- Joined
- Jun 13, 2005
- Messages
- 1,046
Hi PSers,
I have a relatively new (to me) 1920s Elgin Lady and Tiger enamel watch (apparently somewhat of a collector''s item). Although it was working and keeping time, the winding crown was loose, so I took it to my usual expert to fix it. He said the crown was the wrong size (which I could totally believe, it did not appear to be original to the watch), and replaced it with another (I kept the one it came with).
He then set the correct time and gave the watch back to me. However, right after leaving, I noticed the watch was not ticking audibly, nor was the minute hand moving. Uh oh!!
So I head back right away... and he opens it up and says the "balancing staff (axe?)" (for absorbing shock) is broken. He said the watch was working when he replaced the winding crown. He wonders if I might have dropped the watch in the minutes between him giving it back to me and me returning to his office. I did not! I gently suggest perhaps he damaged it while working on the winding crown (I heard little sawing/drilling noises while he was working), but he said he did not. To make matters worse, he says he has no replacement staff because it is an old model. So he gives the watch back to me and suggests I try to find the right part elsewhere.
So now I am heartsick. I paid a lot for this watch, haven''t worn it much, and feel stuck.
I have contacted the person I bought it from (a reputable antique watch dealer in the state of NY). I will see what ideas he might have.
Anyways, just here to vent. This is pretty much my worst watch nightmare - it''s working, but then someone works on it, and it''s not. And that person doesn''t feel responsible, and I cannot prove anything anyways.
Grrrrr!!!
Anne
I have a relatively new (to me) 1920s Elgin Lady and Tiger enamel watch (apparently somewhat of a collector''s item). Although it was working and keeping time, the winding crown was loose, so I took it to my usual expert to fix it. He said the crown was the wrong size (which I could totally believe, it did not appear to be original to the watch), and replaced it with another (I kept the one it came with).
He then set the correct time and gave the watch back to me. However, right after leaving, I noticed the watch was not ticking audibly, nor was the minute hand moving. Uh oh!!
So I head back right away... and he opens it up and says the "balancing staff (axe?)" (for absorbing shock) is broken. He said the watch was working when he replaced the winding crown. He wonders if I might have dropped the watch in the minutes between him giving it back to me and me returning to his office. I did not! I gently suggest perhaps he damaged it while working on the winding crown (I heard little sawing/drilling noises while he was working), but he said he did not. To make matters worse, he says he has no replacement staff because it is an old model. So he gives the watch back to me and suggests I try to find the right part elsewhere.
So now I am heartsick. I paid a lot for this watch, haven''t worn it much, and feel stuck.
I have contacted the person I bought it from (a reputable antique watch dealer in the state of NY). I will see what ideas he might have.
Anyways, just here to vent. This is pretty much my worst watch nightmare - it''s working, but then someone works on it, and it''s not. And that person doesn''t feel responsible, and I cannot prove anything anyways.
Grrrrr!!!
Anne
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