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Hi Everyone!
Tim Cotter here, first-time poster, and ready to embark on a little (or large, depending on the ultimate outcome) journey into learning and applying the secrets of watch and clock repair.
A few months back, Bob put me in contact with William, both whom I am very grateful for their kind dispositions, and willingness to help someone like me (a noob) who is just getting started. Initially, I thought I would be working exclusively on clocks – but then, after seeing William’s workshop video and the expansions since, I just kept getting more and more interested in this whole thing.
In a nutshell, after watching some of Bob’s course on pocket watch servicing – and also seeing William’s setup and the very believable and impressive story on his entry into the field just 2 1/2 years ago, it all of a sudden became a possibility for me. I began thinking that I could do it. With my background in automobile servicing, an apprenticeship in locksmithing, and repairing some of my own consumer electronics, I felt as though watch and clock servicing would be the next natural thing for me to do. I have always had a fascination with clocks – and recently, after my girlfriend gifted me a beautiful “skeleton” watch, where one can see all the inner workings of the watch in action, I’ve found myself getting more and more “sucked into” the field and study of horology. Others on this forum, I have seen, call it “the bug” – and boy, it sure looks as though I’ve been bitten by it! My grandfather, who passed away in 1977 (I was only 7 at the time) LOVED traveling by train into Boston and New York, and so, once I saw the Illinois pocket watch servicing vids, that drew me in even more, because many of those were carried by conductors on trains of olde. You see, my interest is varied and rather eclectically pieced together, but I am having a lot of fun discovering this great field, and that just makes me more excited!
Beyond this, I am also the owner of a Waterbury No. 72 Hall Clock, Ca. 1880’s, which has been in my family now for more than 70 years. It was originally housed in my grandparent’s home in North Attleboro, MA. I had it “white glove” shipped 10 years ago after the passing of my grandmother – and now, I believe it to be the only one of its kind in the entire state of Hawaii. I’ve lived here for the past 25 years, and I currently work as a fire lieutenant in Honolulu (Federal Fire Department). She (the clock) made it through the trip alright
Since then, it’s been rebuild on two separate occasions, along with one other one due to a bent tooth within the one year warranty period.In addition, my clock servicer has only a very limited time that he will remain in business because he is going to retire. Ultimately, another one of my reasons for wanting to learn horology was to make sure I could service my own clock, should the need arise.
And so, gentlemen (and ladies?), I have a request and a question:
– I would like to acquire an Illinois 21 Jewel Sangamo pocket watch, so I can start out with doing something that is a perfect – or, near-perfect – match to the one Bob works on in that first pocket watch servicing series. Does anyone have one they would like to sell to me? Or, can you give me a source (I have already started to look around on Google and eBay) for purchasing? Also, how much should I plan on spending on a watch such as this one – and where can I find sellers whose watches don’t work, or need to be cleaned?
– Also – I would like to know: utilizing Bob’s course on watch servicing – will I be able to service ANY pocket watch with that knowledge, or are there separate modules of learning that I will need to acquire before expanding my knowledge and skill in repairing a watch?
I very, very much appreciate any help you guys could give to me regarding the pocket watch. I’m eager to start, because Bob’s video’s have just drawn me in – and I want to get started using my favorite method of teaching and learning. That is, “learn by doing.”
I look forward to this journey with great anticipation, excitement, and the feeling of accomplishment in resurrecting these beautiful old pieces.
I am,
Very truly yours,
Tim Cotter
Hey Tim,
A late welcome to the forum…
Bernie offers good advice, but he’s not really that old, he just feels that way in the morning 😆 by lunch time he’s playing two rounds of golf then tennis
Well, the problem about asking what watch to buy for your first patient is a loaded question, everyone has their own ways, likes and dislikes etc etc and what worked for me might not work for you.
The practical approach…
1. Buy what you can afford to loose if the repair doesn’t work out
2. Don’t emotion buy. eBay gives you time to think out your purchase, like buying a pistol, a cool down period 😆
3. Don’t buy an erroneous maker or Swiss watch, parts are hard to find if not impossible. It will lead you to frustration.
4. Don’t buy and impossible fixer upper because its cheap. You’ll spend more time hunting for parts than fixing it.
5. Buy for your own enjoyment and not purely for after market profit. You’ll end up keeping your first few watches, trust me, I kept my first 400 😆
You’re going to enter a task that requires study, frustration, parts and lots of tools. Oh, and money 😯 It’s tempting to try and bastardized a watch to get it running. Try to avoid this route and keep everything original as possible.
Ask question and PLEASE post photos of any issues you have..
The odds are that at some point you’ll get a watch/s that are beyond your current capabilities. Best thing to do is put it in a container and forget about it for a year, then come back.
It’s amazing to see what once thwarted you, will be a simple task as you progress..This may sound disheartening but these are the things I found out along the way and they happen to everyone, except Bob who doesn’t have to actually work any longer, he just dreams them repaired and Viola 😆
Hey Tim,
I’m with Bernie, I’m not sure why Swiss was in the description.
It’s a nice watch and a good one to learn on, I’m a clean freak so it had me rubbing my hands to get hold of it 😆
Looks like you’ll need a regulator spring eventually but it will run fine without it.Part of the addiction is the hunt, the second best part is waiting, impatiently, for it to arrive
Howdy Tim, welcome, its good to see you here. Thank you for the kind words
, have a great day, WilliamThanks fellas, for all the good information – I think perhaps the seller was just saying stuff to say stuff
William! Very good to hear from you, my friend. I hope you’re doing well, and not too swamped!
Hey Everyone, my brother, Joe Cotter is going to join the forum under the username Tukat44 – Joe is my older brother, and has had an interest in clocks and watches for several years. He just bought the Ultimate Course, and I just know that will move him along to the next level. He’s worked on about a dozen clocks, and I’m not sure how many watches. To give you and idea of how serious he is, when we were texting back and forth yesterday Joe was in and out of a watch, fully cleaned and diagnosed in about an hour. We are excited about learning all the great stuff, and he has been apprised of the good bunch of guys we have over here in the forum. I advised him to do an introduction post in this forum…Welcome, Joe!
@maitai11 wrote:
Thanks fellas, for all the good information – I think perhaps the seller was just saying stuff to say stuff
William! Very good to hear from you, my friend. I hope you’re doing well, and not too swamped!
Hey Everyone, my brother, Joe Cotter is going to join the forum under the username Tukat44 – Joe is my older brother, and has had an interest in clocks and watches for several years. He just bought the Ultimate Course, and I just know that will move him along to the next level. He’s worked on about a dozen clocks, and I’m not sure how many watches. To give you and idea of how serious he is, when we were texting back and forth yesterday Joe was in and out of a watch, fully cleaned and diagnosed in about an hour. We are excited about learning all the great stuff, and he has been apprised of the good bunch of guys we have over here in the forum. I advised him to do an introduction post in this forum…Welcome, Joe!
So now Joe has finally posted to the forum- Mark Lovick youTube videos gave me the confidence to dive in and get serious about Horology. I have a Sonia 3 clock that goes tick tock and keeps giving me correct time that I got for about $10 that will need cleaning and service at some point but I think I will leave it until it starts to give trouble. Zodiac Tachymeter that needs adjustment and pusher replacement that I wear every day for now, and some Elgin, Hamilton, Gruen Movado etc watches that I have managed to get my hands on in the past for basically pocket change. Waltham mens and Longines mens that have issues beyond my skills that are now put away for the time being. The Waltham I think I will break down again and again to become more comfortable working with them and to get so I know where things go wrong. Looking forward to working with you guys. Joseph Cotter (Tukat) 🙄
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