I'm a retired Family Practice Doctor and I have had the privilege of watching several very adept Neurosurgeons work on the brains of ill patients. Surgeries would often last many, many hours. And I see similarities from that in your videos.... these videos are a pleasure to see. You do some fine and exacting work and your results are no less amazing ... think about that.
Lukily you can just put a watch aside and finish it later. And also it's just a mechanism, if you ruin it, in the grand scheme of things, the loss isn't that huge.
Nice job with the plating. A word of advice when you are plating, attach your leads, then turn on the power supply. The sparks you were causing when attaching and disconnecting your leads can ignite the gasses coming off the plating solution. Primarily this is an issue with with the cleaning solution as all the bubbles coming off that solution are hydrogen. The amount of hydrogen coming off that beaker isn't huge, but if it ignites it is loud and with scare the crap out of you. It could also shatter the beaker. I worked doing plating for over a year and had that happen a few times, but on large industrial tanks.
Indeed, always put on the power last. And something with Hydrogen being an explosive mixture between 5%-75%. Otherwise cool video to watch and see the process.
Agreed! I recommend a power supply that has an output on/off button. So you can set up the supply with the output off to the right voltage and current. And then hook up your wires. And then just hit the output on button. Cheap power supplies are always on and are not as reliable when they are powering up and down.
A good idea would be to get a small fan to blow over the top of the beaker. At least then you'd know you're not allowing much hydrogen to concentrate around your electrodes.
After getting my Longines pocket watch (made in 1911) restorated, I became fond of watch repair videos and you Mr. Marshall, are one of the stars :) Keep the videos comin'
It's a relief to see somebody plating that's actually using agitation, and rotating the part in the solution to allow even distribution. You picked it up from RUclips spot on, just like WE do from YOU! Thanks!
Marshall's the sort of person you want in an global emergency: Everyone: "The world's stopped spinning on it's axis, what do we doooo?" 😲 Marshall: "I have a tool for that"
My newfound watch viewing journey from someone who doesn't own a watch or have ever been interested. 1. Watch negotiations short vids. Vacroom or whatever he's called. Not really a fan of those younger guys. 2. More vids, but with the older guys like Buckley. WAY WAY better than those kids. 3. Then moved to manufacturer videos. Found it fascinating. 4. Then the algorithm brought me Wristwatch Revival. BY FAR the most entertaining and informative. The best was saved for last. This guy is so detailed and explains everything like it's the first time, every time. His pace and rhythm with the narration is perfect. He's funny, clear and serious at the same time. The love for the hobby shines through more than any channel, about any hobby. I've watched and researched pretty much all of them. The progress in his production from years ago until now if really neat to see. Great channel and I've leaned so much and I'm looking forward to keep learning! Thank you!
This channel is my new meditation. It's just so fixating and calming to watch this guy rebuild watches. Love the video angles and macro and editing. Love the commentary. Love the authenticity. Love it all.
Hi-ho, all!✨🤗✨ I am an "Old-fart" in my 70s, and I 'follow' many, many channels here on RUclips. Dear provider, I want YOU to know that I can not think of ANY other channel here that provides me as much value (IMHO) as yours. Although I will NEVER be taking a time piece apart, I find it WONDERFUL that I NOW can better understand and appreciate the workings of such intricate little boogers. My absolute FAVE feature of your videos is how you take the time to do the 'voice-over', explaining all you are doing. THANK YOU SO MUCH for the enjoyment your content provides me. If I could, I would show my appreciation in a more tangible way, but living on my Social Security can be something of the juggling act regarding what is more or less needed to be taken care of... know-what-I-mean, Butterbean? lol I shall be watching for as long as you upload.
I love the progression of the equipment. I caught an older WR video, and you can see how the tools have gone from just the necessities to get started, to a quality tool for every task Marshal runs into.
Mr. Marshall is teacher in his part time. An education specialist, unintentionally. I reference the individual who stated " if the world stopped spinning " Marshall is the man i would concider a genuine hope to fix it. I always enjoy anything he shares and teaches. No pedestal. Simply an engaging person in his enjoyment and he shares with us. Ty Marshall. Sam
I have no idea why but just seeing and learning how watches work and hearing the history behind the watch world is so relaxing. Never expected for me to like watch repairing lmao
The "Feintester" is an interesting tool that appears to be made from a dial indicator with a fixed anvil. Dial indicators are commonly used in machining and mechanical operations for measuring fine distances. Interestingly enough, they use a mechanism with parts very similar to watch parts, and serviced with the same tools. I have some old indicators that I plan on cracking open and servicing, based on the skills I've learned watching this channel.
Please don't wear gloves when you buff or polish with the Dremel. I know you don't want the polishing compounds on your hands, but the gloves can get caught in the wheel and take your fingers along for the ride. The Dremel doesn't have enough torque to destroy your hand, but it definitely could rip your skin and break a bone ore two. The safest way to buff, polish, or grind metal is bare handed. It's a lot better to lose a bit of skin than it is to lose your fingers. Aside from that I really do enjoy these videos and they have given me an appreciation for wrist watches that I never had. I recently got my grandfather's watch and am in awe of the fact it still runs after 50+ years. These devices are a mechanical marvel.
I only discovered your channel 3 days ago and I have watched so many of your videos that I can predict what you'll do or say next. Lemme tell you though: it never gets old! Seeing someone master their craft and improve on the fly is one of the most satisfying things out there. :) Thank you for putting out such quality content!
Out of all the horology youtubers, yours are by far my favorite. Unless I am specifically looking at a particular movement, even though I am subscribed to them, yours are the only ones I watch all of them, I have even watched your back catalog of videos.
This is the best of all the watch repair sites. Marshall has a superior narrative....giving excellent info. and this is his greatest asset. Just amazing info clearly rendered. His camera visuals are the best too. I always learn something new, and I am astounded that I can watch for 45 min. ...and I am never bored. I really wish I had become involved with this 'hobby' when younger.....this kind of fine detail work is what I love....but Marshall is really the best of all in providing great info....and is entertaining as well. Very impressed by his professionalism . Thanks for a great site.
Brilliant Marshall, loved every minute going through the process with you, thank you so much. I’m thoroughly in tune with you attitude towards ‘restoration’ and always think that you hit exactly the right note. An awful lot of things look so much better with their age and experience showing; much like human beings!
