Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-12-23
ELECTRICITY AND WATCHES.
EVIL Kfect OF the Former on the
Latter.
Rochester post-Express.l

lI;ochester Post-Express.l
I'll you have got watch, don't go
near that machine" said Superintendent
Redmond of the Electric Light Company
to "A reporter Of the Post Erpress, as he
entered the company's building at the
lower falls few nights ago. having
safely passed the Positively no Adj
mitiance" sign and gained an entrance
at the usually barred gates. As he
spoke he pointed TO one OF the liue gene
rators which stood on one side OF the
building, and which. like all the others
in use, emitted constantly bright sparks
OF light from the rapidly revolving ma
chinery Each ol these generators keeps
forty electric lights, and Is run by the
water power uf the falls, one OF the
largest bands in the State being used III
making the wheels go round. The noise
in the building, caused by the thousands
of revolutions minute, Is almost deaf
ening, and conversation is impossible ex-
cept at lung splitting tone of voice.
What possible connection there could
be between such a large piece of machin-
cry and watch, even II it be of the
cumbersome kind carried by the reporter,
was not clear at a glance. and he looked
interrogatively at the superintendent.
'If you go within certain distance of
that machine, said Mr.. Redmond, sit
will spoil your tme-keeper. Taking
advantage OF the "timely warming" the
reporter kept within the prescribed linn
its, and gained some points of interest
not generally known to the public.
One of the most peculiar things con
nected with the electric machine is the
curious effect it has on time-pieces.
Placed within few feet OF the positive
pole of the electric machine, the watch
stops absolutely. Ii exposed immedi-
ately to the negative pole of the ma
chine, it will resume its accustomed
ticking, and it is said very little bad
effect is noticed, Very many watches
have been utterly ruined, however, by
careless persons going too close to the
machines, through Ignorance or the neg
lect of the attendants warning them of
their danger. None of the men EN-
ployed at the works OF the lower falls
carry any costly watches, and Superin.
tendent Redmond contents himself
with low-priced piece, with American
works, which is difficult to get out Of
order, and which American.like will not
not admit of defeat from such small
concern as an electric light machine.
One of the most prominent watchmak-
ers in the city said to reporter recently
that electricity or magnetism is one OF
the worst things we have to deal with.
A magnet would create more mischief in
a half hour among these watches than it
ever did in Grosvenor's hardware
shop" in Patience, and more than could
undo in months. Perhaps never could
remove it entirely. wouldn't have
horseshoe magnet in my place for big
sum. Yes, I've known of several
watches being seriously injured by the
electric light machines. You see, the
difficulty is with the balance wheel and
hair spring, both of which are made of
steel. The positive pole Of the mag
net influences them and CAUSES
the watch 10 keep all sorts of
unreliable time. While we can replace
the spring very easily, it is more difficult
to remedy the balance of the evil Prin-
cipal John G. Allen, of this city, had a
costly watch affected some time ago,
through exposure to the machine in
Powers block. | took it and after
working at it three months succeeded in
demagnetizing it, by the negative pole
of a magnet. That's the only case l
heard of in this city, although there
are few other cases where it has been
done. The finer the mechanism the
more danger is likely to be done and
it is through the most untiring patience
that they can be brought around to
anything like their original state, It's
about one in hundred that ever is. "
The reporter also fonnd gentleman
whose $3.50 chronometer had been ruined
in this way.