Unobtainable watch parts
Posted: November 16th, 2022, 7:00 am
Hi,
Does anyone here have the capacity to make setting lever springs? And if so what is the cost for one piece?
I’m restoring a Cortebert trench watch featuring a Calibre 489 movement. Unfortunately this is a rare beast, it’s the hunter version of the more common 488 and the train flows in the opposite direction. Wheels / stems are interchangeable but setting parts are directional.
the original setting lever has snapped, like they do, and I am unable to source another. I have bought one for the 488 however it is the wrong way round. I’ve knocked nipple out and put it into the opposite side and it functions, the problem is that the countersunk holes leave only the slightest bit of meat, too little to allow me to make a counter-countersink. This means that the dial doesn’t quite sit right, also the enlarged holes now on the intermediate setting wheel side allow the screwed down spring to put too much friction on the minute wheel causing stoppage.
I could fill the void with resin, re-drill the holes and use dial dots to level out the increased height of the screws and might well do so, but if somebody here does have the skills and the equipment and the price isn’t too prohibitive then it may well be worth it. I have only seen 4 examples of this watch and at 40mm it’s the ultimate top quality WW1 trench watch.
Thanks.
Does anyone here have the capacity to make setting lever springs? And if so what is the cost for one piece?
I’m restoring a Cortebert trench watch featuring a Calibre 489 movement. Unfortunately this is a rare beast, it’s the hunter version of the more common 488 and the train flows in the opposite direction. Wheels / stems are interchangeable but setting parts are directional.
the original setting lever has snapped, like they do, and I am unable to source another. I have bought one for the 488 however it is the wrong way round. I’ve knocked nipple out and put it into the opposite side and it functions, the problem is that the countersunk holes leave only the slightest bit of meat, too little to allow me to make a counter-countersink. This means that the dial doesn’t quite sit right, also the enlarged holes now on the intermediate setting wheel side allow the screwed down spring to put too much friction on the minute wheel causing stoppage.
I could fill the void with resin, re-drill the holes and use dial dots to level out the increased height of the screws and might well do so, but if somebody here does have the skills and the equipment and the price isn’t too prohibitive then it may well be worth it. I have only seen 4 examples of this watch and at 40mm it’s the ultimate top quality WW1 trench watch.
Thanks.
was it traumatic?