I'd say this was a "golden" opprtunity to add the skill of plating to your repertoire! 😂 And a beautiful result on your first attempt! 💖👏 I'd wear that any day of the week! What a stunning watch! 👌
Hooked on these videos! I have my dad's old Hamilton watch that I've taken to be repaired, but they never get around to it and I've taken it back. Now, I don't trust any local guys!! Thanks for making these videos! I have even thought maybe I'll try fixing my dad's watch myself, but then I remember, "I suck at everything!" I can make anything worse!
Holy smokes, Martin! I think you should take the watch repair course and after some practice, go for it with the Hamilton! You can practice until you are sure there is no obstacle. There are hundreds of inexpensive practice watches on eBay. I think you can do it.
After watching many of your videos, today I got my first watch repair tool kit from Amazon. Boy do you make it look easy. Boy are them screws and gears *tiny*. Boy did I screw up big time.
the art of a MASTER is making the impossible look easy the art of a CRAFTSMAN is to encourage the followers i too would love to try but fingers that can make a cream into butter a memory that can drain pasta and eyes that need armour plating type glass. makes me happy to watch in awe
@@philiprice7875 I hear you on the fingers and the, um, er, memory - yeah, memory. But fwiw being nearsighted is an advantage in this craft. I knew a retired fellow that did watch repair as a "relaxing hobby" (He'd worked in a standards lab and to him a millionth of an inch was nothing to get worked up over). He was extremely nearsighted and when he needed to get a really good look at some small part he just put down the jewelers loupe and took off his glasses. He and his wife are both long gone now, and I sure do miss them. They were good friends to a young man trying to figure out what he wanted to be and do. By coincidence his name was Mr. Marshall.
@@xlerb2286 yea my good eye is -20 my bad is -45 my bad is also "lazy" so doing any close up work even with a loupe is just about impossible for me. a pity as i would love to try this out
I bought myself a vintage watch because of you Marshall, A 1966 Bulova Accutron Spaceview, I got into the history and patina of the watch and brand after watching you restored all those amazing watches! Thanks for opening an other door to my life!
Never heard of that "Feintaster" before. Linguistically, it contains the german words "fein" (fine, delicate, intricate) and "Taster" (from german "tasten" -> to grope, to feel or examine through touching), so its a "fine-groper". Gotta love the naming conventions for old, specialized tools. 😁
That was a great lesson for us all when you plated the watch Marshal . The steps are always fascinating to watch . I just got * some * of my tools to get started on opening my first watch to repair , or at least look at for a bit first . Cheers my friend
Great video - as always: thank you Marshall. As a brand, Universal Genève is highly collectable, because the watches they made are of outstanding quality. In fact, I would go so far as to say they are better than the watch you are wearing in the video. Much better.
Rolex is the Harley Davidson of the watch world. Looks great and is of really good quality, but is it any better than anything else in that price range? No. What they have done, such as Harley, is build a culture around their brand that makes people think they are the best at everything they do. A watch enthusiast can buy a Rolex and appreciate what it is, same with Harley (they both have rich histories), but the culture surrounding them is completely fabricated and I would say that is the thing that most people are buying into.
There's no other channel I can genuinely say this about, but yours are the only videos I never skip ahead, it's so great building up the anticipation, it never ceases to amaze me how controlled your motions must be to be able to do this. Thank you for sharing your hobby!
I've recently done my first nickel plating and made my own solution along the way - and it turned exactly the same green as you have in your nickel plating solution. I'm pretty sure just based on how it all works that you wouldn't want any sort of colourant involved, it would just risk bad interactions with the plating, same as any other undesired particle or contaminant. It's really pretty stuff, honestly, particularly the gold medium. Mmmmm, forbidden koolaid!
@tradde11 It's actually super easy to nickel plate items. All you need is some distilled white vinegar, salt, a DC power source with clip leads, a glass jar, and a couple of small nickel plates. You fill the glass jar about 3/4 full with the vinegar, add about a pinch of salt (it increases the conductivity of the solution), clip both the positive and negative leads of the power supply to a nickel strip (positive lead on one, and the negative on the other), suspend the strips in the jar so they are not touching, and turn on the power supply. Once the solution turns green, it's ready. Turn off the power and remove the negative lead and it's nickel strip (leave the positive lead and it's strip connected and in the solution). Attach the negative lead to the item you want to plate and place it in the solution. Turn the power back on to plate. When done, you can store the solution for later use, but don't pour it down the sink or on the ground as it is somewhat toxic.
@tradde11 Yeah, what David said. The only part David might've left out is that you want to filter the solution afterwards before using it. Drip coffee filters are good for that.
You're totally right. That green colour would be from the nickel ions in the solution. Really cool stuff. Different metals ions in solution in different oxidation states absorb different light giving them their colours. Same reason that rust is orange and copper alloys like brass become green/blue after being oxidised.
@tradde11 I've made mine in similar way as described by others except i used a citric acid solution by just dropping as much of the crystalline stuff as would dissolve in water and diluting it then about 2- to 3-fold and dropped a little artificial sweetener (saccharine) as an attempt at brightener. There's really numerous ways you can go about it. If you think about it there's actually plenty of useless organic junk floating about from any organic acid you use, especially vinegar is pretty filthy to begin with, not purely acetic acid. Once you have added salt for initial conductivity before you got any metal ions into the solution, you have at least sodium acetate/citrate or whatnot in there, there's no hard need to be particularly precious about the composition, the junk doesn't seem to interfere and might as well improve the solution. If i were to guess, the colour is structural, by the metal ions in the solution interacting with light wavelength purely due to size. Gold solutions are known to build largely bluish purpleish colours. I don't think there's anything added for the colour, but if there was a dye, i don't think it would interfere.
So that one amazing little boomerang in the keyless combines the yoke, the yoke spring and the setting lever spring?! That's genius, but makes me wonder why you don't see that more often these days. You are probably right though- it's cheaper to produce the other way.
Thanks for yet another fantastic video Marshall! Learnt a lot from your content over time. One thing to note for others about the mainspring winders/replacement mainsprings. It is absolutely possible to wind these springs in by hand so long as you do it carefully and don't rush the process. There is plenty of information online about how to do it for those who can't spend a solid amount of money on winders.
Hi Marshall, cool video. If possible I would like to see a video dealing with main spring winders, left and right hand. I am having a lot of difficulty doing this. I have damaged many mainsprings trying to master this. Thanks again.
