Just Thinking..........

L.Fure · Jan 24, 2015

I was just thinking about the price of oil. You see, one of my hobbies is horology. Horology is the study of time and the mechanisms man uses to observe time. Watches, and clocks are the more common devices. I've studied to become a watchmaker in my spare time while I was still working.

Mechanical watches need to be serviced like any machine. They have to be disassembled, inspected, all parts cleaned, reassembled, then oiled. Now on to the price of oil I have been contemplating. The oil used in the lubrication of a watch can cost up to $25.00 for a quarter ounce.($3200.00 a quart) One quarter ounce of oil can lubricate several hundred watches.

JD Seller · Jan 24, 2015

Well it is more of a supply and demand thing on your watch oil. First here is a very limited market. So there are not many suppliers. Also the packaging would cost much more per quart than a plastic motor oil container.

I would bet that you only buy a can every several YEARS so the volume is almost zero. I would be glad that you can still buy it at any price. Many things that have such a limited market just are not made anymore.

L.Fure · Jan 24, 2015

(quoted from post at 15:19:19 01/24/15) Well it is more of a supply and demand thing on your watch oil. First here is a very limited market. So there are not many suppliers. Also the packaging would cost much more per quart than a plastic motor oil container.

I would bet that you only buy a can every several YEARS so the volume is almost zero. I would be glad that you can still buy it at any price. Many things that have such a limited market just are not made anymore.

The market isn't as limited as you might think. There are still a lot of new mechanical watches being sold today. Then there are the collectors of vintage time pieces that like to keep their watches in running order. You're right about the amount of oil a watchmaker needs to buy. I have been servicing/repairing watches for over ten years now and haven't emptied a quarter ounce bottle. Below is a link to a thread about watch oils. Might make interesting reading.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f6/what-kind-oil-watch-oil-75926.html

rd 2N in mo · Jan 24, 2015

where do I oil my Iphone?

IH2444 · Jan 24, 2015

(quoted from post at 10:55:52 01/24/15) where do I oil my Iphone?

Those "smart phones" are not so smart. I use an iPhone at work, somehow it turns on a music player and a voice recognition system every so often. I tell it to shut up or I will bash it with a hammer and it still keeps on playing. Not so smart.

IH2444 · Jan 24, 2015

the watch oil I use smells like fish not dinos.

Alan K · Jan 24, 2015

(lol) Isnt there a little plug where you put the ear phone jack? I think that's it.

rrlund · Jan 24, 2015

My son brought some gun oil like that home from work a few years ago. I had a bolt on a 4.10 that didn't work right,hadn't in 35 years. One drop fixed it. I don't remember how much he said that tiny little bottle cost,but it wasn't something you'd use to oil hinges.

retired farmer · Jan 24, 2015

Watch oil is made from fish.

GeneMO · Jan 24, 2015

(quoted from post at 15:51:46 01/24/15) Watch oil is made from fish.

Since "time flies" is it made from flying fish?

Gene

L.Fure · Jan 24, 2015

(quoted from post at 23:51:46 01/24/15) Watch oil is made from fish.

In the old days watch oil was made from several different sources. One type of oil was refined from the oil found in the jaw of a porpus. There was even whale oil refined for watch oil. For today's watches synthetic oil is used.

GunnyIa · Jan 24, 2015

Ifure. where are you located? I have a grandfather clock that needs repaired! Think I wound it too tight?

Gunny, in Iowa

L.Fure · Jan 24, 2015

(quoted from post at 01:57:54 01/25/15) Ifure. where are you located? I have a grandfather clock that needs repaired! Think I wound it too tight?

Gunny, in Iowa

I don't repair clocks, just watches, sorry. If you go to the forum page, I'll list below you might find someone in Iowa who could help you.

http://mb.nawcc.org/forumdisplay.php?22-Clock-Repair

ShadetreeRet · Jan 24, 2015

Ifure, they say you learn something new every day. I guess that's my lesson for today. Interesting to find out! I had no idea watch lubricant was so expensive! Yet, I can understand the situation. Thanks for the information.

ShadetreeRet · Jan 24, 2015

I have just a plain old cell phone which I carry in my jeans pocket, once in a while, when I turn or bend just right, it will push a button and this lady says,"Please, say a command." In a few seconds she will repeat it. So far she hasn't gone where I tell her. But sometimes I just say, "Please cancel." and she will shut up.

L.Fure · Jan 25, 2015

(quoted from post at 05:02:46 01/25/15) Ifure, they say you learn something new every day. I guess that's my lesson for today. Interesting to find out! I had no idea watch lubricant was so expensive! Yet, I can understand the situation. Thanks for the information.

I think the saying is;" You should learn something new every day ". I like learning new things. At least new to me. Watchmaking has been around for century's. It's considered a lots art by some, but it is very much alive today. Just do a search on YouTube about watchmakers. There are a lot of interesting videos done by a German fellow, Stephan Pahlow.

L.Fure · Jan 25, 2015

(quoted from post at 01:57:54 01/25/15) Ifure. where are you located? I have a grandfather clock that needs repaired! Think I wound it too tight?

Gunny, in Iowa

Gunny,
I did a search on the website I posted. I did find one clock repair shop in Iowa. I'll leave a link below. I hope this helps you out.

http://net.nawcc.org/imis_15/NAWCC/Business_Directory/Detail.aspx?ID=264250&WebsiteKey=dcd15410-1f8f-4470-b1ca-5991592773b6

Just Thinking..........

L.Fure

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JD Seller

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L.Fure

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rd 2N in mo

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IH2444

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IH2444

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Alan K

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rrlund

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retired farmer

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GeneMO

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L.Fure

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GunnyIa

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L.Fure

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ShadetreeRet

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ShadetreeRet

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L.Fure

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L.Fure

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