Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

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watchstudent
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Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by watchstudent »

They are dirt cheap on ebay and I think they look pretty cool. Am planning on taking it apart and trying to put it back together again (everyone needs a project). Anyone got experience of doing something like this? Any advice?
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Re: Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by Cirrus »

Those Smiths / Ingersoll pocket watches are indeed dirt cheap, and very easy for even a novice to clean and lube.

One tip - make sure you let the mainspring down before undoing any screws or the **** will take your eye out.

I have quite a few spare dials, cases and movements if you need any... enough to build a few probably :)
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Re: Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by watchstudent »

Cirrus wrote:Those Smiths / Ingersoll pocket watches are indeed dirt cheap, and very easy for even a novice to clean and lube.

One tip - make sure you let the mainspring down before undoing any screws or the **** will take your eye out.

I have quite a few spare dials, cases and movements if you need any... enough to build a few probably :)
Christ! Noted thank you. Thank you, well I will likely post my progress on here so it should become apparent if I am getting stuck! Good to know they are quite simple, most practical thing I have ever done before is changing the oil and filters on my car so we'll see how this goes!
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Re: Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by Kip »

May I suggest a couple of easy to follow books for you....

Watch Repairing as a Hobby

Watch Repair for Beginners

Practical Watch Repair
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watchstudent
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Re: Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by watchstudent »

Kip wrote:May I suggest a couple of easy to follow books for you....

Watch Repairing as a Hobby

Watch Repair for Beginners

Practical Watch Repair
Thanks Kip!
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Re: Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by scooter »

Good advice from Cirrus.

I once took a 22 air rifle apart and the massive spring in that almost took out my 'later to become ex wife' when it exploded.

I remembered that with a wry smile when I lost my half share of the marital home to her 15 years later.

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Re: Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

I bought this for £30 last year - it's the best timekeeper among my pocket watches and I enjoy wearing it every so often.
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Re: Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by Macca »

I saw the title of this thread and my first thought was, I bet Steve has commented on this lol..

And a very nice smiths you have too
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Re: Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by watchstudent »

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote:I bought this for £30 last year - it's the best timekeeper among my pocket watches and I enjoy wearing it every so often.
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very nice AVO, I am currently awaiting the delivery of mine. Bought it for £17.50 inc P&P. Purposefully bought a slightly broken one so I can learn how it works and then hopefully have the satisfaction of getting it working properly again. On ebay it was advertised by saying that it ticks for a little bit and then stops...
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Re: Going to buy a Smiths pocket watch

Post by teestech »

Interesting thread. I've just rummaged through the drawer to find an old Smiths Empire pocket watch that I remembered us having years back. I can't honestly remember where it came from, but after pulling it out from decades of other unused stuff, I gave it a wind and away it went! The sub second hand is missing however, there's a couple of small dents to the case, and the crystal is pretty scratched, but thanks to watchstudent and the others posting for reawakening my interest in the old Smiths. :)
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