Marshall, you've got me to jump into the deep end! I just purchased a vintage pocket watch from Ebay and my wife bought be a Borgeon matt and basic tool set for my birthday. Lord, give me Marshall's patience! ;-)
@tradde11 I bought a 1918 Ball Railroad w/ a Hamilton movement. Right at $300. There were cheaper quality pocket watches, but I own a Ball wrist watch and wanted to stay 'in family' ;-)
@tradde11 Maybe junk isn't so bad to learn from. I have an automatic i got in China for $12, i cracked its crystal so i'll need to take it apart; might as well have a look see i guess how comfy i am taking apart and putting back together the mechanism; and if i ruin it, no big deal, they're a little more expensive now but infinitely replenishable. I'm used to doing microelectronics so manipulating really small parts with sharp tweezers without them pinging away too often is a skill i already have, so it shouldn't be THAT huge a jump. I'm thinking most people will struggle with tweezer control at first somewhat fierce, as well as working at high magnification.
Your videos inspired me to take a crack at watch disassembly and reassembly, just for giggles. Spent $40 on a used "not running" pocket watch from a pawn shop. Turns out to run just fine if you wind it. Decided to take it apart anyway, using my trusty electronics repair screwdriver kit. First screw I touched, I sheared the shaft on one of the case screws holding the movement. Back to the drawing board...
When demagnetizing, you might want to demagnetize it in one direction, then turn the watch 90 degrees and demagnetize it again. The reason for this is that magnetic fields have poles, and the demagnetizing field might line up with those poles. If that happens the demagnetizing field will have no effect on the magnetized parts in the watch that line up with that pole. The second demagnetizing field needs to be orthogonal, or 90 degrees to the initial field in order to completely eliminate any magnetized parts, according to applications of Maxwells equations.
Early birthday present to me, a new video from Marshall! Always good for a newbie like me to hear the basics repeatedly along with new information. Question: do you use the Robur press with mineral glass crystals? Or is it strictly for acrylic?
ahh all the stress that has built up over the week has gone after watching this episode so relaxing for a total nerd like me the photography, editing, the calm narration and although each watch assembly is mostly the same you NEVER assume that we know and continue to describe what (& why) you are doing without sounding bored or condescending. i did take a resting blood pressure before and after (iam a geekie nerd) and was down 13 points (silly thought after writing. you applying for a therapist licence and getting your videos on a prescription)
Hey marshal, love your videos! Just a curious question: what complications are you working with? It appears to me that certain complications are much harder to service. Love what you are doing, exited to see your uploads every time! Much love!
Marshall I have a Bulova Accutron tuning fork watch from the 1970s. It has not run for 40+ years and was my father's pride and joy. I've looked and don't believe you have ever done an overhaul on an Accutron. I'd love to send it you for a great episode. It has a plastic crystal that's cracked and would need replacing, my preference would be glass. Let me know your thoughts.
I don’t come because I wanna be a watch restorer but mostly I’m curious by nature and learning should never end at any point in one’s life! So I endeavor to know many things because its fun and interesting!
interesting and informative video as always! i'm wondering about the cost of the main spring winder. i work in a field where tools can be very expensive also, but ~$1k for that single item seems very high, even for a low-volume, specialty tool. are its internals unexpectedly complex for a hand crank, or does it require calibration perhaps? now that i'm asking this, i wonder if you'd consider making a detailed video (or a series!) on watchmaking tools, and what makes them unique and/or expensive? i personally find this aspect just as compelling as the restoration videos!
I'd love to see Marshall do another video on tools (he has a couple on the channel if you haven't seen them, like what tools you need to get started video mentions which tools you can buy cheap versions of). However, to answer your question, it's absolutely not complex inside heh, it's 100% a case of Swiss companies that serve a relatively low-volume tool industry gouging their customers. Mainspring winders are a perfect example of this, as they're extremely simple mechanically. The Chinese copies of these tools are 1/10th the price, and often made in the same factories where the "Swiss" parts are ("Swiss Made" is a bit of a scam term). You're really paying for finishing and quality control, since the Swiss companies will at least pay for better QA on their part production runs, compared to what the factories themselves sell as unbranded product out their back door.
@@awdturbopowah773 i did check those out, and am always interested in more info :) also, thanks for the explanation... i shouldn't be surprised (working in software/security engineering), but hoped that perhaps there was something neat and mechanical hiding inside! at least a $1k investment gets you that super satisfying "thunk" every time in return :D
@@v-1nce More info is always a good thing! And sure, always happy to explain/complain about Swiss part prices 😁. It's funny in this hobby how the complicated stuff is actually cheap. A timegrapher with complex integrated circuitry, graphical display, and sensitive calibrated microphones is under $200. Yet simple hand tools that can be churned out by factory machines sell for thousands of dollars 😂At least you get the THUNK true!
I have become addicted to your videos. I'm a bit of a geek of everything mechanical and these watches are just so fascinating to see restored. Thanks for posting and congratulations on your first gold plating.
In general, the longer you leave in the plating bath, the thicker the gold layer will be. Also subsequent runs through the plating bath yield heavier deposition. The exact thickness depends on many variables: chemical composition of plating solution, plating bath temperature, applied voltage, base metal composition, etc. The plating solution manufacturer may have data they can share with you. Most don't. If not, you will have to break out the micrometer and conduct your own experiments using trial and error. Note also different terms refer to varying processes and plating thicknesses. Gold flashed, gold plated, gold electroplated, heavy gold plated, gold filled, gilded, and vermeil all mean different things. For watch cases, typical plating thickness is 40 micron of 18k yellow gold or equivalent. How you achieve that is up to you.
Hey, Marshall. How many of these watches do you keep in your collection and how many do you sell. Is there a place where your fans can buy one of these lovely gems? The plating process was fascinating to see. It’s like something from an alchemist’s laboratory!
There is almost certainly no coloring in that solution. Gold, when it is a fine enough particle, is a purple color. I'm not an expert but I have watched enough precious metal refining videos here on youtube to have been baffled by that fact.
It's due to the structure of transition metal atoms.. It's kind of complicated, but they all absorb different wavelengths of light when electrons in the d subshell move to a higher orbital when hit by photons. I recently learned that's why pregnancy and covid tests show a pink/purple line, they use some type of gold in solution
I’ve never repaired a watch, probably never will… But dang! I can’t quit watching these videos Marshall makes. After I’m done watching the video for the first time, I’ll let it run just as background sound in my house… Marshall has such a soothing voice.
