How do we prevent things like this, which seem almost inevitable?

• Don't handle watches in rooms without carpets.
• Have a chain or lanyard attached to watches.
• Minimize handling in general.
• Don't be clumsy (but everyone makes mistakes).

The watch in question is a 23 Jewel Waltham Vanguard, 16 size, lever set. Serial 31324031, which indicates it is a model 1908, made in 1942 with pressed in jewels. It was in good running condition, but not a fine specimen, so worth maybe $150 -- and some sources would call it a model 1912.

So what replacement pivot do I need to buy? The likely candidates are the 4860 or the 4861. Both are friction pivots and are not riveted to the balance as is done in many watches (a Waltham innovation?). This may make my repair job a lot easier -- I just need to drive the old pivot out and the new pivot in, with no lathe work or staking. The older 4860 pivot has a square shoulder and the newer 4861 has a tapered shoulder, and is the most likely part to have been used in the 1940's era.

This article discusses the differences between the 4860 and the 4861.

Here is what the square shouldered 4860 looks like:

Here is what the tapered shoulder 4861 looks like:

Go on Ebay and do a search on "Watch Staking" to see the tool set you need to do this job properly. Go to Dashto at this link and you will find he sells 4860 and 4861 pivots for $5.00 each.

Take a look at:

• How to replace a balance staff.

Be careful to drive the pivot out of the hub, not the blue hub out of the balance wheel. The blue hub is staked to the balance and is not intended to be driven out. People make the mistake of doing so and then have a bigger problem on their hands.

The K and D set 13 was a special set of stakes and stumps for the Waltham friction fit pivots. Do a google search on "Balance Staff for Waltham model 1908" and a lot of information turns up:

• One tale
• Another tale

• Adventures in watchmaking - interesting site!