Interesting watchmaking tools

Today we are bringing you a very special report on a man who has been collecting and restoring incredible machines and tools used in watchmaking.

These tool may appear pretty obscure in terms of how they were used, reason why we went along with our good friend Peter Speake-Marin to get some hand on advice on their purpose and how they worked.

We were very privileged to have access to this private collection and very happy of being able to share this with you.

Enjoy the video!

good

dv said:

good

Well I think so too and as was said in the video, we are a very small representative.

A Craftsman’s Legacy

The Clock Maker

Ogmog said:

A Craftsman’s Legacy

The Clock Maker

This is giant stuff for a watchmaker. Imagine it way way smaller.

roughbarked said:

Ogmog said:

A Craftsman’s Legacy

The Clock Maker

This is giant stuff for a watchmaker. Imagine it way way smaller.

Absolutely Fascinating

although he states that he’s working at 2-3 times the size of an actual watch to make it possible for us (the observer) to see what he’s working on,
it’s beyond comprehension what the size of an actual watch must be.

LOL
Kept thinking if God creating the known universe could be likened to a clock maker
what he could have conceivably accomplished with the aid of a CDC Machine.

Ogmog said:

roughbarked said:

Ogmog said:

A Craftsman’s Legacy

The Clock Maker

This is giant stuff for a watchmaker. Imagine it way way smaller.

Absolutely Fascinating

although he states that he’s working at 2-3 times the size of an actual watch to make it possible for us (the observer) to see what he’s working on,
it’s beyond comprehension what the size of an actual watch must be.

LOL
Kept thinking if God creating the known universe could be likened to a clock maker
what he could have conceivably accomplished with the aid of a CDC Machine.

God is pretty high tech.

btw
although I never wear a wristwatch
I have owned a series of pocket watches
which have always been skeletonized versions
since the inner movements are endlessly fascinating

Ogmog said:

btw
although I never wear a wristwatch
I have owned a series of pocket watches
which have always been skeletonized versions
since the inner movements are endlessly fascinating

This bloke buys orphaned movements where the gold case has been scrapped by those who don’t care for history.
Then he prints a case for them.

Omega with a Le-Coultre supplied chronograph section.

Clickspring. the first lathe?

roughbarked said:

Clickspring. the first lathe?

The things that can be achieved with a little knowhow.

PermeateFree said:

roughbarked said:

Clickspring. the first lathe?

The things that can be achieved with a little knowhow.

Mostly learned by observation. The first helicoils we saw, we knew the strength of these things and worked to recreate them ourselves.

roughbarked said:

PermeateFree said:

roughbarked said:

Clickspring. the first lathe?

The things that can be achieved with a little knowhow.

Mostly learned by observation. The first helicoils we saw, we knew the strength of these things and worked to recreate them ourselves.

It may have taken us thousands of years to put names to things that we knew worked yet still had to reason why.

Interesting video about verge fusee watch production in Prescot. The beginning and end of the video qualify that a single watchmaker did not do all the operations but it shows a few of the the operations on original equipment by the same watchmaker.
Which clearly was never true. Watches were made up of parts, each of which was made by a different specialist. So many hands made time go.

Watchmaking in Prescott

A treadle lathe.

roughbarked said:

A treadle lathe.

Variable-speed!

captain_spalding said:

roughbarked said:

A treadle lathe.

Variable-speed!

Very variable. ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pK3O43Jddg

Link

Antikythera Fragment #11 World’s First Precision Lathe – Constructing The Antikythera Mechanism

Clickspring

JudgeMental said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pK3O43Jddg

Link

Antikythera Fragment #11 World’s First Precision Lathe – Constructing The Antikythera Mechanism

Clickspring

Filing tapered pins are one of the first things an apprentice learns.

roughbarked said:

A treadle lathe.

How much

dv said:

roughbarked said:

A treadle lathe.

How much

No idea.

roughbarked said:

dv said:

roughbarked said:

A treadle lathe.

How much

No idea.

About 2 ells per shift.

It’s signed Charles Gretton. London (no serial number) and was made circa 1680-1685, within 5 to 10 years of the first application of a spiral balance spring to a watch (1675). It apparently was upgraded to extend its useful life several times. The first probably occurred before 1710 when Its original one-hand movement and dial were upgraded to have a minute hand. Another, perhaps around 1725 when its case was replaced with the current nicely made gilt-brass one – perhaps replacing a worn out or damaged 20-22 carat gold case. I’ve wound it up about half way and its running & striking correctly; it seems to have been well cared for. I’ve been in-touch with Dennis Radage, author of “Through The Golden Age, Charles Gretton, clock and watchmaking” as he continues to inventory surviving examples of Gretton’s work. This is one of Gretton’s earliest. Its just a great time to be a collector.