Discussion:
Old silver pocket watch
(too old to reply)
RustyHinge
2017-08-14 13:32:05 UTC
Permalink
Recently bought a rather substantial silver pocket watch - you wouldn't
want to fall into deep water wearing it.

It's missing its second-hand, but I don't anticipate having problems
finding another. I was given a spider with one key missing, but one of
the remaining ones fitted.

So far, so good - but short of opening the front and adjusting the time
with a finger, I can't find a way of turning the hands without waiting
for it to do so itself for a *very* long time. The other owatch I have
which uses a key has a central "keyhole" for just that purpose.

I've tried turning the key while holding down the button which opens the
back, and before anyone suggests it, no, the back of the inner case does
not open.

What am I not doing (correctly)?

(Also bought a watchchain for it, or a small anchor, whichever I have
need of most at the time...)
--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.
f***@netspace.net.au
2017-09-11 07:44:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by RustyHinge
Recently bought a rather substantial silver pocket watch - you wouldn't
want to fall into deep water wearing it.
It's missing its second-hand, but I don't anticipate having problems
finding another. I was given a spider with one key missing, but one of
the remaining ones fitted.
So far, so good - but short of opening the front and adjusting the time
with a finger, I can't find a way of turning the hands without waiting
for it to do so itself for a *very* long time. The other owatch I have
which uses a key has a central "keyhole" for just that purpose.
I've tried turning the key while holding down the button which opens the
back, and before anyone suggests it, no, the back of the inner case does
not open.
What am I not doing (correctly)?
(Also bought a watchchain for it, or a small anchor, whichever I have
need of most at the time...)
--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.
Does your watch have a square in the centre of the minute hand? You may have to use a key on the square to adjust the time.
RustyHinge
2017-09-22 14:33:55 UTC
Permalink
Post by f***@netspace.net.au
Post by RustyHinge
Recently bought a rather substantial silver pocket watch - you wouldn't
want to fall into deep water wearing it.
It's missing its second-hand, but I don't anticipate having problems
finding another. I was given a spider with one key missing, but one of
the remaining ones fitted.
So far, so good - but short of opening the front and adjusting the time
with a finger, I can't find a way of turning the hands without waiting
for it to do so itself for a *very* long time. The other owatch I have
which uses a key has a central "keyhole" for just that purpose.
I've tried turning the key while holding down the button which opens the
back, and before anyone suggests it, no, the back of the inner case does
not open.
What am I not doing (correctly)?
(Also bought a watchchain for it, or a small anchor, whichever I have
need of most at the time...)
--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.
Does your watch have a square in the centre of the minute hand? You may have to use a key on the square to adjust the time.
Alas no. My other (less bulky) one does, and I was expecting to find a
similar arrangement.
--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.
Thomas
2017-09-14 23:14:11 UTC
Permalink
Very long time. Lol
mongo
2017-09-22 17:44:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by RustyHinge
What am I not doing (correctly)?
Is it perhaps a lever set or a pin set watch?

http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/how-to/setting.php

gives a pretty good explanation of the various methods of setting
the time on pocket watches.

Cheers, Mongo
RustyHinge
2017-10-17 13:31:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by mongo
Post by RustyHinge
What am I not doing (correctly)?
Is it perhaps a lever set or a pin set watch?
http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/how-to/setting.php
gives a pretty good explanation of the various methods of setting
the time on pocket watches.
Cheers, Mongo
I think it is a non-function of the button. It should convert the
winding function to the face and hands-train.
--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.
Mark Kinsler
2017-10-18 14:28:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by RustyHinge
Recently bought a rather substantial silver pocket watch - you wouldn't
want to fall into deep water wearing it.
It's missing its second-hand, but I don't anticipate having problems
finding another. I was given a spider with one key missing, but one of
the remaining ones fitted.
So far, so good - but short of opening the front and adjusting the time
with a finger, I can't find a way of turning the hands without waiting
for it to do so itself for a *very* long time. The other owatch I have
which uses a key has a central "keyhole" for just that purpose.
I've tried turning the key while holding down the button which opens the
back, and before anyone suggests it, no, the back of the inner case does
not open.
What am I not doing (correctly)?
(Also bought a watchchain for it, or a small anchor, whichever I have
need of most at the time...)
--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.
That's interesting. So the back of the inner case doesn't open? That would mean that there's no way to access the movement, which doesn't sound right unless the movement pivots out from the front of the case on a hinge. (Be careful when prying.)

The NAWCC message board allows you to post digital photographs--I don't know about this one--and it would seem that the next logical step would be to take several pictures of your watch/yacht anchor and post them.

My father told me that many, many years ago a particularly large pocket watch was called an "onion."

Mark Kinsler
RustyHinge
2020-12-11 00:47:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mark Kinsler
Post by RustyHinge
Recently bought a rather substantial silver pocket watch - you wouldn't
want to fall into deep water wearing it.
It's missing its second-hand, but I don't anticipate having problems
finding another. I was given a spider with one key missing, but one of
the remaining ones fitted.
So far, so good - but short of opening the front and adjusting the time
with a finger, I can't find a way of turning the hands without waiting
for it to do so itself for a *very* long time. The other owatch I have
which uses a key has a central "keyhole" for just that purpose.
I've tried turning the key while holding down the button which opens the
back, and before anyone suggests it, no, the back of the inner case does
not open.
What am I not doing (correctly)?
(Also bought a watchchain for it, or a small anchor, whichever I have
need of most at the time...)
--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.
That's interesting. So the back of the inner case doesn't open? That would mean that there's no way to access the movement, which doesn't sound right unless the movement pivots out from the front of the case on a hinge. (Be careful when prying.)
The NAWCC message board allows you to post digital photographs--I don't know about this one--and it would seem that the next logical step would be to take several pictures of your watch/yacht anchor and post them.
My father told me that many, many years ago a particularly large pocket watch was called an "onion."
Sorry this reply is rather tardy: I've been in and out of hospital and
'respite care' following a couple of strokes.

I couldn't stand the 'care' so I escaped. Caused no end of a kerfuffle
(in the family...)

Just got a little confused reading my OP because the back of the watch
on the anchor chain does open, but then I fell in: while this is a
substantial watch, it doesn't use a key. I must have bought the watch
and memory of that act has been erased, shall we say, at a stroke?

While I was banged-up in hospital and care homes, all my smaller
possessions were banged-up too - in big plastic bins with lids, and I
can't 9safely) lift the bins down. I've tried several times and I
usually ended up on the floor, sometimes amongst a heap of 'things'.

Large watches were often called 'turnips'. I may be a small while
continuing this multilogue.
--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.
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