Fixing watches of all ages, shapes and sizes
Fixing watches of all ages, shapes and sizes
A new customer contacted me recently with an apparently “unrepairable” vintage Medana trench watch. The elegant timepiece of the 1920s or 1930s, courtesy of some good packaging and a little help from Royal Mail, found its way into my hands. The watch sported a beautiful seconds wheel in place of the “off centre seconds hand” that you normally see in watches of this era, that winked through the dial, whispering tales of a bygone era. But alas, it lay dormant, as if time had frozen it in place.
This dainty horological gem was no stranger to rejection, having been deemed “unrepairable” by the wary glances of more than one watchmaker. Undeterred, our determined customer sought a remedy, a lifeline for this forgotten beauty. Enter the humble watchmaker – me, with a heart as open as a dial ready to tell its story.
An inspection and a meticulous disassembly revealed the culprit – a covert congregation of dust, dirt, and strands of hair frolicking amidst the dried-up lubrication. It’s completely common, in watches that haven’t been serviced in a while, for the lubrication to dry up and, frustratingly, become an abrasive. However, with tender care, each piece found solace in the cleansing embrace, shedding its murky past to embrace a brighter future.
Amidst the delicate dance of reassembly, a challenge lay in wait – a slightly bent 4th wheel pivot, the perch for our enchanted seconds wheel. With a gentle touch and a sprinkle of finesse, the pivot straightened, aligning the celestial gears to harmonious precision.
As the moment of truth arrived, a silent prayer to the horological deities was offered, and the movement sprung to life with a grace befitting its heritage. The seconds wheel pirouetted beautifully, each tick a symphony of rejuvenated prowess.
Overcome with joy, I turned my attention to the watch’s case – a once gleaming facade now dulled by time’s touch. A soothing dip in the ultrasonic bath rekindled its lustre, unveiling a brilliance long thought lost.
In this waltz of restoration, the Medana trench watch found not just a healer but a friend. Its heart now beats anew, a testament to the enduring craftsmanship of yesteryears. As it prepares to embrace the world once more, I bid adieu with a smile, knowing that a piece of history lives on through its ticking soul.
In the realm of watchmaking, the unrepairable is but a challenge waiting to be conquered, a story yearning to be retold. And as for me, the chirpy watchmaker with a penchant for humble tales and witty escapades, another chapter unfolds with each tick of time’s eternal clock. Bringing such a beautiful old watch back to life for another generation is exactly what got me into watchmaking in the first place and it’s the type of work that brings a great deal of joy.
Some details for fellow watchmakers & hobbyists. The watch housed a Medana 234 movement, which had a seconds wheel in place of the normal seconds hand, friction fitted to the extended 4th wheel pivot. It also had a super-elegant date complication. So simply put together with an offset disc with a large, low profile “pinion” of sorts on the reverse, secured with a screw and supported by a simple spring to maintain position. It’s a cylinder escapement, which can be a bit fiddly, and it required removal of the balance wheel, hairspring and stud in order to clean the non-shock protected cap jewel.