing, editing and narrationg of your videos. I have slowly purchased some tools and have just completed my first successful restoration. 1:2. Patience is key.
I got onto this hobby from your videos. It is so relaxing and stressful at the same time. I have shot so many screws across the room trying this lol. I also prefer hand winding the mainsprings though myself. Thanks for all the knowledge you have passed on inadvertently.
This is so cool, my Mom's uncle was a Head Designer for Birks in Montreal, about the 1920's-30's and now I am a hand engraver. Maybe Uncle Max actually hand engraved that watch. Very cool. Thank you.
your voice and words dish out a fair amount of nice vibes bruv. keep up the lovely work, mate. not aiming to do any of that watch repair stuff, but a bit interested in the beautiful and precise craftmanship. actually am painting right now and having you talk in the background. long story short.. thanks a bunch, good sir
what i enjoyed about this restro was you did not make out that you was super human, you admitted it took time and that you had messed up the 1st attempt and had to reseach and find out a correct method . kudos for doing so
I have a vintage Birks pocket watch that was presented to my Grandfather in 1954 on his 75th birthday. It appears to have spent all of its life in a drawer as it looks mint. It does run.
This is a really super video! Especially as (by your own admission) you are learning rather than a lifelong expert with 40 years in the craft. I'm a lifelong engineer, machinist etc (mainly bigger things) but as a real beginner in this field I really appreciate what I have seen here. I have always made very small parts when projects have called for them but watch movements are a further leap into the next stage of accuracy and delicacy. My first time piece was actually a ships clock, (family clock) and I made a new escapement wheel from scratch in Nickel, took me ages and ages! Problem was I had only a damaged original to copy and most teeth were damaged. Actually made three to get one to run properly, but oh my lord how satisfying that when the clock has run it's eight days and needs rewinding the very first click of the ratchet and the clock starts! I jumped up and down in my workshop like a kid at Christmas. Although the clock is very large in comparison to the watches of course the part I made was only 5/16th" in diameter and the shaft at the smallest diameters was only 0.017". I am an instant supporter and have subscribed! Thank you so much.
Good job I used to own my grandfather's Elgin pocket watch from the late 1800's. Sadly I can no longer find it. I'll keep looking and hopeful will be able to service it someday. Good vid. Keep at it!
I just love pieces that have a wonderful story that you can trace back, it adds such character & colour to an object 🤍 I just wish there was a way to move the hands to the back & use that beautifully engineered movement as the dial.... allow you to see all the wheels & springs working in all their vintage glory!
That was amazing how the crown was installed without having to remove the back again! ;) Love your videos, fantastic work! You're also close to home, mayhaps I'll see if I can send you something someday. I love all things mechanical, particularly petrol powered devices but the miniature workings in time pieces have always fascinated me.
I would very much like you to work on my old pocket watch. I had a so called repair shop work on it abou 30 years ago and it didn't even run for a month,when I took it back they said their repair person had quit and they would look at it. So I just put it up. I have not located anyone in my area that still works on them. I would like to get it working to give to give to my youngest grandson for his graduation. I have had this watch for more than 60 years. It was given to me by an old man that was just like a father to me. .
You are an inspiration, Marshall! Really appreciate your explanations. Your vids are some of the best infotainment on the web! Just me, but would love to see a tour of your tools and explanations on how and why you chose what you did. Thanks for putting so much time and attention into your hobby!
Really enjoying your journey and how humble & descriptive you are. I'm working my way through all your videos and am looking forward to hearing the word persnickety at some point :)
I enjoy watching your videos. I was watching this one while restoring a 1926 camera back to working condition. Don’t worry about distracting me, when your video was running I was hand grinding a new ground glass focusing screen. Its mind numbing work so your video was perfect 😂 It’s interesting to see the similarities between vintage watch restoration and vintage camera restoration!