That's impressive. I've been looking for a good trader that can help me trade and make good profits, But it's very hard to see a trusted one... I'm so happy found this day
Just to be honest, im not really into watches, and i know very little about them, but for whatever reason the algorithm sent me to your channel and i was bored at work so I clicked. And im glad I did. Your knowledge and enthusiasm about what you do is awsome and refreshing. I watched a lot of your videos since then and look forward to when the new ones pop up! Thank you and keep them coming!
I am so interested in your videos. I am now digging old watches from my family out of storage to see the beauty that you have opened my eyes to. Thank you for this channel.
Watching your videos has inspired me to start getting into watch repair. Your videos are so informative and made in such a captivating way. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into the channel!
Nice in deed! I’m a former clock and watches repair guy. Yes, I started on pocket watches and pocket clocks! Your doing well, I must say! I’m always willing to learn more, so I’m always watching you work! Please write me back if you have time.
I've been watching you for so many years as an MTG personality. This randomly got recommended to me, and I'm glad it did. It's so cool watching you take apart these watches, very interesting.
for some reason your videos started popping up in my recommendations. i have never really been into watches (way to expensive for my broke butt) but i can not stop watching your videos. The precision and small scale just tickle that part of my brain and i find them just super relaxing and interesting. Thank you for introducing me to the world of watch repair and restoration. SUBSCRIBED
Apropos broke butt, i bought an automatic in China for about $12 about 10 years ago. I'm definitely taking a peek inside when i get around to. I expect it to look somewhat filthy inside, no two shits given, but it's a true mechanical and it runs and contains just as many small parts you know, being a clone of ETA standard movements. It even keeps time adequately.
Awesome, as usual. I'd like to see a WWR 'Special' about tools used in the trade. Especially about the used tools you've bought, possibly repaired, and re-used.
Check out JD Richard Watch Repair channel (not affiliated with him). He showcases niche specialty tools used by watchmakers. He's also great about answering questions if you're getting into the hobby yourself.
Marshall i must say: i'm a preety old sub to this channel as you might be aware and DUDE! You were once a learner but now, you are becoming a master of this craft. I've seen guys whom have doing this for 15 years and they don't have half of your skills. Awesome work my guy
The gold plating lesson was great! In a previous video you nickel plated a watch case, but nickel is a poor surface for a watch case because many people develop allergic responses to skin contact with nickel. Gold plating is a great option because there are lots of vintage watches with worn-through gold plating that (with a lot of elbow grease) could be removed and replaced. Always learning something new!
100% true. The real added value of his channel are his post commentaries. There are dozen of channels out there with people disassembling and servicing/restoring watches (even better than Marshall) BUT their videos are all silent with some text popping here and there and maybe a soft music in the background. Marshall's videos are on a COMPLETE different level, because of his post commentaries.
Marshall, congrats on lubricating the pallet jewel through the access hole. That truly requires a "deft" hand. You definitely have achieved professional competence. Very nice work.
Hello Marshall ! I have to say that I really enjoy your work, you are my most important inspiration for starting this hobby. Thank you so much for your videos, your work and you will to entertain and to teach.
Great job with replating the watch. I’m also impressed with the expertise you’ve developed in just a few years. You’re more certain of yourself compared to only a year or two ago. Keep up the good work.
Great content Sir. Inspired by you and a few others I put together my first watch a week ago. Was pretty straightforward. I'm used to handle small objects, repairing smartphones etc, so that was not an issue for me. What is more interesting is the accuracy of this build. It was running +8s/day out of the box. After first adjustment it has been running 4 days now and it's +3s ahead. Not too bad for a watch which costed 130 €. All parts from Aliexpress.
My favorite thing about these videos is the process, which includes mistakes. Like when he put it on the demagnetizer and goes "Ah, that did not help at all". Great for the learning process to see you trying things and figuring it out too!
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guess im not going to bed now
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I'm a retired Family Practice Doctor and I have had the privilege of watching several very adept Neurosurgeons work on the brains of ill patients. Surgeries would often last many, many hours. And I see similarities from that in your videos.... these videos are a pleasure to see. You do some fine and exacting work and your results are no less amazing ... think about that.
Lukily you can just put a watch aside and finish it later. And also it's just a mechanism, if you ruin it, in the grand scheme of things, the loss isn't that huge.
Nice job with the plating. A word of advice when you are plating, attach your leads, then turn on the power supply. The sparks you were causing when attaching and disconnecting your leads can ignite the gasses coming off the plating solution. Primarily this is an issue with with the cleaning solution as all the bubbles coming off that solution are hydrogen. The amount of hydrogen coming off that beaker isn't huge, but if it ignites it is loud and with scare the crap out of you. It could also shatter the beaker. I worked doing plating for over a year and had that happen a few times, but on large industrial tanks.
+1 Be careful!
Indeed, always put on the power last. And something with Hydrogen being an explosive mixture between 5%-75%. Otherwise cool video to watch and see the process.
Agreed! I recommend a power supply that has an output on/off button. So you can set up the supply with the output off to the right voltage and current. And then hook up your wires. And then just hit the output on button. Cheap power supplies are always on and are not as reliable when they are powering up and down.
A good idea would be to get a small fan to blow over the top of the beaker. At least then you'd know you're not allowing much hydrogen to concentrate around your electrodes.
Crikey.
I love how you narrate as though it’s you’re first time seeing what’s happening along with us.
After getting my Longines pocket watch (made in 1911) restorated, I became fond of watch repair videos and you Mr. Marshall, are one of the stars :) Keep the videos comin'
It's a relief to see somebody plating that's actually using agitation, and rotating the part in the solution to allow even distribution. You picked it up from RUclips spot on, just like WE do from YOU! Thanks!
Marshall's the sort of person you want in an global emergency:
Everyone: "The world's stopped spinning on it's axis, what do we doooo?" 😲
Marshall: "I have a tool for that"
I'll order a new mainspring on eBay.
@@richardmeyer418 Did you check the balance wheel first?
I started smiling when he pulled out the German "Feintaster". German watcher here :)
A vintage tool that he probably refurbished himself
lmao..nice
My newfound watch viewing journey from someone who doesn't own a watch or have ever been interested.
