How the pro's wind a mainspring

[richardh]

Believe it or not, I did actually have a demonstration of how it works when I bought it 15 years ago but I was not really able to take it all in at the time and my memory is a blank.

One tiny thing I do recall though is that a single operation is carried out with the device in one setup and then, something gets pulled out and "reversed" for the following operation? Sorry, that's about it!

Steve, you must have been having a blonde moment If someone does work out how to use your winder you'll have to really concentrate!!

RJ

[Steve]

Steve, you must have been having a blonde moment

Indeed! Although, this might sound a bit odd, but I wasn't even the slightest bit interested at the time and that's why it "passed me by". I only bought it because it would otherwise have been gifted to a local museum where it would have just gathered dust and sat on a shelf and no one would probably even look at it or know what it was. Okay, that's exactly all I've done with it too but......I'm a collector and that's what we folks tend to do!

I seem to remember worrying about a traffic warden and my car being "illegally" parked at the time too and was just anxious to collect a few things and get going before I got a ticket. Not the best environment to be shown something or to concentrate either. Oh well, my loss......

[richardh]

Better in a collectors hands than gathering dust in a museum store room!

Don't worry Steve, we'll tell you when the explanation is on it's way and you need to focus

RJ

[Steve]

Don't worry Steve, we'll tell you when the explanation is on it's way and you need to focus

Thanks!

No worries today, I have my own car-park! LOL!

[Brad]

I think i may have an idea as to how this works but Steve do i have you permision to take one of your pictures and add it to my paint program to diagram how i think it works?

Of course you do! Be my guest, folks. I have as much interest in trying to figure out how it all works as you do.

Aaron,

I am still curious to see what think.

[Steve]

Aaron,

I am still curious to see what think

Me too, Brad, but I guess we'll never know now?

[Aaron]

ok sorry guys... i just today got back from the atlantic city car show and i wasnt able to access the internet.Ill take the picture tonoight and figure out how to word what i want to say then ill post it hopefully by the end of tonight...

sorry for the delay,

Aaron

[Aaron]

Ok guys I finally got to writing my thoughts…

Heres what I think…

Ok so as Shane stated I too think it is intended to wind the spring and then wire it NOT putting it directly into the barrel.
First for the point labeled A I think this is where the end of the spring with the clip would attach. Then it would be attached to the part I have labeled B. The part labeled C is obviously used to crank the spring and wind it and the part labeled D is a ratchet system so that the spring doesn’t cause the spring to un wind. Now the parts labeled E I have no clue what they do and they may not have any purpose at all… Steve says he recalls something being “reversed” so the spring may have been wound backwards and then reversed when placed in the barrel. I seem to recall at one point seeing on TV something about main springs and if I remember correctly they wound it backwards until it was ready to be placed where it was needed. So other that that I am un sure. Perhaps ill find some time to do some research and see if I can find out more.

Aaron

[gramophoneshane]

I was also thinking later that the end of the spring would hook onto "A", and when the spring was wound, it would pull the frame up over the spring. I'm just not sure how you'd get the wire around the spring with "A" attached to it.
I'd love to throw a spring on it & experiment with it though

[MordEth]

Steve says he recalls something being “reversed” so the spring may have been wound backwards and then reversed when placed in the barrel.

Aaron,

As far as I can tell, he’s talking about the handle being reversed, as you would want it to point outwards to be able to wind a spring with it, but having it turned inwards is far more convenient for storage/transportation.

I cannot comment on how correct you guys are on the usage—I really have no clue.

I'd love to throw a spring on it & experiment with it though

I would also, although I’d be a bit concerned that I might damage the spring through my ineptitude. While being fairly ‘handy’, I’ve never had to wind a spring.

— MordEth