Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-07-10
Watches and Watch Cases.
stiGenea or "FiIlea', Gold Cases vz, Soils;
Gold Gases.

1 >
who viii considerately examine =
heavy solid gold watch case, that be
| yond or aside from the necessary
| thickness Of geld for the engraving
! ana engine turning, the large pre-
| portion Of the precious metal remain
ing, Is really needed only A. a stiff
eilng 10 hold the engra we'd portion
| IN place, and give ii strength enouol
! 10 enable 1t To resist prcssur, from
without by 4udden knocks or falls
| which would otherwise LuufiIafe and
mar the case and iaiure the move
ment. This large proportion of the
gold adds greatly To- the cost of "A
watch, while IL Is actually needless.
so far as utility and beauty are CON
cefhed, as any one can testify who
has observed old watches that have
been many years in wear, the engine
| turning OH which IS worn smooth
while the works are often worn
ont entirely, or are SO far beyond the
watchmaker's skill a. to hS ttn.s.iia.
bic as time keepers.
such being the fact, then. if i'm
place OF this large amount of nraetic-
ally needless gold, Il baser metal be
substituted, the cost viii lie nropor-
tlonntely lessened, w lille the STRENGTH
solidity and beauty of the case re-
mains intact.
On the other hand, krge numbers
OF gold watches are made and sold
with cases so fragile, in order to re-
duce their cost to the lowest point.
as 10 bo almost unseryiceable, and in
fdCt many become entirely so after
lew months constant use-the COW
efs nav ing become sprung, so "a not
10 tshut, or stay shut-the Joints or
Ia i.1 l.
anu portion OF the centre rim tear
ing away, the gold having been re
duced SO extremely thin, as not to
afford SubStnncc enough to allow of
the edges being soldercd together Tor
II such repairs can be made, it is on
y AT the expense of the beauty of
iht case and with the dents and
mars that with the greatest care are
continually accumulating-t wear
er knows not now, or when they
eome-they gradually become so bat
tered and unsightly, as to be any
thing but an object of pride or pleas
Grc.
Now II these cases had been stifien-
ed with lining of baser metal. the
cost would have been little if auy
more, the need of costly repairs
would have been avoided, and they
would have remained handsome and
undefacea for years, To the great ad-
vantage of both watches and own
crS.
For actual use and appearance.
such Il stiflcned gold ease would be
worth far more than the thin one.
and he equal to any fine solid gold
one of the same thickness, and at
one-half or one-third the price.
There IL still another class of watch
cases of poor low karet gold, which
are finely finished, "made to selp'-
ana their purchasers find they are
sold, as soon as the outside color
ing wears Oft, which takes no very
long time To accomplish.
The advantages, therefore, OF buy
ing a watch with a stiffened cold
case, III preference to the solid one.
are manifest. The actual cost is hut
one-half Oh one-third as much. and
consequently ono who considers the
item OF interest on his investment
need not be reminded Of the saving
he will make in the course of ten
years, while If lost by accident or
the efforts OF pickpockets, thieves, or
burglars, the purchaser will have the
consolation of knowing that it would
have been the same if il had been OF
solid gold, and the saving effected in
the iiIst instance, will allow of the
purchase of another of the same
kind, ut 40 larger, if as great, a total
cost as originally would have been
incurred FOR n heavy solid gold
watch.
Stitloned, or technically speaking,
filled" gold watch cases of this
description are now being made in
Chicago by Messrs. J. \. Brown &
Co., Watch Case Manufacturers, No.
10 Eddy street, under n patent grant
Ell MIR. George W. Ladd, in June,
1867.
They are made from thick plates
of gold ana nickel composition,
''awcated, y or welded together, form
ing solid bar of metal, which, after
being rolled to the required thick
ness, Is made into watch cases of diff
fercnt grades.
The best grade IS termed the extra
quality, or one-half gold; the next,
the first quality, or one-third gold.
They are beautifully engraved and
engine turned, the snmc a. solid gold
cases, and III appearance cannot be
told from them. The prices are cor
respondingly less, according 10 quail
ity.
They are all fitted with Mr.Ladd's
improved spring, forged from a sim
gle piece of steel, put in without
screws, and SO shaped that the press
ure in opening or shutting the COW
er, bears upon the spring evenly at
all points, giving quick and easy ac-
tIon, thus avoiding the great liabili-
" of breaking, and consequent cost
of repairs, aa in the old method Of
springing, with two springs fastened
in with screws.
They have as yet been but slightly
introduced To the trade OF this citv,
though abroad they have a con-
stantiy increasing reputation ana
sale but We can assure the public
that they need but TO be seen and
examined to he admired, and (whou
their advantages are undcrstood) ap-
preciated.
One of these cases, furnished with
good substantial movement, made
by either of the American conpan-
les, for which they are more especial
ly designed and adapted, make a
watch that VIII give the purchaser
pleasure and satisfaction
No one need hesitate TO huy n
case OF this kind, made by the firm
above named, and it wifi not be a
matter OF special wonder if the Iadd
watch case should IL the course OF y
few years acquire Il reputation and
popularity second only 10 that of the
American movement. Certainly for
real genuine worth at low cost they
cannot be too highly appreciated,
and any person who intends pur-
chasing wasch Will do we'll to ask
their matchmaker or dealer for them