1. Watch negotiations short vids. Vacroom or whatever he's called. Not really a fan of those younger guys.
2. More vids, but with the older guys like Buckley. WAY WAY better than those kids.
3. Then moved to manufacturer videos. Found it fascinating.
4. Then the algorithm brought me Wristwatch Revival. BY FAR the most entertaining and informative.
The best was saved for last. This guy is so detailed and explains everything like it's the first time, every time. His pace and rhythm with the narration is perfect. He's funny, clear and serious at the same time. The love for the hobby shines through more than any channel, about any hobby.
I've watched and researched pretty much all of them. The progress in his production from years ago until now if really neat to see.
Great channel and I've leaned so much and I'm looking forward to keep learning!
Thank you!
Marshall is literally the Bob Ross of watch videos. Mad respect for this guy teaching anyone who wants to watch and learn.
This channel is my new meditation. It's just so fixating and calming to watch this guy rebuild watches. Love the video angles and macro and editing. Love the commentary. Love the authenticity. Love it all.
I always enjoy your posts. I’ve taken Mark’s course and been collecting my tools. I’m ready to give it a go myself on my first watch.
Hey man, how are you getting on with it? Mind showing me where the course is?
I love how energetic you are on every Single of you Videos
Always a great day when I see a new video from Marshall.
Hi-ho, all!✨🤗✨
I am an "Old-fart" in my 70s, and I 'follow' many, many channels here on RUclips.
Dear provider, I want YOU to know that I can not think of ANY other channel here
that provides me as much value (IMHO) as yours. Although I will NEVER be
taking a time piece apart, I find it WONDERFUL that I NOW can better understand
and appreciate the workings of such intricate little boogers.
My absolute FAVE feature of your videos is how you take the time to do the 'voice-over', explaining
all you are doing.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for the enjoyment your content provides me. If I could,
I would show my appreciation in a more tangible way, but living on my
Social Security can be something of the juggling act regarding what is more
or less needed to be taken care of... know-what-I-mean, Butterbean? lol
I shall be watching for as long as you upload.
I love the progression of the equipment. I caught an older WR video, and you can see how the tools have gone from just the necessities to get started, to a quality tool for every task Marshal runs into.
Guess where those Patreon dollars go!
Mr. Marshall is teacher in his part time.
An education specialist, unintentionally.
I reference the individual who stated " if the world stopped spinning "
Marshall is the man i would concider a genuine hope to fix it.
I always enjoy anything he shares and teaches.
No pedestal. Simply an engaging person in his enjoyment and he shares with us.
Ty Marshall.
Sam
Love your work Marshall! Nothing better to be watching on a drizzly Tuesday afternoon.
I have no idea why but just seeing and learning how watches work and hearing the history behind the watch world is so relaxing. Never expected for me to like watch repairing lmao
Love your videos. I could "watch" all day. I would love to see a video on how the small parts and tiny screws are machined!
Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for your humour and your expertise.
The "Feintester" is an interesting tool that appears to be made from a dial indicator with a fixed anvil. Dial indicators are commonly used in machining and mechanical operations for measuring fine distances. Interestingly enough, they use a mechanism with parts very similar to watch parts, and serviced with the same tools. I have some old indicators that I plan on cracking open and servicing, based on the skills I've learned watching this channel.
There you go! The power of a youtube channel.
I nominate you for the RUclips academy award for editing. Love your videos.
Please don't wear gloves when you buff or polish with the Dremel. I know you don't want the polishing compounds on your hands, but the gloves can get caught in the wheel and take your fingers along for the ride. The Dremel doesn't have enough torque to destroy your hand, but it definitely could rip your skin and break a bone ore two. The safest way to buff, polish, or grind metal is bare handed. It's a lot better to lose a bit of skin than it is to lose your fingers.
Aside from that I really do enjoy these videos and they have given me an appreciation for wrist watches that I never had. I recently got my grandfather's watch and am in awe of the fact it still runs after 50+ years. These devices are a mechanical marvel.
I always watch you before bed, very soothing and calming. Thank you.
I only discovered your channel 3 days ago and I have watched so many of your videos that I can predict what you'll do or say next. Lemme tell you though: it never gets old! Seeing someone master their craft and improve on the fly is one of the most satisfying things out there. :) Thank you for putting out such quality content!
Out of all the horology youtubers, yours are by far my favorite. Unless I am specifically looking at a particular movement, even though I am subscribed to them, yours are the only ones I watch all of them, I have even watched your back catalog of videos.
I really doubt Marshall has a free gift for me.
I love watching your videos! Ive learned so much and Im getting into watch repair and Horology too! Thanks for being a great role model and teacher!
This is the best of all the watch repair sites. Marshall has a superior narrative....giving excellent info. and this is his greatest asset. Just amazing info clearly rendered. His camera visuals are the best too. I always learn something new, and I am astounded that I can watch for 45 min. ...and I am never bored. I really wish I had become involved with this 'hobby' when younger.....this kind of fine detail work is what I love....but Marshall is really the best of all in providing great info....and is entertaining as well. Very impressed by his professionalism . Thanks for a great site.
Brilliant Marshall, loved every minute going through the process with you, thank you so much. I’m thoroughly in tune with you attitude towards ‘restoration’ and always think that you hit exactly the right note. An awful lot of things look so much better with their age and experience showing; much like human beings!
After watching your channel on watch restoration, I am beginning to understand how watches work. You made it looks as a simple process. Tq.
I'd say this was a "golden" opprtunity to add the skill of plating to your repertoire! 😂
And a beautiful result on your first attempt! 💖👏
I'd wear that any day of the week! What a stunning watch! 👌
I love hanging out with you and watching you enjoy your hobby.
Thanks for making these for us to enjoy Marshall.
Hooked on these videos! I have my dad's old Hamilton watch that I've taken to be repaired, but they never get around to it and I've taken it back. Now, I don't trust any local guys!!
Thanks for making these videos! I have even thought maybe I'll try fixing my dad's watch myself, but then I remember, "I suck at everything!" I can make anything worse!
Holy smokes, Martin! I think you should take the watch repair course and after some practice, go for it with the Hamilton! You can practice until you are sure there is no obstacle. There are hundreds of inexpensive practice watches on eBay. I think you can do it.
I completely nerded out when you plated the watch parts. Subscribed.
After watching many of your videos, today I got my first watch repair tool kit from Amazon.