I have been learning a lot from you, thanks man. For the crystal, a simple solution to keep original, under sun light or UV light spraying some hydrogen peroxide. I am scared to dip it in it cause I am scared it may harm or not but it definitely removes yellow tint.
i have a friend here in my country.. he is a watchmaker olso... certified swiss watchmaker....he was in school in Switzerland... i often go to see him and watch him fix or service watches... what a blast... 2 days ago he serviced a 35k euro breitling... i was like a kid watching him service that watch
Whew! I didn't realize I was not breathing until it began to run. This is the first time I watched your video, and it was so immersive that I subscribed. Love how you recognize your limits, etc...looking forward to diving in again! Peace 💫
It always amazes me the age of theses watches and how very small and minut these parts are. How were these tiny parts made back a hundred or more years ago....and with the tolerances of those parts.
To me, the engraving makes the watch even more desirable. So he was 57 years old when he was presented with the watch. How cool would it be to track down his grand kids, if his daughter had children, to show them grandpa's restored pocket watch.
Beautiful pocket watch, and with an awesome history. I picked up several pocket watches by chance. One 1909 Elgin I wish I could send him to get fixed... and see how he fixes it/what is broken within. Like to hear his analysis process when he approaches a new challenge.
Hi Marshall, I really enjoy your channel - thank you for sharing these videos with us. I especially enjoyed this Birks watch episode, as I also received a Birks (wrist)watch on my 25th service anniversary with Bell Canada (kinda like the AT&T of Canada) in 2006.
I got into watches when I was about 17 or so, was super fascinated with automatic movements, I had a few a bought new (citizen, Bulova, knockoff rolex, and others) and ended up trading the citizen and Bulova for a non running camaro. I never got back into them till I found your channel a few months back, so for the past 5 years I haven't had a single watch and now you got me wanting to get into watch making and am currently bidding on a 1970s enicar
hello Marchall, i am patrick from holland, and i watched almost all your meditating video's. yeh it is very relax, and helps me to remind myself ,who watches are so not easy to esamble, and i do lighterbuilding (porsche desing lighters) and i have notist that it go's whe easyer!!!building. So thx to you, greeting from holland,....patrick
Fantastic video. Great that you put so much effort into digging into the history and the rebuild. The balance staff sure looked challenging. Super job sir.
Great video. It's great to hear how excited you were to learn that new skill. I totally agree about the movement looking wonderful. They did that knowing only a watchmaker would ever see it. People are all into the hype of Rolex, but their movements aren't finished anywhere near this well. That's not surprising given they are produced on an assembly line. I suspect there was a lot of handwork in the finishing of these old ones. I don't think I'd have been upset to have to take that bridge back off. Finding that cap jewel on the escape wheel pivot is just cool. Those weren't cheap to include and the fact that they wanted the escape wheel pivot to have one just shows how high quality they were. I don't think there are any modern watches, even really high end ones, that use two part jewels for that. It's usually just the balance wheel pivots.
hasnt been a video yet i havent had a smile ear to ear mate. hope to restore my grandfathers seiko oneday so ill keep tuned in with a close ear :) , subbed x
Great job...I just acquired an Inverto staking set and am going to attempt my first balance staff replacement tomorrow. Wish me luck. Thanks for the instruction.
Excellent tutorial. Two points to note. First, good job aligning the impulse jewel with the balance arm. This dictates that the hairspring stud will be visible through the spring coils, which makes it easier to reattach the balance bridge. Not such a big deal with a pocket watch, but for my skill set it’s a big deal with a small wrist watch movement. Second, the inside of the case back says that it’s gold filled, not gold plated. Gold plating is extremely thin and will wear through even with normal wear. Gold filled is much thicker, and can be safely hand polished using a jeweler’s red rouge cloth. But don’t let it even get close to a buffing wheel. Please keep up the great stuff.
When you described the Canon(spelling?) Pinion as the transmission, I suddenly got it. As in the pinion on a differential.
I'm a mechanic on cars, not watches, but watching you repair these relaxes me. I watch these videos at night and fall asleep. Maybe its the calm narraration.....
