Since this method requires breaking down the Balance into its constituent parts, I like to take a shortcut and try to re-seat the jewel without removing the Roller Table from the Balance Staff. The jewel is set in the table, the table heated, and shellac carefully applied (Mark Lovick, an exceptional watchmaker, has a video detailing this exercise here).
The correct way to do this is by removing the Balance from the Balance Cock, then removing the Roller Table from the Balance Staff. Replacing the Roller Jewel is a bit more finicky as you need to re-seat it in the roller table, then warm the table to melt the shellac which will secure the jewel. The lid is reset on Mainspring Barrel (note the pearling on the barrel lid) Once out, I snapped the lid back on the barrel with my brass tweezers. The Mainspring Barrel comes out simply by removing two screws and lifting away the Barrel Bridge. The pink stone between the spokes of the Center Wheel is the Roller Jewel You can see the hole in the Roller Table where the Roller Jewel is missingīoth of these are issues are fairly straight forward fixes. It would need to be re-seated with a bit of shellac.
Luckily for me, the jewel was still floating around in the movement. I removed the Barrel Bridge and Mainspring Barrel and a second problem became apparent- the Roller Jewel (Impulse Pin) had come lose from the Roller Table.
HAMPDEN POCKET WATCH SERIAL NUMBER LOOKUP FULL
In a full plate movement only the Balance is visible The Mainspring Barrel lid has come away and is touching the rim of the Balance Wheel Firstly, the lid was no longer seated on the Mainspring Barrel and having come free, it was pressed against the Balance. It came away with the crystal and the movement was then turned out via on a hinged ring set within the case. With the open face design, access to the movement was provided by unscrewing bezel from the nickel case. This Hampden was produced right at the tail end of the era of US timekeeping dominance and it appears to have been well kept by it’s owner. The Elgin National Watch Company, Hampden Watch Company, and Rockford Watch Company got in on the action too. These companies created massive factories with thousands of employees turning out millions of timepieces. Companies such as the Waltham Watch Company, Hamilton Watch Company, and Illinois Watch Company were tasked with producing precision timepieces for the conductors of the transcontinental railroad. When it comes to pocket watches the United States was in a class of it’s own during the late nineteenth century. That experience left me a bit cautious when it comes to antique pocket watches despite the fact that I absolutely adore them. Now I’ve only worked on one American pocket watch prior to getting my hands on this and unfortunately I was unsuccessful in getting that one up and running. Naturally it was non-running when I purchased it but because of this the price was right. It’s also fully jeweled (17 to be precise) which means it’s a high quality movement. It’s a large size 18 pocket watch with a full plate movement (giving it a bit of heft) and a lever setting mechanism. The watch was made by the Hampden Watch Company of Canton Ohio in about 1902. Instead of a restful sleep, I found myself perusing the classifieds in the early morning for interesting antiques and stopped myself when I came across the advert for this fine piece. Here’s a pocket watch I picked up after having a day that was so bad it kept me up at night.
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