The wind indicator restoration has proceeded to the replacement of the indicator drive train as shown above. The initial drive gear that was the subject of some consternation on initial examination has been solved with a second gear ring on the mainspring barrel. On close examination some remnants from a previous ring were found.
Bill Tapp and I now believe that this was definitely a hand made watch by Charles DeLong to prototype the new wind indicator in an open face configuration. This project was apparently abandoned because the arrangement was crowded and the idea of using a hunting configuration was easier to implement.
This mechanism works exactly the same way as in the McIntyre Master Watch. In the picture, the bright silver colored wheel at 9:00 engages the dark wheel, as the watch is wound, to reset the indicator. When the winding force is released, the click recoil disengages the two wheels. Unfortunately, this wonderful little mechanism will be hidden under the dial when the watch is complete.
Work is still under way on this piece and we hope to have it completed in the near future. There is currently no provision for setting, although the small slot for the lever indicates what was intended. This is further evidence that DeLong abandoned this effort when he had completed enough to analyze the mechanism in an open face configuration.