Very much enjoy these videos.
Loved watching a person admit they have limitations and are still learning but also for being proud but not boastful. First time watching a watch repair video. Thanks so much I learned a great deal. Keep at them!
Oh dear, how do you know which way to turn a watch screw if you don't know whether it has left or right threads? I love your movies
@@henkholdingastate usually, the LH tread screws have score lines on each side of the screw head slot which is the indicator. Also, I believe it's usually just for the reduction wheel.
Man, watching this is crazy. I get so tensed up, every few minutes I have to tell myself to relax and unclench my fists. Love the background story and the repaired watch.
I wonder how many of your viewers just spent over$500 on watch repair tools after watching these videos? I know I did! It's such a fascinating hobby that I can't wait to start learning. Thanks Marshall for providing us with these awesome videos and inspiring us to tinker ourselves. I love the look of this movement by the way
I did but my kit was $15 including the rubber ball and free shipping....
Geeze! I'm way over $1000 in tools by now and it's all Marshall's fault! LOL! I'm also getting ready to replace a broken staff on a tiny balance wheel from a military A-11 watch. I just pulled the trigger on a K&D Inverto staking set, a vintage poising tool and a few other hand tools... (again, Marshall's fault). But how I love this hobby so far!
Indeed! Same here. I have started gathering all the tools and equipment to get started as well. While working at home, I have been watching the videos and really look forward in purchasing my first “non-working” watch to see if I can revive it.
Ahhh hehe...what new tools dear?😬
I've been a mechanic, machinist, toolmaker, fifty plus years, and have done this a couple times, without certain knowledge, and that mainspring is very much reminiscent of reassembling an antique Harley transmission, that "decided clunk" of the spring setting home. I've gotten enormous satisfaction, watching it done with more knowledge than I've ever had. My grandfather was a watchmaker, as well as "sweeper, in boiler no 1" at the powerplant. I have several of his watches, to be "refurbished", just inherited from my father, who passed a couple years ago. This has been an awesome education, telling me what i was doing, when I didn't know, back then. Many of my tools are precisely as his, except weighting in a hundred times, and force, scaled equally. Thanks, now I get to figure out the same parts, in watches that look substantially different. Semper Fidelis, John McClain
John McClain....Ditto that❗️ union ironworker here‼️®™️
I don't see it as a waste of time. It's very soothing with a final since of joy when the watch comes to life. Thank you for posting.
That fix on the balance staff , and the skill, caution was sublime. I like the way you air on the side of caution and never rest on your laurels , its what will make you a very good watch repairer/servicer. I'd happliy trust you as others will with high end timepieces.
Well done Marshall
1 year later, TH-cam recomended this masterpiece to me, the back MUST BE transparent/clear to show how beautiful is! great job, +1 sub from Brazil!
Watching you do this, reliefs me from my depression of a break-up, how structurise the process, how you disassemble the watches, thanks i appreciate it!
for me this is a sort of meditation, and a learning process.. as i feel i want to repair old vintage watches myself. and by watching is a good learning process to understand all the small mechanical aspects of the watches.
Marshall, your extra-pleasant delivery, commentary is such a joy, plus the effort made to share your humility and love for the horological work you do a great job producing! Very much appreciated!
I learned to repair old pocket watch movements pretty much the way you have, thru trial and error. I bought some excellent books and read them throughout before I even touched a screw. It's a delicate but exciting thing to replace a balance staff and get an old balance to vibrate again. Sometimes the staffs just aren't available and you have to find something close you can modify. Balance pivots, jewels and staffs also come in different sizes and the balance pivots need to be polished down for a proper fit. Every time I replace one I'm just as nervous as the first time I did it 40 years ago. I'm in awe of the old school watchmakers and the skill they possessed! I remember reading somewhere that ln the first decade of the 20th century there were only about a dozen watch adjusters known that could adjust a Railroad Watch to all positions. I'm happy just to get one to run well! Thanks for the great video. It's a pleasure to watch someone else repair a fine movement!
