Help with old Pocket Watch?

Browny

Hello all,
I have a lovely antique railroad watch c.1916 that is in desperate need of cleaning and possibly repair (it stops running several times a day).
I'm in the northwest and can't find a soul to help me. Jewellry & watch shop folks tell me to find a collector but that hasn't happened yet, and the antiques dealers tell me to ask the jewellers. (Well!)
Are there any closet horologists here, or can anyone here suggest any help, or know of any good contacts? I love this dear old thing.
THANKS!

flogen

I know of a place in dublin that might suit... any chance you mean the north west of the city rather than the country?

Its an old tiny clock shop run by two old men, I was sent there by a girl in an old jewlery shop, she said its where she sent all her old watches that she got in that needed repair..

Sorry I cant be of much else help.. if by any chance you can make it to dublin, let me know and I'll try and help you out with directions..

flogen

Browny

Flogen, you're a dear.

I am indeed in the northwest of the whole country, back of beyond really, but for my wee watch-patient I will gladly go to Dublin and back again. The clock shop sounds Just The Thing.

I'm hoping that it simply needs a good cleaning over instead of a full refurbishment.
Directions will be most welcome!

Thank you for your help!

flogen

Browny wrote:

Flogen, you're a dear.

oh you!

Directions will be most welcome!

ok, well its on Wexford Street (the road just near the top of Grafton St, has Tower Records on it... and Wiers Jewellers on its corner). Its down a small bit, near Louis Copeland (I think). It isn't easily spotable, as its in one of the small doors beside one of the normal shops, and up a **** load of stairs. If I remember correctly, its the door beside Louis Copeland, or one of the shops on either side. When you walk in the door you should see a sign with two names and (clock) and (watch) beside each of them... thats the right place, just walk up about 8 flights of stairs to the very top, into a small room full of clocks (a bit freaky), and two old men working there.

I'll try and find out for certain which shop its over, but you wont be far off it with the above directions anyway... hope it helps you!
And I hope they can help you sort your pocket watch, they fixed mine for free, but it was just the glass that had fallen off and was easily put back on (I just didnt want to chance it)

flogen

Browny

Wow, sounds very Diagon-alleyish, but I'm sure I'll find it no problem with your directions. There's a cigar shop not far away from there I believe that's much the same, small door and straight on up. (I'm getting a bit too old for too much "straight up")

My watch was my father's so I can't bear to neglect it. What sort of watch is yours?

(I'm finding myself becoming fascinated by them, now that I own one! I shudder at the thought of growing into a collector, not on MY "income"...)

Many many thanks, again!

flogen

Dont know of the cigar shop, but tbh there seems to be many, many things in Dublin i dont know about, and no matter how hard i try never will.. brilliant when you find little hidden shops like that.

Anyway, mine is a russian memorial watch, i think it was made to comemorate Tzar Peter I (or II), I got it in the collecters den. I dont know if its really worth much, but its cool looking, so I like it! I actually havent used it in ages... i always forgot to wind the bastard up...:S

flogen

Browny

Good grief what an age it must be! I love Russian culture and art; congratulations!

I like what you said about its value : I don't like putting a 'price' on my things that I love having. The watch I'll keep forever because it was my father's, and will one day be my son's. I've been told it's worth in the region of several hundred, but who really knows.

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a day or two in Dublin - many thanks again!
S.

Browny

Odd.
After we've mentioned a clock shop, the silly watch is running again and keeping perfect time.

Possession maybe? ... I'll try a priest after having it cleaned.
:-/

old boy

j j kennelly and sons jewellers,
wickam street,
limerick
they do quite amount of work for me, a clean and ajustment is 30 euro, i believe you can post your watch to them, check by fone first,

flogen

thats pretty cool, browney, passing it down the family!

On the grounds of russian stuff, I got a cool WW2 medal from there too, its a star with the hammer and sickle on it... looks cool on my coat! (a bit like a sherrifs badge, actually!)

flogen

Capt'n Midnight

You could clean it with paraffin vapour - if the back can be unscrewed or popped easily and safely.

Get an air tight box and put the watch in it on a support to keep it dry and put a cotton wool pad with some paraffin on it in the box. The vapours are supposed to condense on the parts and carry the dirt with them. - You don't put the liquid on to the watch.

PS. This was seen in a very, year old book and was for cleaning clocks so might not be the best for watches.

893bet

I think (not 100 percent sure as have never used them) these guys do a lot of vintage work.

http://j-j-kenneally-and-sons.jewellers.shopping.limerick.tel/

Dr Strange

10 years old zombie thread. Closed.