rickynow(Andrew Cooper)Aug 15, 2023
Aaron In Minnesota

Our 10yr old has gotten ***REALLY*** into mechanical watches & clocks to the point he's on the verge of starting a side gig repairing them. He mentions his hobby to everyone, and a lot of folks have a not-quite-working item sitting around. He's fixed a number of them.

He has had a tough time with an civil war era pocket watch, but was finally able to salvage a compatible part from somewhere, and he got it ticking today. He was so proud, and wants to share with everyone.

#hobby #watchrepair

Aug 14, 2023 at 9:24pmElk
Show threadMaria Langer | 📝🛥️💎Aug 14, 2023

@aeischeid @kev

That is a freaking AWESOME skill.

Show threadreaply Pop&NetBSD🚩Aug 14, 2023

@aeischeid

Smart kid. Good job on letting him pursue this skill and hobby :).

Show threadPNW DebAug 14, 2023
@aeischeid That’s awesome!
Show threadLydia SchochAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid @johnettesnuggs That is so cool!
Show threadGigawatt121Aug 15, 2023
@aeischeid that’s awesome
Show threadRellaPdx. 🌿Aug 15, 2023
@aeischeid good job!
Show threadChrisAug 15, 2023

@aeischeid

One really neat book is "Watchmaking" by George Daniels. It's a very dense book (it is definitely meant as a reference), but it has a lot of wonderful illustrations and your 10yr old may enjoy it!

Show threadthe Stripey GoodnessAug 27, 2023
@kop316 @aeischeid IIRC correctly he wrote it with the intention that it be used as a textbook
Show threadRick BelangerAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid huzzah! That’s awesome!
Show threadNoctisEqui 🇺🇦🇵🇸🇪🇹🏳️‍🌈Aug 15, 2023

@aeischeid

Wow, that is very impressive!

Show threadDrew McManusAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid That is awesome.
Show threadMelissa BearTrix 🏳️‍⚧️Aug 15, 2023

@aeischeid wonderful ... It's a great profession to get into, with vintage and antiques ... Reach out if he needs ... Hugz

Hugz & xXx

Show threadBrian SlettenAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid @melissabeartrix 👏🏻
Show threadpspinlerAug 15, 2023

@aeischeid Bravo! My own now adult daughter followed a similar path, and is now serving an apprenticeship at a clock repair shop in Des Moines!

If you're in or around Des Moines, let me know, and I can get you an intro and a tour of their shop. :D

-- Pat

Show threadAaron In MinnesotaAug 15, 2023
@pspinler we are in Ames, so not far. I am sure he would be giddy to get a tour or even just to get to talk about watches with a professional!
Show threadWilliam PietriAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Amazing! If he ever records a video of how a watch like that works and what he did to fix it, I would watch the hell out of that.
Show threadDec [{()}]Aug 15, 2023
@williampietri @aeischeid
There are many "just my hands, just repairing this old wristwatch, then just fine-tuning the regulator" videos on youtube.
But you probably knew that already.
Show threadWilliam PietriAug 15, 2023
@dec23k @aeischeid Yeah, for me it's more about the 10-year-old who has just learned this stuff and is very excited to talk about it. I think fresh perspectives on things are always interesting. Plus I know how at that age it can be challenging to have a hobby that peers aren't interested in; sometimes external validation can be helpful.
Show threadthe gripe ibisAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid this is amazing, your little one has an awesome hobby that will bring them increasing joy.
Show threadStephen CollinsAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid good on that kid!
Show threadMolli WoodtaggerAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid wow, great work💐
Show threadBrandonAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid that is friggin COOL @lisamelton
Show threadEyesOnNatureAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid this is remarkable! Awesome hobby to have - and seemingly be very good at it!
Show threadKen RedlerAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid I’d highly recommend the YouTube channel “Wristwatch Revival”. He completely disassembles, cleans, repairs, and, well, revives all manner of watches in all states of disrepair. Each episode is about 40 minutes and he’s got a sort of meditative Bob Ross vibe. It’s just a super closeup of the work, tools, techniques, narrating as he goes.
Show threadBobAug 26, 2023
@redler @aeischeid the first time I stumbled across one of his videos I kept thinking “I know this voice…” And then I realized the repairman was Marshall Sutcliffe, a podcast host and play-by-play announcer for top level Magic the Gathering events.
Show threadgeoff martinAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Congratulations to him!! I’ll always remember the first time i put a non-functioning pocket watch back together and saw the balance wheel start rocking back and forth!! It’s a great feeling! For me, the big challenge was to not get too discouraged when I couldn’t fix the next watch. One thing to beware of are watches with radium - buy your son a cheap Geiger counter to check for radiation before opening a watch case!
Show threadShawn KingAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid @lisamelton Tell your son this stranger up in Canada thinks he is *AMAZING*! What a cool skill to have.
Show threadRampant CollideAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid This is absolutely fascinating to hear. Very impressed. I'm following and eagerly look forward to more posts. Again, what a fascinating rabbit hole to run down.
Show threadCodieneCAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid That's a great hobby :)
Show threadAdamAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid That's wonderful. Keep following the passion.
Show threadMichael PorterAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid @lisamelton So this is how it starts, @silver_hand?
Show threadChris Manning/@silver_handAug 15, 2023