I’ve been watching your productions for a while and was delivered this gem today in my YT Feed. I find your voice relaxing and the work you do with added commentary to be relaxing and a nice bit of technical challenge to observe.
Observations: 1) patience of Job 2) photographic memory 3) very efficient, thorough, methodical 4) excellent teacher. More but I can’t remember! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you :)
To be fair, as Marshall has explained in a few of his other videos, “photographic memory” is accomplished via a photographic camera lol.
I’ve heard many other watchmakers say that (at least in the beginning) it really pays off to take pictures or videos of what you’re doing every step of the way, in order to make it easier to put things back the way you’ve found them. From there, it only takes some decent editing skills and a good personality to narrate your way into having a successful TH-cam channel!
Such a beautiful pocket watch! Its always good to see such beauty like this brought back to life again after decades. And also, beautiful movement, I love big pocket watch movement like this, nowaday they just dont make movement with separated bridges anymore. I also got one myself, its a Vulcain Grand prix pocket watch in all excellent condition, almost like a new old stock, the movement runs at a nice 280-290 amplitude on full wind, so good that I dont even have to service it, all that for just about 110$. I am also lucky to find a skilled watchmaker in my town, he once repaired and serviced a watch for me that its ended up took him to create a new balance staff (yes he did have to make a new one because couldnt find replacement part anymore). In the old days these staffs definitely get worn or broken alot since there was no shock protection systems invented yet, so I guess dealing with broken staff is really common for old watchmakers and even making new parts on their own, watchmakers are really so skilled back then. Now we have alot of people who try to charge you for a watch battery replacement job for 10$ :((
This is the first video I have ever watched on the repair and workings of a watch ever. For me to sit still and watch any you tube video without loosing interest is a feat in it self. Thanks you have added fuel to my interests in building a mechanical clock .
My Father started as a watch maker in the late 1920's. Most repairs were broken balance staffs. As there were no parts he hand turned balance staffs from steel rod. Real watchmaker.
Wow , that's utter skill ....good man.
Great video, what a beautiful watch with a lovely history. Also I really appreciate the clarity of the commentary and the excellent shots and editing. Thank you.
About to clean my local consignment shop out of old watches just to open them and look at movements. In all seriousness, I don’t think I could sit for 45 minutes on a video, your channel is the only one I can commit to on that for the sake that I learn something new every time and you do such a great job at it. Keep going up and keep it up!
I am not a watchmaker, but I have done some minor repairs on two of my watches in the past. Both were Casio Jogger watches from the 1980's. I watch you do these repairs because it is relaxing. When you got to the part @10:00 and couldn't remember the part name, I was saying Yoke Spring like you could hear me. I have only watched you do approx. 8 repairs. I also watch you as a memory building exercise because I have had a few mini strokes. You have helped me tremendously, so I will return the favor and subscribe. Thank you Marshall.
Edit: When you mentioned what part is satisfying, mine was when one of the several super tiny c-clips fell out of my Casio Jogger watches when I opened it to change the battery, it flew off the table and landed on the carpet. The c-clip was the size of a pin head, and the same color of the grey carpet. It only took me 15 minutes thankfully.
I want to start this hobby just for the reason of these great videos.
Me too but one thing I've noticed is there aren't many (or even any) lady watch repairers or not that I've seen so far. Maybe I'll be the first?
@@Pythonaria Maybe not in TH-cam land, but in reality there are many Women involved within the watchmaking industry. I can see your advantages, smaller hands and a higher pain threshold. Deep level of patience is required and the ability not to be phased by having to do everything over again after you realise that something earlier was done wrongly.
Give it a go, you don't need a fortune to make an initial investment in tools and equipment, just avoid buying crappy cheap tools and progress at your own pace.
@@Gary-Seven-and-Isis-in-1968 Thanks Gary.
