Restoring This Old Verge Fusee Watch by Robert Porter

This guide is packed with over 65 pictures and supporting text that show you step-by-step how to disassemble, clean, repair, reassemble, and lubricate an ancient key wind and set, chain-driven watch that is typical of many other verge fusee watches from two hundred plus years ago.

The clues in the watch case are used to determine when the watch was made, what the case is made of, and where the watch most likely originated. Other topics include, how to let the power down so the watch can be safely disassembled; how to remove the tapered pins that hold the plates together; useful information is given about servicing the fusee, it's ratchet mechanism, and the miniature chain that couples the fusee to the mainspring barrel; the step-by-step, what goes where, reassembly of the gearing, the plates, the balance and hairspring assembly; making sure the watch is in beat; winding the fusee chain onto the barrel, and setting the mainspring preset power; assembling the motion work under the dial; making replacement tapered pins, and determining the best direction to insert the tapered pin holding the movement in the case.

This guide should help you to enjoy these fascinating miniature mechanical marvels from long ago.