The Watch Repairer's Manual – Hans Jendritzki
The Watch Repairer's Manual by Hans Jendritzki is a technical guide to the repair, maintenance and adjustment of mechanical watches. It explains watch repair procedures in a systematic sequence, from identifying faults during dismantling to cleaning, reassembly, oiling and final adjustment.
Originally published by Edition Scriptar S.A. in Switzerland in 1953, this book was reissued as an unchanged printed reprint by Historische Uhrenbücher, Berlin, in 2012. The original edition includes a preface by G. A. Berner, former director of the School of Horology in Bienne, and was prepared with the collaboration of Bergeon & Cie, Le Locle, Switzerland, concerning tools and repair materials.
The manual combines practical instructions with technical drawings and black-and-white photographs. Individual repair operations are illustrated alongside the corresponding text, with matching reference numbers to help readers identify components, understand mechanical functions and follow the procedures.
Reading sample
Contents of the Book
Watchmaking Terminology, Tools and Fault Diagnosis
The opening chapters introduce the terminology and equipment used in mechanical watch repair and explain how faults can be identified during dismantling.
- Chapter I – Terminology: Technical terms and illustrated identification of watch movement components.
- Chapter II – The Standard Equipment of a Watch Repairer: Common hand tools, precision tools and their applications.
- Chapter III – The Standard Equipment of a Watch Repair Workshop: Workshop equipment used in watch repair.
- Chapter IV – Fault-Finding During Dismantling: Examination of the movement and identification of defects during disassembly.
Hands, Dial and Winding Mechanisms
These chapters examine components involved in displaying the time, winding the watch and setting the hands.
- Chapter V – The Hands: Repair work involving watch hands.
- Chapter VI – The Dial: Work relating to the watch dial.
- Chapter VII – The Motion Work: Components and operation of the motion work.
- Chapter VIII – Keyless Work: Defects in the winding and setting mechanism, including the manufacture of a winding stem.
- Chapter IX – The Click-Work: Components and repair of the click mechanism.
Balance, Hairspring and Escapements
A substantial part of the manual deals with the regulating components of mechanical watches. The explanations are supported by technical illustrations showing individual parts and repair operations.
- Chapter X – The Staff, Balance and Roller: Work on the balance assembly and its components.
- Chapter XI – The Balance Spring: Flat hairsprings, centring the balance spring, fitting a replacement spring and the Breguet overcoil.
- Chapter XII – The Escapement: Lever escapements, pin pallet escapements and cylinder escapements.
Pivots, Jewels, Wheels and Mainsprings
The following chapters cover mechanical components of the wheel train and the mainspring system, including their examination and repair.
- Chapter XIII – Pivots: Repair work involving pivots.
- Chapter XIV – Jewel Holes: Work on the jewel bearings of a watch movement.
- Chapter XV – Wheels and Pinions: Components of the wheel train and their repair.
- Chapter XVI – The Mainspring Barrel: The barrel and its components.
- Chapter XVII – The Mainspring: Repair work relating to the mainspring.
- Chapter XVIII – The Screws: Work involving screws used in watch movements.
Cleaning, Assembly and Watch Adjustment
The manual follows the repair process through cleaning, reassembly and final adjustment. It also introduces equipment used to examine the rate of a mechanical watch.
- Chapter XIX – Cleaning: Cleaning procedures during watch repair.
- Chapter XX – Assembly and Oiling: Reassembly of the movement and lubrication of its components.
- Chapter XXI – Watch Adjusting: Methods and aids for watch adjustment, including timing machines.
- Chapter XXII – The Case, Glass and Strap: Repair work relating to external watch components.
Technical Reference Tables
Chapter XXIII provides reference tables for calculations and measurements encountered in watch repair.
- Motion work and common numbers of teeth
- Calculation of uncommon wheel trains
- Conversion tables for mainspring heights
- Table for calculating the daily rate from the interval between two coincidences
- Reduction table for daily rate
- Conversion between lignes and millimetres
Illustrated Step-by-Step Watch Repair
One of the defining features of The Watch Repairer's Manual is its close integration of written instructions and illustrations. The author explains the repair process in a logical order and uses drawings and photographs to demonstrate the tools, components and operations described.
- Technical drawings identifying movement components and their functions
- Illustrated examples of faults and repair operations
- Black-and-white photographs demonstrating the use of watchmaking tools
- Numbered illustrations corresponding to the accompanying text
- Procedures arranged from initial examination through reassembly and adjustment
The introduction explains that the book was also intended to serve as an instructional manual for young watchmakers. Elementary topics are included alongside more detailed repair procedures, allowing readers to consult individual sections when working on particular problems.
Historical Edition
Note on historical repair procedures: The manual reflects the technical knowledge and working methods of its period. Certain terminology, measurement units and procedures have changed, and some historical practices may no longer comply with current professional or safety regulations. The repair instructions should therefore be considered in their historical context.
Who Is This Book For?
The Watch Repairer's Manual was written to support the education of watchmakers and the study of mechanical watch repair. It is suitable for readers seeking historical technical explanations of watch mechanisms, repair methods, tools and adjustment procedures.
Its 23 chapters provide a structured account of mechanical watch repair, supported by numerous technical drawings, photographs and reference tables.
Book details
Author: H. Jendritzki, in collaboration with Bergeon & Cie, Le Locle
ISBN: 978-3-941539-50-1 / 9783941539501
Facts: Edition Scriptar S.A., Switzerland 1953, unaltered reprint Berlin 2012, VIII + 181 pp. with numerous illustrations, format 21 x 26 cm, paperback (perfect binding)
Language: English
