The Hawaiian gazette., 1880-08-25
waltham Watches.


The rep ,rt of the Judges in Horolcgy, |
which we published April 10, was document |
of more than ordinary interest The slightest
glance at it will show that the judges brought
no small amount of ability and industry to
their task. In many other classes Of exhibits
Judging must, to no small extent, be matter
of opinion. There is no absolute test by
which one photograph, for example, or one oil
painting can be decided to be superior to an
other. In exhibits of this kind much must be
left to the taste OF the critic Watches and
chronometers, on the other hand, can be sub
mitted to the minutest tests. The care and
trouble which these require are not small, but
the issue is sufficiently important to warrant
all the labor which the judges in horology
brought to their work. Time-keepers that
can be relied upon in all weathers and in all
climates, and that are within reach of all
classes, are a luxury of no common order, but
to large number of persons they are neces-
sity also. In these fast days, when every
thing must be done to time, it is for variety
of purposes found necessary to make accurate
divisions, not merely of the days and hours,
but of the minutes and seconds also. The
verdict which the Judges in our Exhibition
have pronounced on the Waltham watches is
one of which any company might be proud;
but the facts on which the verdict is based are
as interesting to the public at large as to the
parties Immediately concerned. One of the
secrets of American progress lies, first in the
invention of machinery, and then in its appli-,
cation to almost all descriptions of industry.
1t is the bringing of machinery to every branch
of Matchmaking that is enabling Americans to
beat the world in this as well as in many
other things.
There has been general belief that ma
chine-made watch is not to be compared to
one that is handmade, and that on this &C
count the English watch must always hold its
own against the American. This belief will
have to be given up, if it is not given up al
ready. 1t has now been established that ma
chinery can be used for the purposes of watch
making with quito as much success as for
those of agriculture. The Americans are
showing that they can make better watches
than the Swiss or the English, but, what is of
equal Importance, they are showing that they
can make them for less money. The boast of
the Yankees is that they can turn out work
cheaper and better than anybody else, and
that for that reason the world must take their
products. 1t would be difficult to prove that
in some departments the boast is wholly with
out foundation. The American mechanic is
paid better than the English mechanic, and
yet the work which he turns out can, as
rule, he sold for less. The reason is, not only
that he works harder. but that the assistance
, of machinery enables him to produce the lar
: gest result by the smallest amount of labor.
, Mr.. Brassey, who believes that the workmen
, of his own country are equal if not superior to
any in the world, maintains that an English
mechanic can do more work than an American
mechanic. The American really does more,
, because the inducements to industry are
greater. and because he has better machinery.
The success of the Waltham Company has fur
nished striking instance of this. This COM
, pany has now not only well-nigh driven for
eign matchmaking companies out of America,
but it has shown that it can more than COM
pete with them on their own ground. This
arises partly from the fact that it can turn out
the best work on large scale, but also from
5 the fact that the principle on which it operates
enables it to do all this economically. The
Waltham Company claims to have arrived al
= simplicity, uniformity, and precision in the
manufacture of watches, and the report of oul
judges shows that its claim is we'll founded
. One of its discoveries was that simple in
# strument, where simplicity is possible, will
e cost less and be worth more than complica-
r ted one. Another was, that the making of al
!. instruments of the same grade exactly alike
n so that the part which belongs to one belongs
r. TO the whole, will not only facilitate manufac-
n ture but will greatly economist it. A thirG
was, that these properties of simplicity anG
It interchange ability are the best guarantees O
n perfect exactitude. The success which the
: Americans have reached in this as well as il
: other branches of industry ought to excite the
d gratitude rather than the jealousy of tn,
g world. Any company or nation that show.
e how maximum of efficiency can be reached
n by a minimum of labor confers benefit OIL
y mankind. This our American cousins hav,
9th ,,,lA la,.l ,hnt nf, ,tol
n making. There are branches of the prosper
W ity Of the Americans that are traceable to tn
N extent of their territory and the fertility o
m their soil; but the triumph of their machiner,
If has been the result of their inventiveness AM
of their enterprise, and for that reason it point
: moral that Australians might proftabl,
/ observe.-Sydney Morning HerdId. w "a