Same. Im going to get a small cheap kit and start learning how to take apart watches myself.
bro same
Much respect for tackling the staff job i don't think i would in a million years & lovely watch with an interesting background and history .
I started watching your videos very recently and every one is as interesting as the last one. You are so honest with your progress and steps you take throughout the process.
I can't believe I wasn't breathing while watching you reassemble the balance and staff. It was like watching a suspense movie! I know I'm late to the party, but this was fantastic!
You did a great job, coming from a watchmaker. After replacing a balance staff you always have to rebalance it without and with the hairspring. Low amplitude most likely is from pivot wear, a weak non s main spring, arbor wear stuff like that. Hair springs always stay a little tricky, even after all my years of being a watchmaker. The key is to work from inwards to outwards, first make sure all the windings are evenly spaced, then make it flat, also don't forget to make it centered correctly :) . These old hair springs are always a bit finicky to adjust because theyre so weak in comparison of all the newer alloy hairsprings. Best to do is buy some old alarm clocks and practice hair spring bending with these, they are generally bigger on those kind of alarm clocks, so its easier on the eyes.
Thank you! Really appreciate the advice!
Impressed or what! I have been trying refurbish watches as a hobby for about 4 years now, all completely due to watching Mark Lovick with his remarkable skill. Watching you replacing the balance arbor was way ahead of where I am and I commend you for that, simply we'll done! I still quake at oiling the end stone's. Very impressed!
Congratulations Marshall, on getting that beautiful time piece ticking again!! Nicely done. Take care
Mark taught me the lining up process of the impulse jewels. Great.
You are such an inspiration for someone starting out on this amazing hobby, thank you.
My grandfather worked for the railroads as a young boy, through WWII, and into the 1950s. When he died we found he had a beautiful Elgin watch with engraved hunters case and machine decoration on all the bridges. I’ve never seen anything as well in modern times.
Marshall congrats on that balance repair. I know your joy. I don't even breathe hard around a balance; the thought of disassembling one is mind-numbing. Nice work.
I'm a simple man. I see a new Wristwatch Revival video and I click like.
See that's why I like you Goose
It's the done thing because its always deserved.
a few advice for your future balance work:
-Mark the position of the collet in regards to the balance weel before dissasembling but also the position of the double roller.
- before fitting a balance clean the jewels to avoid transfer of any residue (a clean pivot in a dirty jewel becomes dirty)
-before puting the movement on the timegrapher make sure you have determined the correct lift angle otherwise your data will make no sense
- if you need to regulate it set your balance alone and make sure the roller jewel is perfectly align with the center of the banking pins on its resting position (with a bit of skill you can adjust the rolle position with a screwdriver by widening the collet, rotating the staff and straightening the collet) this is how you correct your beat error
-you'd be wise to invest in a poising tool to make sure your balance are at equilibrium.
Keep on the good work you are on the right track
Is lift angle something that can be measured by the watchmaker or is a published spec from the manufacturer (pardon my ignorance)?
@@ohger1 the lift angle is a data supplied by the manufacturer but you can determine it yourself
Ti do so you need to wind the watch until your balance has a 180 degree of amplitude
You put the watch on the timegrapher and you change the lift angle value until the timegrapher gives you a 180 degree of amplitude in it's result
@@kegluneqs1011 Thanks, I had to read that a few times but I think I get it. The balance wheel total rotational swing is determined by the energy from the mainspring, so adjusting the wind until we reach 180 degrees (I assume we mark a spot on the balance to see the swing rotation) is our starting point. Learning slowly..
@@ohger1 it is about right yeah
And now I understand the square of clear tape on your work surface: it marks the place that's in focus!
One of the best watch channels. Always a nice surprise.
I watch a lot of these but do not comment much. Another one saved. Well done and new skills learnt!
I think you're a better person knowing your boundaries, 10 seconds, honestly it's a pocket watch, to be set every morning anyway. Great great job!! So much fun watching your channel Thank You!!
