Reassembly: Glycine Compressor ETA 2472

As the new mainspring has arrived in the mail yesterday, I can put the Glycine back together.

I had a great training session with my master watchmaker in Gloucester yesterday (thanks, George!), and we spent the day in his workshop.

With new inspiration, it’s back to my own bench …

As usual, I start off with the barrel and barrel bridge. The barrel arbor pivots both get a bit of D-5 before they go in.

Just to amuse you, I notice too late that the second wheel (there is no centre wheel) has to go in before the barrel. Oh well, barrel bridge back off, barrel out, second wheel, in, and we are back in business. Wouldn’t be fun for you if these things didn’t happen!

Now I can put the wheel bridge in.

I turn the movement around, and put the bottom balance jewel in. The cap is still on the side.

With the flat side up, I put a little drop of Moebius 9010 in the middle of the cap. Once I put the cap on the jewel, the capillary effect of the tiny jewel hole will draw just enough oil into the hole and leave some on the cap.

Once the cap is on, I close the shock spring, and I have a perfectly clean, oiled bottom jewel.

I do the same with the escapement wheel cap jewel.

As I use a cleaning fluid that contains ammonia, I clean the pallet fork with a piece of rodico. (Ammonia dissolves the shellac which is used to hold the pallet jewels in place).

With the pallet fork cleaned, I can mount it with the pallet cock. Now is this a beautiful movement, or is this a beautiful movement?

Same procedure with the balance top jewels – jewel in, drop of oil on cap, cap on, close shock spring.

With the mainspring just one turn wound, I instantly get a decent amplitude.

Now it’s time to put together the bottom plate. I like this date changer construction – it’s very fast (e.g. the date change happens very quickly just at midnight).

Now just look at that. Gorgeous.

The dial and hands go on.

I case the movement.

And now I can mount the auto-winder.

Someone tried engraving for the first time 😉 I wonder if this watch was worn by someone in the military – I read that Glycene Compressor watches were very popular with the US Army.

What’s not to like?

Only one thing I can say about this watch: Grab one for yourself!

I will leave the watch on my bench for a couple of days, and then make a final adjustment. Nice amplitude, perfect beat error, hello ETA!

9 thoughts on “Reassembly: Glycine Compressor ETA 2472

  1. Wonderfull work!
    Loving every picture and bit of history around it.
    Can’t wait to get a slot for my Glycine Compressor and my other watches patiently awaiting expertice 🙂

  2. I am a hobbyist watchmaker and like these old eta movements. I was recently doing one and ran into a minor hiccup. Can I be cheeky and ask some advice. The rotor post on a 2452 I am servicing is exactly like the ones in this 2472 and keeps coming unscrewed. If I tighten too much the rotor won’t spin freely. If I leave it loose, the screw backs out. Should I put a drop of loctite in to holt the screw in place? Or dose the screw get held captive at the correct point with the winder bridge in place.

    • Hi Clay,

      You have a problem here – one of the parts you are using doesn’t fit or is damaged, or your barrel lid isn’t on properly.

      You have to be able to tighten the screw and still turn the wheel.

      • Sorry, I may have used the wrong terms. No issue with the crown wheel. I am talking about the oscillating weight for the auto wind bridge. On 2824/36 that i am used to servicing the screw is on the outside and there are bearings. On the older eta movements, the screw is on the inside and tightens down on a ruby bearing for the rotor post. Too tight, no motion, too loose, and the screw backs out.

        • Never mind, I tried again and I think my expectation was that the rotor would move as freely as the bearing ones on the later movements. I added some d5 on the jewel and it is rotating freely and the screw is tight. Thanks for the help. You have a great blog.

  3. Found this web page very interesting and informative . Because I “dabble” a bit in watches , my brother in law asked me to look at his Seafarer Watches of Switzerlad time piece which is not functioning (Compressor Brevet 313813 ) On examination someone seems to have completely mangaled the location ring on which the movement is attached to the the 2 screws and tags , so much so that when I attempted to straighten it , it just snapped at the point for the button clearance radius .Also the seal which goes between watch and backcase is missing / gone .
    Thank you

  4. I read your blog from the beginning, and I really like it.. When reading through the posts, your improvements show through. Comparing the service of Juwelier Linkersdorff to my Constellation to your work, the Berlin company has plenty of headroom for improvements.

    The Glycine turns out to be a hidden beauty. Is the movement gold plated? The pictures look like it. Thank you for your brilliant work. And the pictures deliver insight into your service.

    Stefan

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