Boy do you make it look easy.
Boy are them screws and gears *tiny*.
Boy did I screw up big time.
the art of a MASTER is making the impossible look easy
the art of a CRAFTSMAN is to encourage the followers
i too would love to try but fingers that can make a cream into butter a memory that can drain pasta and eyes that need armour plating type glass. makes me happy to watch in awe
Start with cheap watches, expect to make mistakes, learn from them, enjoy!
@@philiprice7875 I hear you on the fingers and the, um, er, memory - yeah, memory. But fwiw being nearsighted is an advantage in this craft. I knew a retired fellow that did watch repair as a "relaxing hobby" (He'd worked in a standards lab and to him a millionth of an inch was nothing to get worked up over). He was extremely nearsighted and when he needed to get a really good look at some small part he just put down the jewelers loupe and took off his glasses. He and his wife are both long gone now, and I sure do miss them. They were good friends to a young man trying to figure out what he wanted to be and do. By coincidence his name was Mr. Marshall.
@@xlerb2286 yea my good eye is -20 my bad is -45 my bad is also "lazy" so doing any close up work even with a loupe is just about impossible for me. a pity as i would love to try this out
I bought myself a vintage watch because of you Marshall, A 1966 Bulova Accutron Spaceview, I got into the history and patina of the watch and brand after watching you restored all those amazing watches! Thanks for opening an other door to my life!
Never heard of that "Feintaster" before. Linguistically, it contains the german words "fein" (fine, delicate, intricate) and "Taster" (from german "tasten" -> to grope, to feel or examine through touching), so its a "fine-groper". Gotta love the naming conventions for old, specialized tools. 😁
I took about a 4 month un-intentional break from the channel and now I get to catch up!! Such an easy video to watch and relax to.
That was a great lesson for us all when you plated the watch Marshal . The steps are always fascinating to watch . I just got * some * of my tools to get started on opening my first watch to repair , or at least look at for a bit first . Cheers my friend
take in stages
stage one open back, look at the parts say "oh crap" go to stage two,,
stage two close back, buy more research books
Great work, nice to see an old watch with that much style given a new lease of life.
Great video - as always: thank you Marshall. As a brand, Universal Genève is highly collectable, because the watches they made are of outstanding quality. In fact, I would go so far as to say they are better than the watch you are wearing in the video. Much better.
Rolex is the Harley Davidson of the watch world. Looks great and is of really good quality, but is it any better than anything else in that price range? No. What they have done, such as Harley, is build a culture around their brand that makes people think they are the best at everything they do. A watch enthusiast can buy a Rolex and appreciate what it is, same with Harley (they both have rich histories), but the culture surrounding them is completely fabricated and I would say that is the thing that most people are buying into.
There's no other channel I can genuinely say this about, but yours are the only videos I never skip ahead, it's so great building up the anticipation, it never ceases to amaze me how controlled your motions must be to be able to do this. Thank you for sharing your hobby!
I've recently done my first nickel plating and made my own solution along the way - and it turned exactly the same green as you have in your nickel plating solution. I'm pretty sure just based on how it all works that you wouldn't want any sort of colourant involved, it would just risk bad interactions with the plating, same as any other undesired particle or contaminant.
It's really pretty stuff, honestly, particularly the gold medium. Mmmmm, forbidden koolaid!
@tradde11 It's actually super easy to nickel plate items. All you need is some distilled white vinegar, salt, a DC power source with clip leads, a glass jar, and a couple of small nickel plates. You fill the glass jar about 3/4 full with the vinegar, add about a pinch of salt (it increases the conductivity of the solution), clip both the positive and negative leads of the power supply to a nickel strip (positive lead on one, and the negative on the other), suspend the strips in the jar so they are not touching, and turn on the power supply. Once the solution turns green, it's ready. Turn off the power and remove the negative lead and it's nickel strip (leave the positive lead and it's strip connected and in the solution). Attach the negative lead to the item you want to plate and place it in the solution. Turn the power back on to plate. When done, you can store the solution for later use, but don't pour it down the sink or on the ground as it is somewhat toxic.
@tradde11 Yeah, what David said. The only part David might've left out is that you want to filter the solution afterwards before using it. Drip coffee filters are good for that.
You're totally right. That green colour would be from the nickel ions in the solution. Really cool stuff. Different metals ions in solution in different oxidation states absorb different light giving them their colours. Same reason that rust is orange and copper alloys like brass become green/blue after being oxidised.
@tradde11 I've made mine in similar way as described by others except i used a citric acid solution by just dropping as much of the crystalline stuff as would dissolve in water and diluting it then about 2- to 3-fold and dropped a little artificial sweetener (saccharine) as an attempt at brightener. There's really numerous ways you can go about it.
If you think about it there's actually plenty of useless organic junk floating about from any organic acid you use, especially vinegar is pretty filthy to begin with, not purely acetic acid. Once you have added salt for initial conductivity before you got any metal ions into the solution, you have at least sodium acetate/citrate or whatnot in there, there's no hard need to be particularly precious about the composition, the junk doesn't seem to interfere and might as well improve the solution.
If i were to guess, the colour is structural, by the metal ions in the solution interacting with light wavelength purely due to size. Gold solutions are known to build largely bluish purpleish colours. I don't think there's anything added for the colour, but if there was a dye, i don't think it would interfere.
WOW!!! Is that a Rolex Batman you are wearing??? Your channel must be really profitable!!! You've earned it. Love this channel.
So that one amazing little boomerang in the keyless combines the yoke, the yoke spring and the setting lever spring?! That's genius, but makes me wonder why you don't see that more often these days. You are probably right though- it's cheaper to produce the other way.
Marshal, you are such a great teacher-narrator. You're just a pleasure to watch and listen to.
Thanks for yet another fantastic video Marshall! Learnt a lot from your content over time.
One thing to note for others about the mainspring winders/replacement mainsprings. It is absolutely possible to wind these springs in by hand so long as you do it carefully and don't rush the process. There is plenty of information online about how to do it for those who can't spend a solid amount of money on winders.
Yes I do it by hand as well. I will at some point invest into a set of winders but by hand is working well for me right now.
Looks great. The science behind electro plating is so cool
Hi Marshall, cool video. If possible I would like to see a video dealing with main spring winders, left and right hand. I am having a lot of difficulty doing this. I have damaged many mainsprings trying to master this. Thanks again.