Sir, the tools and supplies you use in your work are amazing. Some of them I never knew exsisted. Thank you for sharing this.
Watching this for the seond or third time, I'm pleased once more by your respect and enthusiasm for the history of these timepieces. Also impressed (again) by the extraordinarily good macrophotography as well as overall production values. Thanks for making these civilized and absorbing videos available!
You should do a follow-up video where you try to bring the balance wheel back into "balance" with respect of the horizontal plane. Long time ago, I used to fix bicycle wheels by tweaking the spokes back into alignment. Such will not be the case here. Anyway, I really enjoy you videos and your delivery style is top notch and professional. Keep them coming.
The commentary on your videos is fantastic. Really sets your stuff apart from other channels. Thank you for the fantastic videos.
Love your channel, I learned all by myself the same as you did and I really enjoy your videos. I personally dont care much about protecting watch parts during disassembly if im going to wash it right afterwards. And if I may give just one advice, maybe the base of your stacking tool is not the best place to assemble cleaned parts, in your great macro shots you can see the holes accumulate particles and actually one tiny fiber was transfered to your cleaned, freshly oiled balance components.
One of my favourite channels...this man gives me heart...currently servicing an skxoo7 and on a journey of discovery. This chap, The Nekkid Watchmaker and Mark Lovick are my total inspriration.
Gradually catching up with your videos Marshall. have to say they are very satisfying and love the anticipation of seeing these old watches come back to life.
That's a truly beautiful movement, both sides of the main plate are decorated
Congrats. You pushed your boundaries now you reap the reward in the satisfaction of a job really well done. This video really came at an excellent time as I recently purchased a Timothy Eaton railroad grade watch from the turn of the century. It has a Gallet movement which is keeping time to within two seconds per day after I had it cleaned, oiled and adjusted. As you probably know, Eatons was a Canadian retailer no longer in business. I’m looking forward to more videos of yours. Keep them coming.
*- "A huge step for me." What fun for us. Congratulations ! ! !*
When you took the back off the watch my reaction was "Oh wow! PRETTY". Thank you for uploading this video.
What a wonderful 55 minutes of enjoyment. Don’t worry about the accuracy...... she is a beautiful object as she is.
I have always loved to take things apart, including watches just to see what makes them go , never in my wildest dreams would I attempt to try to put it back together . . . . . .soooooo who wants all my watch parts :)
Cause I get almost as much pleasure watching you do this and explain each part and sometimes what their particular job is because that may help me to identify what each thing and what it does and that will help me decide where it goes , cause I need to know what it does to know where it goes :)
Thank you so much for the wonderful detail you put into videoing, editing and narrationg of your videos. I have slowly purchased some tools and have just completed my first successful restoration. 1:2. Patience is key.
I got onto this hobby from your videos. It is so relaxing and stressful at the same time. I have shot so many screws across the room trying this lol. I also prefer hand winding the mainsprings though myself. Thanks for all the knowledge you have passed on inadvertently.
This is so cool, my Mom's uncle was a Head Designer for Birks in Montreal, about the 1920's-30's and now I am a hand engraver. Maybe Uncle Max actually hand engraved that watch. Very cool. Thank you.
9:30 - I see so many watch channels using autofocus for filming. Glad you figured it out! Manual all the way.
your voice and words dish out a fair amount of nice vibes bruv. keep up the lovely work, mate. not aiming to do any of that watch repair stuff, but a bit interested in the beautiful and precise craftmanship. actually am painting right now and having you talk in the background. long story short.. thanks a bunch, good sir
A fantastic vid. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you fix this watch. I was there with you. Thank you and well done.
what i enjoyed about this restro was you did not make out that you was super human, you admitted it took time and that you had messed up the 1st attempt and had to reseach and find out a correct method . kudos for doing so
I have a vintage Birks pocket watch that was presented to my Grandfather in 1954 on his 75th birthday. It appears to have spent all of its life in a drawer as it looks mint. It does run.
