I Used to Buy The old Stop Watches Like the one in the Video At My Nieborhood Drug Store In 1973-76 For $9.99 That's Why I looked up this video....love the old days....of Course The Swiss Pocket Watches I couldn't Afford As A 13-14 Year old And Wasn't Sold As Far As I Know At Drug Stores but It Was Such Great Memories!!!
Love these! I had a black faced scotty as a kid that never worked but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I just purchased an old pocket Ben and a white faced scotty I look forward to tinkering with them 🙂
BTW be careful when taking the crystal off a watch with a radium dial. Although the watch may no longer glow the radium is still just as active as it was when the dial was made. Even though it is a small amount sometimes on old watches the paint it worn and tends to flake off as tiny flakes or dust. You want to be careful not to inhale or ingest any of that dust. Otherwise they are quite safe when the crystal is on. On occasions I even carry one of my radium dial watches as a working timepiece.
P.S. if you do need to work on an old radium dial in which you need to remove the crystal and expose the dial it is recommended that as a precaution you wear disposable gloves and a dust mask.and cover the work area with a disposable covering or newspaper. When you are done dispose of the covering the mask and the gloves and wash hands. Otherwise I think they are pretty safe to repair. I have fixed a few mysef. Also remember that the radium dial painters who did get sick used to actually lick the brushes. And even many of them didn't get sick and they were exposed to a heck of a lot more radium than anyone would ever be exposed to by repairing a radium watch.
I got one working by soaking in in lighter fluid. As soon as it got into the bowl of lighter fluid, it started working. I kept the back off to evaporate the fluid for a couple of days. Still working fine.
When I was a kid living in queens New York In the 60’s my uncle Joe was a construction worker he used to come to the house every so often to see my mom who was his sister and he always had a West Clark pocket watch hanging from his belt in a leather pouch upside down. I always wondered why it was upside down 🤪👍🏻. That’s the gods honest truth ✋🏻 I guess all of us Italians have an uncle Joe. The Japanese used to think so during the war.🤔👍🏻 PS I just bought a bright red plastic case west clock pocket watch for five dollars online from eBay.
yes they licked the tip of the brush with their tongue when the hairs of the brush became frayed. This would bring the hairs of the brush together again and make the tips fine enough to paint the dials. They were called the "radium girls" and yes it's a true story
I have a few old Westclox Pocket Ben's from the 1940's (one in the original box), most have radium dials, they still glow faintly in a dark room once your eyes have acclimated to the darkness you can see them shining. Most of them still run and keep very good time. Not bad for dollar watches over 60 years old. Also have a few non-radium Ingrahams namely a Viceroy from 1949 still in its original box with instructions and in perfect condition. It runs and keeps perfect time. Also have a Ingraham Biltmore (running) and an Autocrat (not running). and an Ingraham Biltmore Radium (not running & in bad shape). I didn't know Westclox was still making the Pocket Ben into the 1970's.
These were the inexpensive watches and cost about 3 USD . These were the daily watches . By the 1893 Worlds Fair and Ingersoll's exhibit, they did cost about $1.50. A decent beater watch would cost about 10 USD. They were not made to be adjusted or repaired but were widely produced and carried. Quite reliable and accurate enough. Very much a part of histological history, millions were produced.
I just took apart a Westclox Model 8 Big Ben clock after the minute hand stopped moving. I seem to have a problem with that with timepieces, for some reason. Anyway, it's cleaned, lubed, and fixed. It was fun. Also, I read the story on Wikipedia about the women who painted the lumina on dials. They touched the tip of the brush to their lips to get a finer point. It's a sad story.
That was a good starter pocket watch. These watches are indestructible. I go to the flea market and somebody has some from the 1950's that with a cleaning and oil would run. The only delicate part is the hairspring.
@fatty459 I could sense that someone somewhere was getting a watch like the ones I showed, that is why I made this video. Plus I have to upload something now and then. The bezel does not come off my Pocket Bens either. On the watch where I removed the sweep second gear I found out why it will not run with the gear installed. The pinion gear on the second hand shaft is split. The split has moved one of the gear teeth so it jams on the mating gear tooth. Plastic sucks.
So I bought two pocket watch ( WESTCLOX ) made is Canada and the second is made in usa.. and I begin to understand why the buyers buy these wathes !.....Sorry for my english ;).. Anyway your videos are very good...
@johnwongtw1 Thank you for watching. If you were to get one of these I would make sure it has no plastic gears or as few as possible. On one of these watches the plastic gear split causing the teeth to go out of alignment and causing it to stop. The balance staff on these watches will never break as far as I am concerned. Very tough watch.
You have to understand that these are dollar pocket watches. They have no jewels. They are built very tough. I would never handle a jeweled watch like I handle a dollar watch. It is nearly impossible to break a balance staff on a dollar pocket watch.
Dollar watch and clock collector here!These dollar watches sure were tanks! And yes, the balance staffs on these were (and still are) practically indestructible. Heck, it would take a hammer to destroy one of those staffs!
