The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-03-03
THE UNITED STATES WATCH COMPANY.

THE UNITED STATES WATCH COMPANY
Among the many curious. changes which
time has wrought in the department O
manufactures, one may be discovered in tho
fact that the best watches in the world are now
made in this country. The days of the pretty
TOYS of Swiss and French make, and of the
once popular English lever watch, are nc
more. Yankee enterprise. ingenuity and
mechanical skill have beaten them all
Watches are now made in the United States
that for elegance of appearance, substantial
durability, and accuracy as time-keepers,
excel any heretofore made anywhere This
is accomplished by substituting machinery
for hand work in the manufacture.
In commencing to advertise, as we do to-
day, the manufactures of the United States
Watch Company, located at Marion, New
Jersey, the most perfect of the watch manu-
factories i'll this country, we propose to give
some account of the manner i'll which the
work is performed The editor of New
York paper who has made thorough inspec-
ton Of this model establishment, gives the
following description of its many cxcellencies
and striking pcculiarities
Without doubt the largest watch manufactory in
the world is that of the United States Watch Com.
tacturers of all the grades of American watches
pendant winders and key winders, and importers
manufacturers and jobbers of watches, diamonds
and jewery, solid silver ware and syer-pated
They commenced business IL Maiden
Lane in 1863. Since March. 1865, their main fac
tory has been located at Marion, n. j., a few miles
from this city on the line of the New Jersey Rail-
road. The cost of the building and the grounds,
which comprise acres. surrounded by 4 substan-
tial iron fence, was about 100000.
The principal building is 253 feet in length, with
an iron and glass front. 1t has three wings. belfry
and spire, and is one of the most paatial and
cheerful looking structures in the State, quite re-
markablc for the flood of light which pours through
the numerous spacious windows on all sides.
We have visited and carefully inspected some
hundreds of manufacturing establishments, in the
pursuit of authentic information for the benefit of
the business world, and can safely say that never
have we seen one i'll Which the comfort and con-
venicnce of the operatives We're so well provided
for as in this extensive, completely equipped and
orderly mandatory.
The basement of the east wing is devoted to
storage of great variety of materials used il the
business. The basement of the west wing COM
prlseS the blacksmiths' shop, the hardening room,
where all the steel work of the watches is perfectly
and the punching departments. In the last we
noticed no less than 81 kinds of dies. used for
punching various parts Of a watch-stee, gold,
nickel. brass. etc. The steel used is exclusively
American, and is the best steel known in the man
utacturc of watches, hardening better in the fire
than any other, and producing springs of the most
enduring elasticity: The brass is also wholly of
American production, being the best adapted to
the purposes of matchmaking. The basement of
the south wing comprises section for storage of
materials, and the engine room. in which is a 60
hon engine made by the Putnam Machine Co.. of
Fitchburg. Mass. used for heating the whole build
ing by steam. and driving I'LL the extensive ma
chlnery throughout the factory, the main wheel be-
ing 10 feet in diameter. The average consumption
of coal is ton per day, the year round.
The first floor of the east wing is devoted to the
furnishing room of the floor, and the departments
wherein are manufactured watch plates. winding
works, stop works, clicks, springs, barrels, wheels
pnons, ETC., all III the rough. preparatory to being
finished i'll other sections. The scene was 4 busy
one, long rows of expert artisans being engaged in
operating great variety of ingenious machines.
manufactured by the firm expressly for their bust
ness, many being originf4 inventions of their own
and exclusively used i'll this establishment. As an
instance of the rapidity Of the work here executed
we saw one small machine, which. operated by
one person, turns out 1000 watch barrels in the
short space of 10 hours. We here saw watch
screws 50 minute that it takes 600. 900 to weigh
one pound
As an instance Of the perfect uniformity of the
parts a. here made by the aid of machinery little
box containing steel Watch-wheels about one-fourtb
OF an inch IN diameter presenting the appearance
OF series of rods Of that thickness. We found, on
examination, that the length of an inch of one of
these SeemlnS-ros comprised about p steel watch
wheels, punched by machine, out of plate-seel,
ana then al simultaneously cogged: The perfect
Snoot hess of their surfaces caused them to adhere
to each other closely as to present the appear
ance OF one piece Of steel but they were easily de-
tarhed. The plate-stCel from which they were
punched IS of the best quality. and thoroughly
pressed at the outset, in order TO secure uniformity
IN every wheel and the absence of flaws in the
material. The first floor of the west wing is wholly
ogrnped for the manufacture of the machines. tools
ana appliances, to the number Of thousands many
OF them invented in and solely known and used by
this establishment.
The south wing of the second floor comprises the
carpenters shop where made all varieties of
Wood work used III the factory, such as drawers
benches, 1reades, pulleys, watch-boXes to contain
all the different parts of watches, etc. The re-
mander OF this floor includes rooms for the storage
of the finished parts of a watch and the denart
ments for finishing of wheels and pinions. the
manufacture OF balances and escapements. Watch
balances, which regulate all the other movements
OF Il watch, are composed of steel surrounded bv
brass ring, the union of these two materials en-
ablng the balance to resist the ineqalZino effects
of heat and cold.
On the third floor are prepared all the jewels
used m the construction of watches, such as d.
almonds, rnbies. chrysolites garnets, aquamarine,
etc, according to the grade of the watch These
precious stones are imported principally from
Amsterdam and other parts of Europe The work
floor; and other departments are occupied for fit
ting the motion works of the Notwithstanding
works. stop works. barrels. centers. springs clicks
face wheels, dias, screws. etc.; also by the depart
mentS OF gliding, engraving, damaskeening, and
The processes of damaSkeening and nickle-finish-
ing are secrets of the trade. The art of damas-
keenng originated with this house. and is known
ny no other 1t consists in impartng to the plates
OF watch II beautiful wavy style of ornamental
non resembling the changeabe shades of varie-
gated ribbons. The style of matchmaking is far
superior to that of any other house. 1t includes
naid work, is deliberately ornamental and is i'm
possible to be performed by the Old mode of hand
work. a very important feature of the watch
movements here made is, that the barrel can be
taken out without taking down the movement
MS renders 1t unnecessary to separate and clean
the entire watch when broken handspring is 10
be replaced. All movements have hardened and
tempered hairsprnss, and are 50 warranted bv
special certificate.
The fourth floor is occupied by the settng-up de-
partment. Here the 400 different parts of each
watch are together, and adjusted with reference
to heat and cold, position, and lsochronisnl. The
lsochronlsm OF watch is its ability for running
equally during the whole "A hours. When watch
IS hrst wound up its handspring is more powerful
than at the end of the "a hours yet when perfectly
made the vibrations of the balance are continually
the same, thus insuring uniformity of running at
all itv