Watching you reassemble these watches is like watching a magician do magic, it’s absolutely amazing!
Marshall, you've got me to jump into the deep end! I just purchased a vintage pocket watch from Ebay and my wife bought be a Borgeon matt and basic tool set for my birthday. Lord, give me Marshall's patience! ;-)
Best of luck on your foray into the hobby!
@tradde11 pocket watches are still made today, albeit, not of the same quality as the days of ole...
@tradde11 I bought a 1918 Ball Railroad w/ a Hamilton movement. Right at $300. There were cheaper quality pocket watches, but I own a Ball wrist watch and wanted to stay 'in family' ;-)
@tradde11 Maybe junk isn't so bad to learn from. I have an automatic i got in China for $12, i cracked its crystal so i'll need to take it apart; might as well have a look see i guess how comfy i am taking apart and putting back together the mechanism; and if i ruin it, no big deal, they're a little more expensive now but infinitely replenishable. I'm used to doing microelectronics so manipulating really small parts with sharp tweezers without them pinging away too often is a skill i already have, so it shouldn't be THAT huge a jump. I'm thinking most people will struggle with tweezer control at first somewhat fierce, as well as working at high magnification.
@tradde11 We had not conversed before - you may be confusing me with someone else - and i have absolutely no gripes with you or your statements.
Your videos inspired me to take a crack at watch disassembly and reassembly, just for giggles. Spent $40 on a used "not running" pocket watch from a pawn shop. Turns out to run just fine if you wind it. Decided to take it apart anyway, using my trusty electronics repair screwdriver kit.
First screw I touched, I sheared the shaft on one of the case screws holding the movement. Back to the drawing board...
When demagnetizing, you might want to demagnetize it in one direction, then turn the watch 90 degrees and demagnetize it again. The reason for this is that magnetic fields have poles, and the demagnetizing field might line up with those poles. If that happens the demagnetizing field will have no effect on the magnetized parts in the watch that line up with that pole. The second demagnetizing field needs to be orthogonal, or 90 degrees to the initial field in order to completely eliminate any magnetized parts, according to applications of Maxwells equations.
Don't em degaussers first magnetize into a know direction then demagentize to prevent this issue?
@@arimunic That is correct to my knowledge.
Thanks to you, the more I understand how mechanical watches work, the more I love them !! 😍😍
Early birthday present to me, a new video from Marshall! Always good for a newbie like me to hear the basics repeatedly along with new information. Question: do you use the Robur press with mineral glass crystals? Or is it strictly for acrylic?
ahh all the stress that has built up over the week has gone after watching this episode
so relaxing for a total nerd like me
the photography, editing, the calm narration and although each watch assembly is mostly the same you NEVER assume that we know and continue to describe what (& why) you are doing without sounding bored or condescending.
i did take a resting blood pressure before and after (iam a geekie nerd) and was down 13 points
(silly thought after writing. you applying for a therapist licence and getting your videos on a prescription)
Hey marshal, love your videos!
Just a curious question: what complications are you working with? It appears to me that certain complications are much harder to service. Love what you are doing, exited to see your uploads every time!
Much love!
I watch a new video every night and it helps me fall asleep, thank you WWR you’re awesome ❤
Thanks to you I found a new love for wristwatches ❤❤❤
Marshall I have a Bulova Accutron tuning fork watch from the 1970s. It has not run for 40+ years and was my father's pride and joy. I've looked and don't believe you have ever done an overhaul on an Accutron. I'd love to send it you for a great episode. It has a plastic crystal that's cracked and would need replacing, my preference would be glass. Let me know your thoughts.
Good luck, would love to see that Accutron!
I don’t come because I wanna be a watch restorer but mostly I’m curious by nature and learning should never end at any point in one’s life! So I endeavor to know many things because its fun and interesting!
interesting and informative video as always! i'm wondering about the cost of the main spring winder. i work in a field where tools can be very expensive also, but ~$1k for that single item seems very high, even for a low-volume, specialty tool. are its internals unexpectedly complex for a hand crank, or does it require calibration perhaps?
now that i'm asking this, i wonder if you'd consider making a detailed video (or a series!) on watchmaking tools, and what makes them unique and/or expensive? i personally find this aspect just as compelling as the restoration videos!
I'd love to see Marshall do another video on tools (he has a couple on the channel if you haven't seen them, like what tools you need to get started video mentions which tools you can buy cheap versions of).
However, to answer your question, it's absolutely not complex inside heh, it's 100% a case of Swiss companies that serve a relatively low-volume tool industry gouging their customers. Mainspring winders are a perfect example of this, as they're extremely simple mechanically. The Chinese copies of these tools are 1/10th the price, and often made in the same factories where the "Swiss" parts are ("Swiss Made" is a bit of a scam term). You're really paying for finishing and quality control, since the Swiss companies will at least pay for better QA on their part production runs, compared to what the factories themselves sell as unbranded product out their back door.
@@awdturbopowah773 i did check those out, and am always interested in more info :)
also, thanks for the explanation... i shouldn't be surprised (working in software/security engineering), but hoped that perhaps there was something neat and mechanical hiding inside! at least a $1k investment gets you that super satisfying "thunk" every time in return :D
@@v-1nce More info is always a good thing! And sure, always happy to explain/complain about Swiss part prices 😁. It's funny in this hobby how the complicated stuff is actually cheap. A timegrapher with complex integrated circuitry, graphical display, and sensitive calibrated microphones is under $200. Yet simple hand tools that can be churned out by factory machines sell for thousands of dollars 😂At least you get the THUNK true!
I have become addicted to your videos. I'm a bit of a geek of everything mechanical and these watches are just so fascinating to see restored. Thanks for posting and congratulations on your first gold plating.
Interesting, as always. One question about the plating. How do you tell when you've got the gold thick enough to last for a while?
In general, the longer you leave in the plating bath, the thicker the gold layer will be. Also subsequent runs through the plating bath yield heavier deposition. The exact thickness depends on many variables: chemical composition of plating solution, plating bath temperature, applied voltage, base metal composition, etc. The plating solution manufacturer may have data they can share with you. Most don't. If not, you will have to break out the micrometer and conduct your own experiments using trial and error.
Note also different terms refer to varying processes and plating thicknesses. Gold flashed, gold plated, gold electroplated, heavy gold plated, gold filled, gilded, and vermeil all mean different things.