I cant seem to find anywhere to see if a Westclox pocket watch I found has any value, and was hoping you may help me? I cant even get the back of it off, afraid I will damage it. of course its not real gold, but gold in color, has Roman Numerals, white face w/ gold flowers from the center out to the numerals, hour and minute hands only, colored black. WESTCLOX is written under the XII, and MADE IN USA, under the VI. It has a vintage look to me. It is a wind-up and works. On the back it is textured with flowers and leaves. ANY INFO AT ALL FROM ANYONE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING.
I would look on ebay because they are always being listed there. Some of those backs are very difficult to remove. As far as I know they come off the way I show.
okay.. but some watches have plastic gears !!! , why ?...because I bought two pocket watches marked WESTCLOX !..the seller does not know if they work correctly...., if it remains in motion...Anyway.. I bought a SCOTTY and a DAX. One has the crystal loose and the other one need a cleaning .. Anyway I'll wait your video about these watch. thanks
A chance that the watches are yours.... because you pitch the crown, case, what ever lol I don't think I would like to bring you my watches for repairing :)... anyway the watches are yours...lollll.. I like you videos
Hello, just for your information, the Radium (used on the watch hands) is a radioactive product; some people working in watch factories got cancers because of this product... Advice? Change the hands with today's luminescent hands paint.
thought you might be interested in this the story of the ladies dying from the radium, is actually a true story, there is a documentary about this called radium city.
I Used to Buy The old Stop Watches Like the one in the Video At My Nieborhood Drug Store In 1973-76 For $9.99 That's Why I looked up this video....love the old days....of Course The Swiss Pocket Watches I couldn't Afford As A 13-14 Year old And Wasn't Sold As Far As I Know At Drug Stores but It Was Such Great Memories!!!
They are good reliable little watches and very collectible.
Love these! I had a black faced scotty as a kid that never worked but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I just purchased an old pocket Ben and a white faced scotty I look forward to tinkering with them 🙂
The way I see it if you don't mess up the hairspring these are hard to break.
BTW be careful when taking the crystal off a watch with a radium dial. Although the watch may no longer glow the radium is still just as active as it was when the dial was made. Even though it is a small amount sometimes on old watches the paint it worn and tends to flake off as tiny flakes or dust. You want to be careful not to inhale or ingest any of that dust. Otherwise they are quite safe when the crystal is on. On occasions I even carry one of my radium dial watches as a working timepiece.
Thanks for the information. I did not know this.
P.S. if you do need to work on an old radium dial in which you need to remove the crystal and expose the dial it is recommended that as a precaution you wear disposable gloves and a dust mask.and cover the work area with a disposable covering or newspaper. When you are done dispose of the covering the mask and the gloves and wash hands. Otherwise I think they are pretty safe to repair. I have fixed a few mysef. Also remember that the radium dial painters who did get sick used to actually lick the brushes. And even many of them didn't get sick and they were exposed to a heck of a lot more radium than anyone would ever be exposed to by repairing a radium watch.
I got one working by soaking in in lighter fluid. As soon as it got into the bowl of lighter fluid, it started working. I kept the back off to evaporate the fluid for a couple of days. Still working fine.
When I was a kid living in queens New York In the 60’s my uncle Joe was a construction worker he used to come to the house every so often to see my mom who was his sister and he always had a West Clark pocket watch hanging from his belt in a leather pouch upside down. I always wondered why it was upside down 🤪👍🏻. That’s the gods honest truth ✋🏻 I guess all of us Italians have an uncle Joe. The Japanese used to think so during the war.🤔👍🏻 PS I just bought a bright red plastic case west clock pocket watch for five dollars online from eBay.
yes they licked the tip of the brush with their tongue when the hairs of the brush became frayed. This would bring the hairs of the brush together again and make the tips fine enough to paint the dials.
They were called the "radium girls" and yes it's a true story
Thank you for showing how to remove the stem on the Westclox, I tried to do that for years, lol, never knew how.
I have a few old Westclox Pocket Ben's from the 1940's (one in the original box), most have radium dials, they still glow faintly in a dark room once your eyes have acclimated to the darkness you can see them shining. Most of them still run and keep very good time. Not bad for dollar watches over 60 years old. Also have a few non-radium Ingrahams namely a Viceroy from 1949 still in its original box with instructions and in perfect condition. It runs and keeps perfect time. Also have a Ingraham Biltmore (running) and an Autocrat (not running). and an Ingraham Biltmore Radium (not running & in bad shape). I didn't know Westclox was still making the Pocket Ben into the 1970's.
HimJimRimDim The last Pocket Ben was made in the 90’s.
Hi Bunnspecial I love your videos! These Westclox pocket watches are ideally interesting. Now I'm tempted to buy one off eBay.
These were the inexpensive watches and cost about 3 USD . These were the daily watches . By the 1893 Worlds Fair and Ingersoll's exhibit, they did cost about $1.50. A decent beater watch would cost about 10 USD. They were not made to be adjusted or repaired but were widely produced and carried. Quite reliable and accurate enough. Very much a part of histological history, millions were produced.
