mainspring winder

mainspring winder, 3 barrels

A small watch mainspring winder, covering the three most used sizes of wrist watch barrels.

steel winder, comprising of central cylindrical rod screwed into circular base with three different sized holes.

Having removed a mainspring from its barrel for cleaning or replacement, it was difficult to rewind the spring into the barrel without causing damage or distorting. Many different types of mainspring winders were invented, one of the more satisfying types, like this one, having many sizes of barrels, ranging from the smallest wrist watches to pocket watch size. The spring was first wound into a slightly smaller size of barrel, and then transferred into the watch's barrel.