4 Day Beginners Watchmaking class.... would it be worth it? Read Bob...

Submitted by plainsmen on December 30, 2010 - 6:13pm

So this is just a wish list type of thing but actually doable for me if I save up the dough and make it a little "daddy time" next year.

The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, Inc. (NAWCC)  apparently puts on a 4-day "Basic Pocket Watch" class for beginners.

www.nawcc.org/images/stories/education/f301.pdf

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

 After ready up on it, it totally sounds like something I'd love to do. 

The price really isn't to bad... $300 and I think another $70 if I'm not a member... which I'm not.. I suppose I need to find out how much membership is... maybe save myself some money.

Of course... that is if it translates into wrist watches... which I think Watchmakerskid said it does.

OH and after I know how to do that an practice quite a bit... they have a 4 day class on REFINISHING DIALS!!  Another thing I'd love to know how to do myself.

www.nawcc.org/images/stories/education/f402.pdf

Anyway.... I know I can probably figure out this stuff myself... but I'd love to get some hands on with an instructor for 4 days...  I'm thinking a guy could come out of there pretty much confident in his skills enough to start working on my own stuff.

What say you gents?  Anyone have any experience with any of these classes?  Do you think it'd be worth it?

On the off chance.... anyone want to meet up to take one later in the next year?

 

 

plainsmen
Posted December 31, 2010 - 1:30pm

Oh hey Bob!

They have one of these 4 day courses in Crown Point, IN in March!

We should go...

Bob Bruno
Posted December 31, 2010 - 3:27pm

In reply to by plainsmen

Plains, I have nethier the talent, patients, or the eye sight ( I'm almost blind in one eye) to do my own watch repair.  like Dirty Harry said " A man has to know is limitations" I think it's great that you want to give it a go. I love your enthusiasm ! I live about 5 minutes from Ohare airport  so if your in the area on your way to I.N. let me know. Maybe you could stop by for a beer.

Bob

plainsmen
Posted December 31, 2010 - 4:41pm

In reply to by Bob Bruno

What is this "beer" you speak of?  The word sounds very... intriguing.... hrmmmmm.  Yes... yes if I go we shall have to try some of this "beer" you speak of and discuss the finer points of it's consumption as well as watches!

Wayne Hanley
Posted December 31, 2010 - 3:13pm

That $70 is probably the current NAWCC membership fee per year. I was a member back on 2007 FOR $65. Wasn't my kind of organization. Didn't get much return on the membership fee.

 

plainsmen
Posted December 31, 2010 - 4:43pm

In reply to by Wayne Hanley

Ah... that makes sense. 

Back to my original question though... if I learned how to tear down, clean, and reassemble  big old pocket watches, would that translate to wrist watches?

Stephen Ollman
Posted December 31, 2010 - 6:44pm

IMO, yes very much so.

The mechanics are fundamentally the same,  just on a different scale.

plainsmen
Posted January 1, 2011 - 10:33am

Very good Steph... I think I'm going to start saving my nickels... maybe sometime this next year I'll be able to go.  

You have to think that course would pay for itself after the first few watches you clean/service yourself.

When I'm hungry don't just give me a fish.... teach me how to fish so I can feed myself!

vintagebulova.com
Posted January 8, 2011 - 10:58pm

The dial class is for clock dials. 

plainsmen
Posted January 8, 2011 - 11:02pm

In reply to by vintagebulova.com

Awww....  that stinks.  Here I thought I could try to learn how to do everything in house.

Thanks for the heads up Vin..

vintagebulova.com
Posted January 11, 2011 - 8:09pm

Watch dial refinishing is a real art. 

Timemachines
Posted January 26, 2011 - 10:31am

Hay Bob,

 I was reading this post and I thought I would ad that you can find some good programs on Ebay that will teach you at home if you like. They are pretty good !

1) Bulova School of watchmaking on cd

2) Chicago school of watchmaking on cd

3) Beginning watch repair on cd

4) Serveral others on Watch repair on cd

 All of these will allow you to learn at your own pace and are very cheap in price compaired to a real school.

 They will all show you the basics of the watch and help you understand them.

 I would recommend them as your first investment.

 Mike........ P.S. When I joined the NAWCC, the cost was $20.00  LOL

Kunapets
Posted January 26, 2011 - 10:25am

I was looking into the Bob Tascione watch and clock repair on-line courses. They look interesting and priced right. Does anyone have experience with these courses??

 

Thanks  Ken S

Timemachines
Posted February 4, 2011 - 7:27pm

Hi Ken,

 I have two of these , The Bulova School is a very good beginer course, The Chicago School is very good, and much more detailed. I have not seen the others, but I'm sure that you can learn alot from every course that you buy.

 They are so cheap in price, that you might be able to get them all .  LOL

 Hope this helps.  Mike..