I just took apart a Westclox Model 8 Big Ben clock after the minute hand stopped moving. I seem to have a problem with that with timepieces, for some reason. Anyway, it's cleaned, lubed, and fixed. It was fun. Also, I read the story on Wikipedia about the women who painted the lumina on dials. They touched the tip of the brush to their lips to get a finer point. It's a sad story.
I plan on taking apart one of these pocket watches in the future.
I would use clock oil because there are no jewels in this watch. I would not get oil on any plastic gears.
That was a good starter pocket watch. These watches are indestructible. I go to the flea market and somebody has some from the 1950's that with a cleaning and oil would run. The only delicate part is the hairspring.
@fatty459 I could sense that someone somewhere was getting a watch like the ones I showed, that is why I made this video. Plus I have to upload something now and then. The bezel does not come off my Pocket Bens either. On the watch where I removed the sweep second gear I found out why it will not run with the gear installed. The pinion gear on the second hand shaft is split. The split has moved one of the gear teeth so it jams on the mating gear tooth. Plastic sucks.
I am running out of videos so when I make new one it will be westclox.
I remember these on cardboard displays at the corner pharmacist.
hello Bunns I purchased 2 westclox. DAX and a SCOTTY, so I need oiling my watches but what oil? . thanks
So I bought two pocket watch ( WESTCLOX ) made is Canada and the second is made in usa.. and I begin to understand why the buyers buy these wathes !.....Sorry for my english ;).. Anyway your videos are very good...
@iamin2pain I agree with you. Some of these pocket watches will be tricky because you can't take them apart like a quality pocket watch.
@johnwongtw1 Thank you for watching. If you were to get one of these I would make sure it has no plastic gears or as few as possible. On one of these watches the plastic gear split causing the teeth to go out of alignment and causing it to stop. The balance staff on these watches will never break as far as I am concerned. Very tough watch.
Hi. I always waiting after the video showing oiled and repair one of your westclox pocket watch
You have to understand that these are dollar pocket watches. They have no jewels. They are built very tough. I would never handle a jeweled watch like I handle a dollar watch. It is nearly impossible to break a balance staff on a dollar pocket watch.
Dollar watch and clock collector here!These dollar watches sure were tanks! And yes, the balance staffs on these were (and still are) practically indestructible. Heck, it would take a hammer to destroy one of those staffs!
Hi, thank you for your video, Do you know to replace the bow of a Westclox dan pocket watch please
I have a bulls eye pocket watch and it is the same movement, it has screws in it
When i take the back off i see 61 and after a 3 . Does that mean March 1961 ? and my dials are all black slim and do not glow in the dark
more than likely yes
I cant seem to find anywhere to see if a Westclox pocket watch I found has any value, and was hoping you may help me? I cant even get the back of it off, afraid I will damage it. of course its not real gold, but gold in color, has Roman Numerals, white face w/ gold flowers from the center out to the numerals, hour and minute hands only, colored black. WESTCLOX is written under the XII, and MADE IN USA, under the VI. It has a vintage look to me. It is a wind-up and works. On the back it is textured with flowers and leaves. ANY INFO AT ALL FROM ANYONE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING.
I would look on ebay because they are always being listed there. Some of those backs are very difficult to remove. As far as I know they come off the way I show.
Thanks, I do appreciate your time.
Were you able to figure out, from the description I give, anything at all about the watch? Thanks again!
Chris
Okay then I can use oil for machine sewing?..thanks
Yes the next part will be reassembly. I still have to clean this pocket watch.
I just finished a video on taking apart a westclox pocket watch. Will upload it next week.
These watches have plastic gears because they are low cost and the load on the gear is low.
All right my friend !... i will see this video
@scottywhatu gondoboy that watch is a probably a Westclox Conductor watch some of the older ones actually did use real gold 10 karat actually.
Why you don't do a video about a WESTCLOX reparing ?thanks
okay.. but some watches have plastic gears !!! , why ?...because I bought two pocket watches marked WESTCLOX !..the seller does not know if they work correctly...., if it remains in motion...Anyway.. I bought a SCOTTY and a DAX. One has the crystal loose and the other one need a cleaning .. Anyway I'll wait your video about these watch. thanks
I will leave that up to you since I only know english. Maybe I could write down what I say and then google translate it. What language do you want?
i think all the old watches deserve to be repaired if possible reguardless of the quality.
A chance that the watches are yours.... because you pitch the crown, case, what ever lol I don't think I would like to bring you my watches for repairing :)... anyway the watches are yours...lollll.. I like you videos
Interesting, I have one that runs fine after I oiled it, but I need a crystal for it.
What do you lubricate them with?
On dollar pocket watches I use clock oil.
@@bunnspecial Thank you!
I am not sure but the receipt in the box says 1972.
nnspecial b
Hello, just for your information, the Radium (used on the watch hands) is a radioactive product; some people working in watch factories got cancers because of this product...
Advice? Change the hands with today's luminescent hands paint.
thought you might be interested in this the story of the ladies dying from the radium, is actually a true story, there is a documentary about this called radium city.
okay thanks :)
ahhhhhhhhh okay thanks