American/Negative Set Conversions?

Vintage pieces, golden era of USA pocket watches, etc
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atkin68
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American/Negative Set Conversions?

Post by atkin68 »

[mention]spade_lt[/mention] mentioned this stem style in response to my post last night looking for a 6S size movement, and I wanted to ask the community if anyone has done a conversion to wrist watch with this type of movement. I'm new to the hobby and lately have been captivated by hunting for old pocket watch movements, but I am discovering via trial and error about the various winding/setting arrangements and the possibility of using a given movement in a project. I recently got a lovely Gruen Verithin movement which I thought was not running, but I manually turned the barrel with a plastic tool (carefully) and she fired right up (sluggishly but steadily). Looking over the keyless, I could see something was different, and after a little research I discovered the American/Negative stem arrangment which this movement has. It does seem like the sort of arrangement that could be adapted to a screw down crown/stem with a little effort. But I'm hoping someone here has tried it, or knows of the viability of such a conversion.

Thanks,
Dave
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Re: American/Negative Set Conversions?

Post by atkin68 »

Yoda wrote: April 9th, 2020, 12:04 pm Using a 6152 case would solve the issue.
Thanks [mention]Yoda[/mention], can you say more? What is the issue and how would a 6152 case solve it? I would love to use this movement in my 6152 (older jackson).

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Dave
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Re: American/Negative Set Conversions?

Post by atkin68 »

Yoda wrote: April 9th, 2020, 12:47 pm
atkin68 wrote: April 9th, 2020, 12:29 pm
Yoda wrote: April 9th, 2020, 12:04 pm Using a 6152 case would solve the issue.
Thanks @Yoda, can you say more? What is the issue and how would a 6152 case solve it? I would love to use this movement in my 6152 (older jackson).

Thanks,
Dave
It is quite simple, in the setting position you will open the lever and set the time, in the depressed position the movement is in the running position. It will need some fine tuning as it must be possible to wind the movement while the lever is in the closed position.
Aaah, of course! So then all that remains is to find the proper stem and adapt it to a 6152 crown?
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Re: American/Negative Set Conversions?

Post by atkin68 »

Yoda wrote: April 9th, 2020, 1:33 pm
atkin68 wrote: April 9th, 2020, 1:26 pm
Yoda wrote: April 9th, 2020, 12:47 pm

It is quite simple, in the setting position you will open the lever and set the time, in the depressed position the movement is in the running position. It will need some fine tuning as it must be possible to wind the movement while the lever is in the closed position.
Aaah, of course! So then all that remains is to find the proper stem and adapt it to a 6152 crown?
Preferably original stem, or a stem with a square part which will fit the movement.

I think that I have a selection of neck springs, but case and stem must be tuned to work.
Ok. I ordered a lot of 200 pocket and wrist watch stems from ebay and I'm waiting for it. Hoping something in that lot will fit or can be modified to fit. Otherwise, I guess I could set about trying to grind a 6497 stem to fit.
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Re: American/Negative Set Conversions?

Post by spade_lt »

Ok, one such combo was done in the old HF (can't quite who made it):

44mm case: https://www.ebay.com/itm/hand-winding-w ... 3713037987
+
Waltham 1890: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1890-Waltham-S ... 3541215052

It's possible in this case to use 6497 stem (shortened accordingly, with only square part left).
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Re: American/Negative Set Conversions?

Post by hako »

When you have trouble finding a stem, this site may perhaps be of help:

https://www.windingstems.com/product.phpj
====================================
Da builds: http://homage-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=59#p101
====================================
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Re: American/Negative Set Conversions?

Post by atkin68 »

spade_lt wrote:Ok, one such combo was done in the old HF (can't quite who made it):

44mm case: https://www.ebay.com/itm/hand-winding-w ... 3713037987
+
Waltham 1890: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1890-Waltham-S ... 3541215052

It's possible in this case to use 6497 stem (shortened accordingly, with only square part left).
Image
Fiddling with it now. Thanks for all the input guys.


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Re: American/Negative Set Conversions?

Post by atkin68 »

By a happy coincidence, the Gruen is virtually the same size as an A6497. The subdial also lines up the same so it fits a PAM dial. Dropped it right in using the 6497 movement ring and it looks like if I can fashion a stem, I’ll be golden.

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