Expert: Melvin Mills - 6/16/2008

Question
Hello -
I was given a Waltham (AWWCo) 1894 Sidewinder pocket watch for Father’s Day.  Please tell me how to set the time and wind it properly.  Serial #: 16444696.  Thank you

Answer
Wow,

You must be a great dad to warrant such a wonderful gift.  Congratulations.

There are two possible ways to wind a watch:  using a key that fits into the back, or winding the stem.  

Your watch will wind by stem.  Make sure the stem is pushed in.

Setting the watch also has two choices:

pulling out the stem and turning the crown or using a lever.

Stem wind is just like any modern watch.

If it is a lever set, you need to unscrew the bezel, which is the metal piece that holds the crystal.  It unscrews just like a pickle jar (or any jar for that matter).

At approximately the 1:30 position, you will see a little metal piece sticking up from the movement.  You pull that piece out, pull the stem up, and turn the crown to set the time.

Essentially, the only difference in lever set method is you need to pull out the lever before setting the watch the same way you would if it were a stem set system.

It might sound confusing at first but after the first try, you will be able to do it in you sleep.

As a side note, based on the serial number, you watch was made in 1908.

Kind regards,

Melvin