For watch cases, typical plating thickness is 40 micron of 18k yellow gold or equivalent. How you achieve that is up to you.
I don't even wear a watch but the videos are so addictive!! Thank you!
Hey, Marshall. How many of these watches do you keep in your collection and how many do you sell. Is there a place where your fans can buy one of these lovely gems?
The plating process was fascinating to see. It’s like something from an alchemist’s laboratory!
Thanks Marshall, that was so satisfying. Keep posting my friend and good luck to you.
There is almost certainly no coloring in that solution. Gold, when it is a fine enough particle, is a purple color. I'm not an expert but I have watched enough precious metal refining videos here on youtube to have been baffled by that fact.
It's due to the structure of transition metal atoms.. It's kind of complicated, but they all absorb different wavelengths of light when electrons in the d subshell move to a higher orbital when hit by photons. I recently learned that's why pregnancy and covid tests show a pink/purple line, they use some type of gold in solution
Voice full of energy and enthusiasm. Keep the good work
Just in time for bed
Oh yea
I’ve never repaired a watch, probably never will… But dang! I can’t quit watching these videos Marshall makes. After I’m done watching the video for the first time, I’ll let it run just as background sound in my house… Marshall has such a soothing voice.
*Now with the recent economy, To get Financial FREEDOM you have to be making money while you're asleep.*
That's impressive. I've been looking for a
good trader that can help me trade and make
good profits, But it's very hard to see a
trusted one... I'm so happy found this day
Fantastic video Marshall. One of the best yet. Great entertainment -- and what a classy watch.
Just to be honest, im not really into watches, and i know very little about them, but for whatever reason the algorithm sent me to your channel and i was bored at work so I clicked. And im glad I did. Your knowledge and enthusiasm about what you do is awsome and refreshing. I watched a lot of your videos since then and look forward to when the new ones pop up! Thank you and keep them coming!
These are my new evening video's 😴 from detailgeek to Tysytube ... now you 💕
old watches like this are so pretty and its really nice to see them back in working order
I am so interested in your videos. I am now digging old watches from my family out of storage to see the beauty that you have opened my eyes to. Thank you for this channel.
Watching your videos has inspired me to start getting into watch repair. Your videos are so informative and made in such a captivating way. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into the channel!
I love learning about how the watches work, and the little stories you insert are always awesome to hear, especially the watches' histories!
Nice in deed! I’m a former clock and watches repair guy. Yes, I started on pocket watches and pocket clocks! Your doing well, I must say! I’m always willing to learn more, so I’m always watching you work! Please write me back if you have time.
Marshall,
You and the the Nekkid watch repair man are my go to channels.
Lots of fun,
Cheers,
Rik
Man that leather band works! Nice!!
I've been watching you for so many years as an MTG personality. This randomly got recommended to me, and I'm glad it did. It's so cool watching you take apart these watches, very interesting.
for some reason your videos started popping up in my recommendations. i have never really been into watches (way to expensive for my broke butt) but i can not stop watching your videos. The precision and small scale just tickle that part of my brain and i find them just super relaxing and interesting. Thank you for introducing me to the world of watch repair and restoration. SUBSCRIBED
Apropos broke butt, i bought an automatic in China for about $12 about 10 years ago. I'm definitely taking a peek inside when i get around to. I expect it to look somewhat filthy inside, no two shits given, but it's a true mechanical and it runs and contains just as many small parts you know, being a clone of ETA standard movements. It even keeps time adequately.
I don't even wear a watch, but I enjoy watching and listening to this man...thanks for the video
Awesome, as usual. I'd like to see a WWR 'Special' about tools used in the trade. Especially about the used tools you've bought, possibly repaired, and re-used.
Check out JD Richard Watch Repair channel (not affiliated with him). He showcases niche specialty tools used by watchmakers. He's also great about answering questions if you're getting into the hobby yourself.
Marshall i must say: i'm a preety old sub to this channel as you might be aware and DUDE! You were once a learner but now, you are becoming a master of this craft. I've seen guys whom have doing this for 15 years and they don't have half of your skills. Awesome work my guy
You are amazing. Contrary to what you say you are a professional Your work ethic and integrity prove otherwise.Great job. Thank you.
Love the sneaky logo on the screwdriver holder :D
Ur killing it Marshall. I would say you have surpassed the hobbyist/amateur phase of working on watches by a ton. Keep up the great work.
Nice to hear you mention Mark Lovick. His channel has really helped me a ton.
My man is rockin the Batgirl
The gold plating lesson was great! In a previous video you nickel plated a watch case, but nickel is a poor surface for a watch case because many people develop allergic responses to skin contact with nickel. Gold plating is a great option because there are lots of vintage watches with worn-through gold plating that (with a lot of elbow grease) could be removed and replaced. Always learning something new!
Your narration makes the videos even more enjoyable. subbed.
100% true. The real added value of his channel are his post commentaries. There are dozen of channels out there with people disassembling and servicing/restoring watches (even better than Marshall) BUT their videos are all silent with some text popping here and there and maybe a soft music in the background.
Marshall's videos are on a COMPLETE different level, because of his post commentaries.
*- Congratulations on the 1st time Gold Plating experience. Great tutorial for us out here.*
Marshall, congrats on lubricating the pallet jewel through the access hole. That truly requires a "deft" hand. You definitely have achieved professional competence. Very nice work.
Hello Marshall ! I have to say that I really enjoy your work, you are my most important inspiration for starting this hobby. Thank you so much for your videos, your work and you will to entertain and to teach.
Thanks for sharing your vintage tools! I love how that micrometer (or whatever it was) had some kind of gear train like a watch!
Great job with replating the watch. I’m also impressed with the expertise you’ve developed in just a few years. You’re more certain of yourself compared to only a year or two ago. Keep up the good work.
Great content Sir. Inspired by you and a few others I put together my first watch a week ago. Was pretty straightforward. I'm used to handle small objects, repairing smartphones etc, so that was not an issue for me. What is more interesting is the accuracy of this build. It was running +8s/day out of the box. After first adjustment it has been running 4 days now and it's +3s ahead. Not too bad for a watch which costed 130 €. All parts from Aliexpress.
My favorite thing about these videos is the process, which includes mistakes. Like when he put it on the demagnetizer and goes "Ah, that did not help at all".
Great for the learning process to see you trying things and figuring it out too!