What Do You All Collect & Why?

[chris mabbott]

@david pierce wrote:

Chris,
Derbyshire lathes are fairly common over here. The company is still in business and in my view they produce the finest instrument lathes ever made. Doug Smith, the owner, produces a spindle that is as accurate as a mechanical bearing and spindle can go. The only way to achieve more accuracy would be to go to an air spindle or hydraulic spindle. Another nice thing about their machines is everything lines up perfectly. The tail stocks are dead on with the spindles.
I bought a printed copy of THE CHICAGO SCHOOL OF WATCHMAKING from UNCLE LARRY’S WATCH SHOP. He had a bunch of copy’s run off from a printing company and may still sell them. Check and see.
david

Thanks David, I’ll check with my favorite uncle Larry. Interesting about the Derbyshire lathes, I didn’t realize that they still produced them, I should have one anyway because my grandparents were from……Derbyshire UK

[david pierce]

Tom,
I did not think it was possible but I believe your moustache actually outdoes Bob’s.
I called Larry the other day and he said that he has no more copies and does not plan to run any more. I also checked LULU publishing and could not find it listed anywhere. See if you can have any better luck than I did and let me know.
david

[chris mabbott]

Thanks David, that was very kind of you, maybe I can find one in pdf format, somewhere..

[david pierce]

Chris,
Derbyshire no longer produces the 8mm watchmaker lathes, only the 10mm instrument lathes. The way they are set up, they can only be used with a cross slide but are perfectly suited to make extremely small extremely accurate parts. As far as I know the only companies that still produce the traditional watchmaker lathes are STARR, BERGEON (DIXIE), and SINCERE. I never heard of STARR until it was recently brought up on this forum but they make mostly large industrial machines as does DIXIE. Dixie is not owned by BERGEON they simply make the lathes for BERGEON. DIXIE is actually owned by MORI SEKi which is a Japanese company.
I still say the best way starting out with lathe to make watch size parts would be to go with the SINCERE. Even though the price has gone up since I bought mine, they are still fairly affordable; especially when compared with a BERGEON. if you go to OTTO FREI and see what a BERGEON LATHE like mine costs new make sure you are sitting down when you look at the price.
david

[tmac1956]

@david pierce wrote:

Tom,
I did not think it was possible but I believe your moustache actually outdoes Bob’s.
I called Larry the other day and he said that he has no more copies and does not plan to run any more. I also checked LULU publishing and could not find it listed anywhere. See if you can have any better luck than I did and let me know.
david

David:
I did a search on “horology” as I recommend and it didn;t show up. However, I searched on “Chicago School of Watchmaking” and found the 700 page hardback version.

Here’s the link:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/thomas-sweazey/chicago-school-of-watchmaking-complete-watch-repair-course-in-one-book/hardcover/product-16611212.html

Perhaps it has the missing section, but I wonder if it isn;t just the person who owns the CD printing.

Not a bad price though.

Later,
Tom

[david pierce]

Tom,
Thanks for the link. I just ordered it. They also offer a soft cover version for $45.00.
david

[chris mabbott]

Yes, thanks for the info Tom and a good piece of discovery work, I’ve just ordered a copy too..

Chris

[david pierce]

The Chicago School of Watchmaking has the best coverage of friction jeweling I have seen so far. All of the different punch configurations are covered as well as how to use them. It explains what the micrometer is for and when to use it, how to properly install the train jewels and all of the other stuff that the other watch repair books that I have did not cover. That section alone is worth the price of the book.
david

[willofiam]

Thanks guys, I bought one too, will be a nice addition to the library. William

[tmac1956]

Guys:

Please let me know if it has color and if it has the missing page referenced above. If so, I might be able to sell enough aluminum cans to buy one too. Otherwise, I’ll have to stick with my giant three ring binder version.

Thanks!
Tom

[chris mabbott]

Will do Tom, I’m already checking my mail box hourly for it to arrive 😆
I just hope it’s not in Spanish because it bounced me to a Spanish Lulu site… Doh.

Chris

[michael weaver]

Back to the subject of what we collect. I have been on a tool buying frenzy lately but the last PW I bought a couple of months ago was a near NOS 1939 Gruen Veri-Thin Cal. 380 16 3/4 ligne in the original box with the chain and knife. It is the only Swiss watch I have. I like the American watches. My favorite that I like staring at right now is a 21 jewel South Bend railroad salesmen sample I have.

[randy]

What a find !!
Thanks for sharing !

[chris mabbott]

That’s a beauty Mike, any chance of a movement photo. Have you worked on it repair wise or plan on servicing this one?

Chris

[michael weaver]

Thanks guys. No I haven’t touched it! I am still in the stages of working on junk movements I buy off of eBay in the hopes of restoring them. I just don’t have the confidence to work on my personal collection yet. I am sure it needs to be cleaned so I don’t run it at all yet.

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