10A Watch Hands - Restoration or NOS

Submitted by DreamWeaver on September 18, 2012 - 1:35pm

Does anyone know the BEST place to get my old set of hands refinished for my 1926 Conqueror listed on the site? The hands can easily be seen in the photo below. They need to be "Re-Blued" and Painted with an orange-color luminicent panit. IDC can re-lum...if someone can emery sand them (or whatever is used when they are rusty) and re-blue them. IDC doen't do a good job as far as I've seen on rusted hands...byr their lum work is usually great! Let me know, please. DW

Daca102090
Posted September 18, 2012 - 7:07pm

You can try John, JP is his forum id.  In the froums there is a listing in the Parts and Trade for radium hands.

He has a good selection for the 10AN movement which should fit the 10A, at least I think.  here is a link http://www.mybulova.com/node/4510 

mybulova_admin
Posted September 19, 2012 - 5:06pm

My only concern is that I don't think the hands are original to the Conqueror series. If you look at other examples you will see the correct hands used. They are the more rounded spade style. I believe that this style if cathedral hand didn't get used until mid to late 1927.

They could have been replaced way back when.

For me and keeping the watch authentic, I'd try and find a pair of the spade style hands.

William Smith
Posted September 19, 2012 - 5:38pm

DW  JP should also have the "as original" hands to which Admin is referring.  The "spade shaped" hands.  I got a pair from JP and they are perfect.  JP knows which ones we are talking about.  You can PM him for details.

bobbee
Posted September 19, 2012 - 5:46pm

The spade end type are, I think, referred to as " squelette", or skeleton hands.

JP
Posted September 19, 2012 - 7:17pm

Some people just get lucky all of the time. I just picked up a nice selection of the spade hands. I have to run right now but will PM you later with some pics.

DreamWeaver
Posted September 20, 2012 - 1:20am

The problem Admin is I have spade-type too...but they are for a 10AN or 10AE and don't fit a 10A. So JP needs to make sure they fit on a 10A watch hour wheel and cannon pinnion....otherwise it does me no good. DW

William Smith
Posted September 20, 2012 - 3:51am

I could "measure" my 10AN and my 10A hour wheel/cannon pinion before I could find this info "out there" somewhere.  Maybe someone "knows" so I don't have to try such an accurate and precise measurement?

The batteries on my $8 Chinese claipers are dead....

...so I'd have to use my kids tool instead...

...unless these sizes are specified on the NOS cards the hands come on, and there's a chart which lists the sizes of the 10A vs 10AN movement pinions in question?

dhhirsch
Posted December 6, 2015 - 6:39pm

I bought this watch from Dreamweaver in October, 2013 on eBay.  I've recently had the dial and hands redone by my watch guy.  He also relumed the dial.  Anyway, I wanted to share the restored watch.  BTW, I noticed that this watch was never posted to the database.  There are several discussions from a few years ago about it.  Should I post it?  There are plently of 1926 Conquerers posted, so maybe its not necessary?

David

Reverend Rob
Posted December 6, 2015 - 8:30pm

The more the merrier!

For anyone interested in dial or hand re-luming, keep in mind these are filled with Radium. The dust is toxic, as the Radium is pretty much still as hot as it was on day one, with a half life of 1601 years. It's not a significant hazard unless it is ingested, either by inhaling the dust or accidentally ingesting small particles on the fingers, for example. It will contaminate tools, bench mats, and anything it comes into contact with, like Rodico or emery paper. The hands will remain radioactive even after the Radium is removed, as will the dial, but at a considerably reduced level. I have clocked these at 120 microsieverts, but the average is about half that. Again, not a hazard unless ingested, but precautions should be followed when working with it. Radium was used in wristwatches until the early sixties, depending on the country of origin, and into 1978 on clocks, even in North America. What's ridiculous about this is we were aware of the dangers by the late 20's. 

We have discussions elsewhere on Radium:

http://www.mybulova.com/forums/radium

 

mybulova_admin
Posted December 7, 2015 - 9:20pm

 

Yes please add it to the database. Everyone of these helps to complete the picture and history. The serial numbers are really important to capture.

JP
Posted December 8, 2015 - 1:57pm

I have spade type hands to fit the 10A. PM me if interested.

JP

 

dhhirsch
Posted December 9, 2015 - 11:22pm

In reply to by JP

Thanks JP,

I'll let you know... I may just leave it as is, but I also may need some hands for some of my other watches...

David