There are animals that need your help.  These pets, many of which have been abused by their owners need your help now.  Both cats and dogs.  These wonderful pets love their owners even when they have been abused by them which is sad and shows the innocense of these pets.

Please help them by joining the ASPCA by calling 1-888-460-9998 or you can visit the ASPCA web site at http://www.supportaspca.org.

Please give something back to animals that have given so much to us.

This is rather funny.  We listed an old Waltham wrist watch on eBay that has never been used and shows no signs of wear.  It is old stock and in all reality was probably never worn.  This item remained on eBay for the last 4 days.  It reached about $30.00 in bidding.

Later today we noticed that the listing had been removed.  The reason from eBay was Key Word Spamming because we used the term "Like New" in the title of the auction.  WHAT?

Here is what we were told:

Using phrases such as “like new” in the title of your listing to describe the condition of the item you are selling leads to a poor finding experience for members looking for “new” items on the site. If your item is not brand new, please use terms such as “refurbished” or “slightly used” to describe the condition of the item you wish to sell.

Describing the condition of your item as “like new” in the title of the listing is considered a violation of the Keyword Spam policy. eBay doesn’t permit sellers to use unrelated keywords, because they may confuse and mislead buyers

Please go back and revise your listing to comply with the Keyword Spam policy.

So we called eBay.  Customer service was very nice in giving an explanation.  So we revised our title and relisted the Waltham watch.  So now we were wondering, how many other items are listed on eBay with the same Key Word Spamming.  There are 6497 other items using the same keywords.  And yes, they are still active eBay listings.  What a joke!

So we asked eBay if we reported those items if they too would be removed.  The answer was YES.  But who has the time to report all those items.  Which brings me to another point.  The petty babies who have nothing better to do than look around eBay for some listing violation and report it.

These people are losers and really need to get a life.  So whatever you do, don't list anything and say that it is "LIKE NEW" or some jealous simpleton might come along and report your listing to make himself feel better about his worthless life.

Gold Hits Record $1,000 an Ounce

Take some time and read the postings located here.

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jspa?start=0&threadID=2000509113&anticache=1204705934561

This was started by an outfit that monitors a sellers DSR.  Another fancy mess that eBay has created.  Make one wonder why anyone would want to sell anything on eBay ever again.

http://www.youtube.com/v/HYokLWfqbaU&rel=1

The Youtube version is the best one to watch.

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=2996993303927846453&hl=en

Based on the song by the Back Street Boys, I Want It That Way.

Watch Escapements Diagrams & Pictures

http://horologist.com/escapements.htm

The escapement of a watch is that mechanism which operates in a very precise manner in order to release increments of time through the gear train of a watch.

The diagram below shows the typical gear train of a watch.  The escapement of a watch begins with the escape wheel.  Next you will have the pallet.  The pallet makes contact with the balance wheel as shown in the diagram.  The balance wheel swings back and forth and with each swing locks and unlocks the pallet as it engages the escape wheel.  This arc-of-motion can range from 18,000 beats per hour to as much as 28,000 beats per hour on some wrist watches.

Here are two animated examples of how the escapement of a watch operates.  The first animation shows how the escape wheel and the pallet work in conjunction with each other.  The second animation shows how the entire escapement operates.  This becomes very interesting when you can also view the diagram of the gear train above and relate the animations with the diagram.

This is a picture of a Hamilton Inline escapement model.

This is a larger version of the Hamilton escapement model.  Notice the hand in the picture.  This will give you an idea as to the size of these rare items.

The diagram above shows a typical watch escapement and gear train.

The diagram above shows the typical setting gears that are located under the dial of a typical wrist watch.

This is a typical form of escapement that was used in early chronometers.  This is called a detent escapement.

The Straight Line escapement from the Fredonia Watch Company.  Many companies used the term "Equi-Distant" escapement when describing the type of escapement used in their watches.  This is interesting as all escapements commonly found in pocket watches used and equidistant escapement.  The escape wheel is round and has 15 teeth.  The pallet has two impulse jewels which by obvious terms divides the escape wheel into a circular operation, thus becoming an equidistant escapement.

The Waltham Friction Fit Balance Staff.

http://horologist.com/balance_staffs.htm

One of the most innovative inventions of the pocket watch industry was the design of the friction fit balance staff.  These staffs were used not only by Waltham, but other companies such as Hamilton and Howard also used them.  The friction fit staff made it possible to install a new staff without the need to cut out the old staff using the watchmakers lathe.  The only tools required was the staking set.  Click on the following picture to see details of the Waltham friction fit balance staff.

Friction fit balance staffs almost eliminated damage to the delicate balance wheel that could be caused by cutting the old staff out using the lathe or damage cause by distorting to balance arms when staking in a new rivet style balance staff.  Many watchmakers that worked in the days leading up to the friction fit balance staff hailed it as one of the greatest inventions of the watchmaking industry.

WATCH SIZES By Antique Time Vintage Watch Repair.

http://horologist.com/watch_sizes.htm

The Lancashire gauge for determining watch sizes is of English origin and is the standard commonly used by American watch manufacturers.  By this system 1 5/30 inches was taken as a basing figure and was called naught (0) size.  Every 1/30 of an inch added increased the size one number, every subtraction of 1/30 of an inch decreased the size one number. The size of a watch is determined by its width through the center at the narrowest part of the dial side of the lower plate.  The table below shows Lancashire gauge watch sizes in terms of fractions of inches, decimal inches, lignes and millimeters.

Comparative values of standards of measurement.  1 inch equals 25.4 millimeters, 1 millimeter equals .03937 inches, and 1 ligne equals 2.25 millimeters.

www.horologist.com

Pockets watches have always been treasured by their owners.  It may have been your grandfather's Ball railroad watch, or maybe it is one you found yourself in an antique store.  No matter what the history is, rest assured that we have the PARTS, EQUIPMENT & EXPERIENCE to bring it back to life.

We have one of the largest inventories of POCKET WATCH parts & material supplies available.  This is important to our customers because we usually do not have to rely on material supply houses for our everyday material needs.  This means you get prompt professional watch repairs delivered without delays.

Our Pocket Watch service and repair prices are very affordable.  Railroad grade pocket watches can be fully serviced for as little as $82.50.  Lower grade pocket watches such as seven jewel models can be serviced for as little as $62.50.

We do not cut corners when we service your pocket watch.  They are taken completely apart and all parts are inspected and examined for any defects.  The parts are then cleaned using the latest in automatic watch cleaning machines.  These machines were designed specifically for cleaning watch movements.  Your parts are cleaned in three different solutions.  Our cleaning machines also have ultrasonic attachments which enhance the watch cleaning process.

After the cleaning process your watch is put back together and all parts are properly oiled and lubricated with the latest synthetic lubricants and oils.  These synthetic lubricants last many years giving your watch the highest quality protection against wear.

Your pocket watch is then electronically timed and calibrated using quartz controlled timing machines to insure its proper timekeeping abilities.  Your watch is timed according to your watches original manufacturers specifications.

Your pocket watch case is then polished if desired.  The case is then cleaned using ultrasonic cleaners.  The movement is then installed into the case at which time we make the final inspection of your watch. 

PLEASE TAKE A LOOK BELOW AT SOME OF THE MATERIAL
WE STOCK TO MEET YOUR REPAIR NEEDS

For The Finest In Professional Pocket Watch Repair Visit Antique Time

http://horologist.com/pocket_watch_repair.htm