Anyone who has experience working with a variety of different watch movement calibres will be familiar with the benefits and shortcomings of the universal watch movement holder.  For many of the modern Swiss movements, such as those made by ETA, Omega, Unitas and Rolex, dedicated movement holders are available that properly support the movement in either of its dial up or dial down orientations.  Whether the investment in such tools is worthwhile will depend on how frequently you find yourself working on a particular calibre and so for many watchmakers, tinkerers and fettlers, a convenient workhorse will be a tool such as the Bergeon 4040.

This type of holder is convenient but tends to work best when the movement is in a dial-down orientation when bridges, balances and autowinding assemblies cannot impede the secure location of the movement into the holder.  However, for dial-up work, the holder may not exert a proper grip on the edges of the main plate and the movement can wobble around or even worse, capsize when too much force is exerted, say, loosening a reluctant screw.  The only really fool-proof option is to source a dedicated movement holder but for vintage movements, particularly Japanese vintage movements, the availability of bespoke holders is severely limited.

For the past 16 years I have used, primarily, three different adjustable holders and occasionally the odd dedicated holder.

The only bespoke holders that I have used that were designed specifically for Seiko movements are the S-501 for the 6139/6138 chronographs, the S-510 for the 7018 flyback chronograph, one or two holders designed for electronic watch movements and recently, a holder designed for the NH35/36.

For the most part though, I have made do with the Bergeon 4040 and 4040-P and become accustomed to managing (or rather tolerating) the shortcomings. 

However, a few weeks ago I spotted an auction on Yahoo Japan for a set of vintage Seiko movement holders. 

新品未使用当時物セイコー時計機械台

I had never previously seen a complete set for sale nor indeed was I conscious of having seen images or discussion of individual holders for many of the classic Seiko movements produced in the 1960s and 1970s. I was sure, though, that they must have been manufactured for use at service by professional watchmakers but for some reason they had remained inconspicuous, at least for me.

The listing was an auction with a fairly hefty opening price but not so hefty, with the Yen in the doldrums, to cause me to hesitate to throw in a tentative snipe a few Yen north of the starting price.  As it turned out I was the only bidder and the set was mine.  This is what arrived a couple of weeks later.

Sliding back the outer card cover, reveals the inner compartment with the treasure within initially obscured by the original documentation.

A closer look at this document reveals the full extent of the calibre coverage provided by the contents.

The range of movements covered by this set looks pretty comprehensive, from the smaller ladies calibres (mostly referenced in the top row), via the Bell-matic 4005/6, through the King Seiko, 44, 51 and 56 movements; the 57 Crown, original Grand Seiko and Lord Marvel, the 62, 66 and 76 series; the 45, 61 and 7005 and the 83 series of Seikomatic-R and Business-A movements.  You are even covered if you fancy working on a 90 or 91 series stopwatch movement.

Beneath the movement list are the instructions.

I’ve run this through the screen translate application on my phone, for anyone is interested in the detail.

The most important detail is the instruction that the movement should be inserted into the deeper recess when working on the dial side and the shallow side when working on the gear train and balance side of the movement.  Let’s see what all the fuss is about.

I will likely never use the bottom row (ok, maybe the 25 series) and probably never the stopwatch movement holders occupying the two recesses in the top right.  But the rest will get plenty of use.  What do you think might be lurking in that mysterious box, top left?

50 year old finger cots, that’s what.  Each holder has the compatible calibre numbers embossed on its side.

You should be able to make out that this one is for the 57, 62, 66 and 76 series.  Let’s give it a spin with an old Seikomatic 62 series.  First dial up in the deeper recess, there to accommodate all of the machinery on the balance  side.

And now flipped over, the balance side now upper most and dial side accommodated in the shallower recess at the other end of the holder.

I will discover in due course the extent to which this selection makes my life easier but these were intended to be used by contemporary professional watchmakers and so I am confident that they will see a very great deal of use.  It is also rather wonderful to have the full set, including antique finger cots, all of the documentation and inner and outer packaging.  Long live Yahoo Japan!