Vintage Roamer info neede!!!

[vultures78]

Hi all,

So once again I was on local fleamarket and I picked this one up.
BUT, I cannot dissasemble it or open it. When I try to open it bezel and horns come out in one piece and movement with glass and crown in other. Crown can not be pulled up or out (at least it seams like that to me) so I realy do not know how to identify this Roamer. If there is some sort of cataloge so these numbers on the back can say more about it. I have found one Roamer that looks similar and numbers on the back are 100% match. http://rover.ebay.com/ar/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?mpt=285033948&adtype=1&size=1x1&type=3&campid=5336121778&toolid=10001 http://cgi.ebay.com/ORIGINAL-VINTAGE-ROAMER-INCABLOC-Winding-Wristwatch_W0QQitemZ190290787506QQcmdZViewItemQQim sxZ20090303?IMSfp=TL090303133002r11246 (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5336121778&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2FORIGINAL-VINTAGE-ROAMER-INCABLOC-Winding-Wristwatch_W0QQitemZ190290787506QQcmdZViewItemQQim sxZ20090303%3FIMSfp%3DTL090303133002r11246) Can I be sure that it also has same movement. It has been opened, so I hope mine can too. Any suggestions, help and clues are welcome.

[Ray MacDonald]

Those are likely Swiss patent numbers. I'd say the watch is a 1960s model wind-up. Some of the Euro-experts might be able to help you further.
The eBay movement is an MST 801.
http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2uswk&MST_801

[vultures78]

There is no sound of rotor and it sounds like every other wind up movement when wound up, so it probably is. Was MTS Roamers in-house movement?

[Marrick]

Roamer and Medana were brands of MEYER & STUDELI S.A., and MST was the brand used on their movements. See

http://www.watchcarefully.com/articles/roamer.html

Your watch probably has a split stem. If you pull very hard on the crown, the stem will come apart. Or you will break it.

See: http://montresuisses.blogspot.com/2007/01/tutorial-split-stems-of-one-piece-watch.html

Personally, as I find it easy to break stems, I don't attempt this kind of case. Others do and will hopefully give their views.:-!

[Hartmut Richter]

To elaborate on what's in the link: MST wasn't the in-house movement of Roamer, it was more the other way round. MST was an "ebaucherie" at first (i.e. movement maker) who also later sold watches under an in-house name "Roamer". The watches were successful enough for the whole company to take on that name, nevertheless, movements were still made available to other makers.

Hartmut Richter

[sesquipedalian]

So far I have three (or four?) Roamers and all of them have that same style case... and all have split stems of the style mentioned in Marrick's post. The easiest way I've found to deal with them is with a padded end-nipper or diagonal-cutter. When the jaws are placed between the case and crown and the tool is squeezed (gently!) the outer half of the stem will usually pop off quite nicely. Of course, if the stem is rusted or otherwise seriously damaged it may break but I've not yet had that problem. After having worked on the MST movements in mine I've become quite a fan of them and Roamer is one of the brands I'll always jump on if I find a cheap example.

[Roland Ranfft]

Hi,

I guess this archive entry describes and demonstrates sufficiently how almost
all old Roamers are assembled or disassembled:
http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&2usau&1182956538

As opening tool only two thumbs with solid nails (for the crown) are needed

Regards, Roland Ranfft

[vultures78]

Thank you all for contributing in solving this question. So MST started Roamer if I understood it correctly.

sesquipedalian: If you could make some pictures of those tools and post it here, so I can see how it looks, because "padded end-nipper or diagonal-cutter" doesn't ring any bell in my head. I know my English is limited in that special tools end, so few pictures would do the wonder.

Roland Ranfft: First of all I would like to say one BIG thank you for your database with pictures and detailed description of movements. I use it on daily basis and watch world would go blind if you weren't here:thanks
If I am understanding you correctly all I need to do is pull crown out very strongly and it will eventualy pop out???

[sesquipedalian]

Attached are pictures of each, shamelessly stolen from tool supply websites. You'll have to work out the padding yourself (I use a very thin piece of leather) - just make sure it's something that'll keep you from killing the case or crown. I must have the thumbs of a little girl because I've never been able to pop that type of stem apart by hand as the good Doctor suggests, but if it works for you feel free to mock me without mercy :).

[Marrick]

People might find the first part of this interview interesting:

http://www.timezone.com/library/tzints/tzints0010


http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/44778/2792591650101294029S425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/42516/2788634550101294029S425x425Q85.jpg

[Eeeb]

Very interesting 10 year old article. These articles are just about the best thing about TimeZone.

[vultures78]

Hi all,

Just to make a conclusion. I took watch to watchmaker so glass is polished and asked him if he could open it. He did so in 5 sec. with his bare fingerso|
So it is not that difficult:think:
I just tried at home again and I succeded. Dismantle case from horns, remove glass and inner bazel and flip dial out and twist crown a bit and pull out.
There is a MST 414 (http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&0&2uswk&MST_414) live and kicking inside.
Thank you all in helping me solve this puzzle.:thanks