Your channel is the best, very nice videos, good explanations, no music. Love it!
This is a really super video! Especially as (by your own admission) you are learning rather than a lifelong expert with 40 years in the craft. I'm a lifelong engineer, machinist etc (mainly bigger things) but as a real beginner in this field I really appreciate what I have seen here.
I have always made very small parts when projects have called for them but watch movements are a further leap into the next stage of accuracy and delicacy. My first time piece was actually a ships clock, (family clock) and I made a new escapement wheel from scratch in Nickel, took me ages and ages! Problem was I had only a damaged original to copy and most teeth were damaged. Actually made three to get one to run properly, but oh my lord how satisfying that when the clock has run it's eight days and needs rewinding the very first click of the ratchet and the clock starts! I jumped up and down in my workshop like a kid at Christmas. Although the clock is very large in comparison to the watches of course the part I made was only 5/16th" in diameter and the shaft at the smallest diameters was only 0.017". I am an instant supporter and have subscribed! Thank you so much.
Nice one Marshall. That base plate was a work of art.
What a beautiful movement... Eterna : " I am the Legend".
So nice to learn a new skill for you - balance staff replacement!
Good job
I used to own my grandfather's Elgin pocket watch from the late 1800's. Sadly I can no longer find it. I'll keep looking and hopeful will be able to service it someday. Good vid. Keep at it!
I’m so impressed with the craftsmanship…..something I could never accomplish.
I just love pieces that have a wonderful story that you can trace back, it adds such character & colour to an object 🤍 I just wish there was a way to move the hands to the back & use that beautifully engineered movement as the dial.... allow you to see all the wheels & springs working in all their vintage glory!
fantastic video , gorgeous watch , i could watch you work all day , brilliant .
That was amazing how the crown was installed without having to remove the back again! ;) Love your videos, fantastic work! You're also close to home, mayhaps I'll see if I can send you something someday. I love all things mechanical, particularly petrol powered devices but the miniature workings in time pieces have always fascinated me.
I would very much like you to work on my old pocket watch. I had a so called repair shop work on it abou 30 years ago and it didn't even run for a month,when I took it back they said their repair person had quit and they would look at it. So I just put it up. I have not located anyone in my area that still works on them. I would like to get it working to give to give to my youngest grandson for his graduation. I have had this watch for more than 60 years. It was given to me by an old man that was just like a father to me.
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Thanks for your great videos.
You have remarkably steady hands… and patience…
Nice enough to make you go out and buy waistcoat and chain! Love your videos, thank you.
Such a joy to repair one that’s broken.
You are an inspiration, Marshall! Really appreciate your explanations. Your vids are some of the best infotainment on the web! Just me, but would love to see a tour of your tools and explanations on how and why you chose what you did. Thanks for putting so much time and attention into your hobby!
You got it, I'm working on just such a video now!
Really enjoying your journey and how humble & descriptive you are. I'm working my way through all your videos and am looking forward to hearing the word persnickety at some point :)
I enjoy watching your videos. I was watching this one while restoring a 1926 camera back to working condition. Don’t worry about distracting me, when your video was running I was hand grinding a new ground glass focusing screen. Its mind numbing work so your video was perfect 😂 It’s interesting to see the similarities between vintage watch restoration and vintage camera restoration!
I have been learning a lot from you, thanks man. For the crystal, a simple solution to keep original, under sun light or UV light spraying some hydrogen peroxide. I am scared to dip it in it cause I am scared it may harm or not but it definitely removes yellow tint.
I understand your joy. I have been a watchmaker for 30 plus years.
i have a friend here in my country.. he is a watchmaker olso... certified swiss watchmaker....he was in school in Switzerland... i often go to see him and watch him fix or service watches... what a blast... 2 days ago he serviced a 35k euro breitling... i was like a kid watching him service that watch
Whew! I didn't realize I was not breathing until it began to run. This is the first time I watched your video, and it was so immersive that I subscribed. Love how you recognize your limits, etc...looking forward to diving in again! Peace 💫
Thank you, glad to have you along for the ride :)
Nice watch, nice commentary and nice voice. Thank you. Very entertaining video! Well done.
