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Thursday, 2 June 2011

Two Exciting Springs...



Got a couple of interisting parts for you today: an unmatching pair of springs.

But what do they do?

Well, I'll get to that, but first let me prattle on about aesthetics, because, as you might have guessed, the look of a thing is always my first consideration.

These springs are made from stainless steel, which I would wager has been hardened in some way (probably to at least 290 degrees, but, judging by the stubbonness of it's scratches, I would say hotter by far). The springs, although functional, had some of the most marked signs of wear and, as mentioned, their hardness has made it incredibly difficult to bring them back to beauty.

Parts like this may not ever have been particularly attractive in the original set-up of the watch, but since they are both highly visible, I am attempting to polish them to a lustrous shine - something that is taking an awful lot of elbow grease and patience; a job exasipated by the fleeting moments I am able to spend sanding and buffing due to a stack of work I have been left to face.

To take out the scratches I'm using a pretty abrasive paper (180 grain) and running up to 600, before using the fibre mop of a polishing machine to round the edges and polish the surfaces. Given their awkward shape, it has been difficult (thus far impossible) to achieve a uniform finish.

But I live in hope.

Truth be told, I don't mind if they aren't identical, nor even if they have inconsistencies individually. All that matters is that they look passable and do their job.

Ah yes: their job. What do they do?

Well, one of is effectively a 'click' spring (a common part in all modern watches, normailly hidden behind the 'click wheel' which performs much the same function as this mighty pocket watch spring. Quite simply, the springs stop the watch from unwinding itself by applying a break to the ratchet wheel, which is attached to the barrel arbour and thus preventing the mainspring from unravelling. The 'brake' slips from tooth to tooh in only ONE direction when the watch is round.


Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.

E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.

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