@MichaelPorter @aeischeid @lisamelton Yeah this is exactly how it starts. For me it was working on vintage clocks and watches with my cousin. Now the illness has progressed to making them from scratch.

Fortunately watch repair and servicing is a high demand job which pays well in most parts of the world. Hopefully he sticks with it. We need more watchmakers in the world.

Show threadskryAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Outstanding! We need more watchmakers and tinkerers.
Show threadVon XylofonAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Dude, that is off the charts!
Show threadlisa cAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid impressive!
Show threadMarco BrescianiAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid
Mine 8yo is only playing Lego... 🙄
Show threadElizabeth Moore🇨🇦Aug 15, 2023
@AAMfP @aeischeid Give your 8yo time! Not there yet.
Show threadMarco BrescianiAug 15, 2023
@Lpm1
True. Still, I'm slowly introducing him to board games.
At least they are different: room floor is always covered with Legos, when he's playing. 😅
He seems interested in my mechanical keyboards... but it's too expensive! 😁
@aeischeid
Show threadSorienAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid This is SO cool. Make sure they know just HOW awesome this is!
Show threadrskuipersAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid that's talent! Very cool.
Show threadSolarbird Aug 15, 2023

@aeischeid I imagine he's already found Wristwatch Revival, but if he hasn't, it's a very enjoyable and somewhat educational youtube channel on this exact topic:

https://www.youtube.com/@WristwatchRevival

Wristwatch Revival

I'm Marshall, I love watches and found a passion for watchmaking. I like to find broken or neglected vintage watches and bring them back to life, restoring history and letting someone enjoy them for years to come. I'm not a watchmaker by trade, but I do love the hobby and I hope you'll see why on this channel!

YouTube
Show threadSparkAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid wow that is so great. Like the best puzzle in the world. 😉
Show threadTim BeauchampAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Impressive
Show threadTom WestmacottAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Nice! I've been to the Watchmaking museum in Glashutte, it's very good & interesting https://www.uhrenmuseum-glashuette.com/en/ , maybe worth a trip in future if you have the chance? They also have watchmaking schools I think...
Foundation German Watch Museum Glashütte | Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Glashuette

Welcome to the German Watch Museum Glashütte! You will find all information about current exhibitions, Guided Tours and much more. Visit us!

Deutsches Uhrenmuseum Glashuette
Show threadBruno GirinAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid this is awesome, well done him!
Show threadLoraAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Stunning timepiece. Tell him some strange lady on the internet thinks he's an incredibly interesting young man.
Show threadSue ArcherAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Wow, well done to him!
Show threadEstarriol, Terrorist DragonAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid good for him.
Show threadSunandaAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid that's awesome!
Show threadDaniel PaveyAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid that is very very cool ❤️
Show threadDarxyanneAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid wow that is very cool!
Show threadHippyadam Aug 15, 2023
@aeischeid that's very cool and useful work 👍🏽
Show threadHein RagasAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid That is awesome!
Show threadEvelynAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid @LifeTimeCooking That’s one cool- & talented- kid you got there.
Show threadAndrew MelderAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid well done. A lot to be proud of indeed!
Show threadKelvin n0mql EN35ldAug 15, 2023

@aeischeid
I bought an Elgin pocket watch of similar vintage when I was a teen, about ‘79 or so. It mostly worked. Probably would’ve been good with a routine service/cleaning, but every “watch repair” place I took it to refused to work on it.

Got rid of it about 6y ago.

Show threadNick's worldAug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Now that's so cool! Pretty good skill to have, repairing things. It'll be great for him in the future.
Show threadElizabeth Moore🇨🇦Aug 15, 2023
@aeischeid Good for him!👏👏