by Alex Hamilton | Jun 7, 2026 | Random Thoughts
A viewer sent in a question that was so good it deserved its own blog post as it references two hundred years of adjusting theory. Here it is in his own words. “I’ve always wondered about the line of eccentricity, the eccentric linear direction of... 
by Alex Hamilton | May 2, 2026 | Random Thoughts, Uncategorized
Diagnosing a Non-Runner: The Four-Step Process A movement lands on your bench and doesn’t run. Or it runs, but so poorly you’d call it the same thing. The usual first move is to start poking around hoping something jumps out. Sometimes it does. More often,... 
by Alex Hamilton | Oct 10, 2025 | Random Thoughts
In restoration work, there is no skill more important for a watchmaker to learn than how to repivot a wheel. Repivoting restores the arbor by installing a new pivot when it is broken or worn to a level that is not repairable. Traditionally, watchmakers would anneal... 
by Alex Hamilton | Aug 8, 2025 | Random Thoughts
Purpose of the Arrow-Marked Screw on the Barrel Bridge Your South Bend 16-size Model 2 (Grade 209) has a unique arrow-marked screw on the mainspring/barrel bridge. This isn’t just a regular screw – it’s a winding/setting lockout mechanism present on all... 
by Alex Hamilton | Aug 1, 2025 | Random Thoughts
Evaluating an Automatic Watch’s Winding System Automatic watches rely on a rotor that turns with wrist motion to wind the mainspring. To ensure an automatic winding system is functioning correctly, one must consider the watch’s specific winding requirements,... 
by Alex Hamilton | Jul 18, 2025 | Random Thoughts, Uncategorized
Understanding the Issue In a detached lever escapement, drop lock (the initial locking depth when an escape wheel tooth lands on a pallet jewel) is too shallow on both the entry and exit pallets. Yet the drops (the free motion of the escape wheel after unlocking) are...