Category: Non-Horological

Well, here we have another Francis Barker Mk III prismatic compass. I hadn’t intended to service another of these as parts are difficult to find and proper disposal of radium paint can be problematic, but with the holidays fast approaching I wanted something exceptional to gift my nephew and a prismatic compass fit the bill. Continue reading “A Second Francis Barker Mk III Compass”

There are many tragedies that can befall a mechanical watch: dirt or grime can gum up the works, a slight fall will break pivots and jeweled bearings, moisture will oxidize steel pinions in a heartbeat, and magnetism can enchant a hairspring ruining the balance wheel’s consistent beat. When examining a malfunctioning movement under the loupe, grime and oxidation are easy to discern. Broken pivots and jewels will also come to light during early testing. A magnetized hairspring can sometimes be difficult to discern. Continue reading “Francis Barker Mk III Prismatic Compass”