Restoration of an 1890s Antique Swiss Pocket Watch

Repair job on a late 1800s Roskopf Chemin de Fer Japy, an 18 sized Swiss made Antique Pocket Watch. The watch was purchased on auction and doesn't work. The time can be set using the case pin, but the mainspring is "over wound" according to the seller.

The watch was seized with 120+ year old oil that had dried up on the plates and in the pivots. It required meticulous cleaning to restore this timepiece to working order. I also experimented with using denture cleaner to brighten the enamel dial. The nickel alloy case was severely worn and showed surface rust, so it was polished as part of the service. However, I was careful not to over polish as the back had a light texture that I wanted to preserve.

This Roskopf designed watch was produced in the late 1800's and possibly into the early 1900s. It is possible they chose the French name Chemin de fer ("Railroad" in French) to infer a degree of quality, however it is unlikely this model of watch was ever used in railway service. These watches use a pin-pallet lever and were designed to be affordable for the working man, analogous to the "dollar watch" produced by some USA manufacturers.

I am an amateur who enjoys restoring vintage watches to working order. Constructive critiques of the process are welcome. I am always learning.

Contact info: [email protected]

Many of my tools I use are affordable. If you're interested in getting started with watch repair and would like to use what I use, I've included some links below. I earn a small commission from Amazon if purchases are made using these links.

Useful Texts:
Watch Repairer's Manual: https://amzn.to/3knrwdG
Watchmaker's Lathe: https://amzn.to/3D02WGb

Tools:
Movement Holder (pocket watches): https://amzn.to/3H9JBUv
Movement Holder (wrist watches): https://amzn.to/3JeG2iv
Ceramic Tipped Tweezers: https://amzn.to/3QP1qMH
Finger cots: https://amzn.to/3CXbXzJ
Micrometer: https://amzn.to/3QNGN3C and Stand: https://amzn.to/3iIyF86
Rodico: https://amzn.to/3kr5RBb
Tweezers: https://amzn.to/3GNFEVi
10X Loupe: https://amzn.to/3iLfome
Levers: https://amzn.to/3XB4RZG
Demagnetizer: https://amzn.to/3ZINUhS
Screwdrivers: https://amzn.to/3Xr7gqo

Cleaning:
Mesh Baskets: https://amzn.to/3ITqikE
Ultrasonic: https://amzn.to/3wcO7wg
Mason Jars: https://amzn.to/3WkUfgB
Cleaning Solution: https://amzn.to/3XwQ16I
Rinsing Solution: https://amzn.to/3wdgAlA
Cleaning Brushes: https://amzn.to/3QPnSp8

Lubrication:
Oilers: https://amzn.to/3Xi8LXR
DX Grease: https://amzn.to/3ZO0kVU
Moebius 941: https://amzn.to/3Hf6g2X
Moebius 9010: https://amzn.to/3CVGM7Y
Moebius D5: https://amzn.to/3ITqikE

Buffing and Polishing:
PolyWatch: https://amzn.to/3XlVTja
Polishing Compound: https://amzn.to/3QQ1r33

Chapters:
0:00 Intro and Disassembly
5:29 Cleaning and Polishing
7:22 Movement Assembly
15:58 Casing the Movement
16:56 Let's Stare at It

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Credits:
Thumbnail background by Brenda Clarke:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/37753256@N08/

Тэги:

#Watch #Watch_repair #Watch_restoration #Vintage #Antique #Troubleshooting #Restoration #Polishing #Pocket_Watch #Swiss #Enamel #Roskopf #Chemin_de_fer #Japy

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