PLUMBING -- Did I just give myself a worse problem?

Maybe not. Anything in the line will restrict the flow a bit, but considering the shape and flow requirements, you may never notice any difference. The sprigs will drop only to the first horizontal run and, after a hundred years or so may corrode away completely.

Take it apart again, hold a bucket against the valve, and turn on the water, and maybe you'll get them back.

Thanks, Ed, for the reassuring answer.

Wow...

The valve seat is soldered into the line behind the tile. A small, strong magnet at the end of a thread might work, except I might lose

I guess for now I'll just live with it.

Thanks, Bob F

How far is the drop to horizontal? You can get a "grabber" tool that mechanics use to grab parts that fall into inaccessible places in the engine bay in about a 24" length.

Well, the spring is steel and if the pipes are copper, it might corrode a lot sooner than that. Hopefully just the spring will corrode...

I'd attach a little neodymium magnet to a flexible something or other, maybe a length of 14 gauge electric wire stripped out of some Romex, and see if I could draw the springs out.

Actually, it is more likely stainless steel if it was in the water in usege. And therefore, likely not magnetic.

Let's see - would a stainless spring in copper pipe cause the pipe to corrode?

Actually you just found yourself a source of unlimited wealth. Now you can bottle that water, and sell it as SPRING water !!!! (or would that be THREE SPRINGS water)?

Giving you spring water :-)