It always amazes me the age of theses watches and how very small and minut these parts are. How were these tiny parts made back a hundred or more years ago....and with the tolerances of those parts.
Amazing! Didn’t know until your comment that this watch was a year long project!
33:46 A bigger plate takes less time to install in a factory, Great video! It’s good to see you evolve in this grade hubby👍
Ah good point!
To me, the engraving makes the watch even more desirable. So he was 57 years old when he was presented with the watch. How cool would it be to track down his grand kids, if his daughter had children, to show them grandpa's restored pocket watch.
Really good video, and some interesting history behind a lovely movement, thank you for sharing, as always very enjoyable to watch.
Good resto as a Canadian, I am proud of your work
Thank you :)
Watch making and repair seems like the perfect hobby for a tool nut. The tools are so unique and awesome. Time to visit ebay!
Beautiful pocket watch, and with an awesome history. I picked up several pocket watches by chance. One 1909 Elgin I wish I could send him to get fixed... and see how he fixes it/what is broken within. Like to hear his analysis process when he approaches a new challenge.
Gorgeous indeed. That row of bridges so nicely lined up, I think that that is simply unique?
Eternal movement, beautiful.. can't break them.. love your good touch and care... great work my fellow horologist.
Thank you again Marshall you're a true artisan
Hi Marshall, I really enjoy your channel - thank you for sharing these videos with us. I especially enjoyed this Birks watch episode, as I also received a Birks (wrist)watch on my 25th service anniversary with Bell Canada (kinda like the AT&T of Canada) in 2006.
I found your channel a week ago. I am now having itchy fingers wanting to buy a pocket watch and some tools, just to see the inside for myself.
I got into watches when I was about 17 or so, was super fascinated with automatic movements, I had a few a bought new (citizen, Bulova, knockoff rolex, and others) and ended up trading the citizen and Bulova for a non running camaro. I never got back into them till I found your channel a few months back, so for the past 5 years I haven't had a single watch and now you got me wanting to get into watch making and am currently bidding on a 1970s enicar
hello Marchall, i am patrick from holland, and i watched almost all your meditating video's.
yeh it is very relax, and helps me to remind myself ,who watches are so not easy to esamble, and i do lighterbuilding (porsche desing lighters) and i have notist that it go's whe easyer!!!building.
So thx to you, greeting from holland,....patrick
Fantastic video. Great that you put so much effort into digging into the history and the rebuild. The balance staff sure looked challenging. Super job sir.
Thank you! And it was, being the first time I've done a new balance staff it was very tricky, but now I'm more confident :)
Great video. It's great to hear how excited you were to learn that new skill. I totally agree about the movement looking wonderful. They did that knowing only a watchmaker would ever see it. People are all into the hype of Rolex, but their movements aren't finished anywhere near this well. That's not surprising given they are produced on an assembly line. I suspect there was a lot of handwork in the finishing of these old ones. I don't think I'd have been upset to have to take that bridge back off. Finding that cap jewel on the escape wheel pivot is just cool. Those weren't cheap to include and the fact that they wanted the escape wheel pivot to have one just shows how high quality they were. I don't think there are any modern watches, even really high end ones, that use two part jewels for that. It's usually just the balance wheel pivots.
hasnt been a video yet i havent had a smile ear to ear mate. hope to restore my grandfathers seiko oneday so ill keep tuned in with a close ear :) , subbed x
Great job...I just acquired an Inverto staking set and am going to attempt my first balance staff replacement tomorrow. Wish me luck. Thanks for the instruction.
All the custom hand tools are so cool. Perfectly designed for each function. ......and manipulated by a master. So inspiring...!!
It amazes me the satisfaction I get out of watching you do this...thank you~!