Pocket Watches? If anybody knows anything about them...

[JonnyBoy]

Hey everybody. I found an old pocketwatch of my father's that I can't seem to get working for the life of me. Does anybody have any experience winding these? It has a knurled knob at the top with a button, and from what I can tell the button is just used to open the front case.

When I turn the knob in either direction I am not greeted with any resistance, any ratchet action or anything like that. It almost spins freely. My father barely ever used it so I'm counting on the fact that it should work. If anybody needs any more details or knows what I'm doing wrong, please post. I really want to get this thing kickstarted.

[Shape D.]

some of them you have to pull out the knob slightly to wind them.

of course don't pull to hard just in case thats not how this one works.

[JonnyBoy]

Well, that worked to adjust the time, but I still can't get it ticking...?

[lokki]

There are different kinds.

check this out
http://www.ozdoba.net/swisswatch/pocket_howto.html#wind

[JonnyBoy]

Well, still can't get the damn thing to wind...it's probably broken...I don't know.

[danny_galaga]

most knobs on watches have several 'pull out' positions on them. one might adjust the time, the next the date then another might be to wind it up...

find all the details you can on it and start looking on ebay, google etc to see if its worth selling. i did that with some capacitors i got given and made 80 bucks 

when you find out more you can then decide if you want to get it repaired or sell it as is or just keep it as is etc...

[Stingray]

I have one that was made around 1880. The knob doesn't pull out, you have to remove the face (it unscrews) and then pull out a tiny lever that's hidden in the threads that the face screws onto. When the lever is out partway you can set the time, all the way you can wind it.

-S

[Zakk]

I have one that was made around 1880. The knob doesn't pull out, you have to remove the face (it unscrews) and then pull out a tiny lever that's hidden in the threads that the face screws onto. When the lever is out partway you can set the time, all the way you can wind it.

-S

Man....and I threw away a good watch because I didn't feel like replacing the battery.... If I've said it once I've said it 1000 times...I'm glad I don't live in 1880.