The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-03-03
The Time or DaS.

Sir, you should wear an opeu-faced
watch If you desire to be accurate in your.
time, said matchmaker on Chestnut
street to the stout man; you are too
magnetic. .
Why, what the deuce has the case
got to do with it?" was the interrogative
reply.
Everything. Your watch has O hunt
ing case, necessitating steel springs for
opening and shutting. By constant as
sociation with your body those springs
become magnetized, and they generate
their condition to other necessarily steel
portions of the watchworks, and thus
render their movements imperfect"
''Then, if / we're not fat my watch
would not lose two minutes, more
or less, day." said the puzzled stout
man.
Exactly" returned the matchmaker,
ST have worn your watch for over
week, and it has neither gained nor lost
dozen seconds; but then I am, from
corporal point of view, your antithesis.
am exceptionally thin and slender.
The stout man mused. Accordingly,
said he, ''open-faced thinkers for fat
men. closed cases for thin, eh?'
mot at all, replied the other. sThin
men have at times more magnetism in
their systems than fat men. Everybody
is more or less magnetic; you happen to
be particularly SO; happen to be quite
the reverse; hence my remarks and adj
vice. For the rest, open-faced watches
are always more accurate than hunters.
They are more alright for one thing.
As for the steel springs in hunting cases,
me chanical science has not yet discov-
cred anything else to replace them; the
public like double cases, and there the
matter remains for the present There
| are, however, many i'll contrived por-
tions in watches, and while the demand
continues for watches of certain price
it is impossible from q commercial point
of view, to think of improvements.
Long used methods and ingenious
engines have been specially provided to
fashion and cut out every one of the
minute parts which go to compose the
existing instrument. Every watch
consists of over 200 pieces, en-
ploying over 200 persons, distributed
among forty trades, to say nothing of the
toolmakers for the artisans. Ii the con-
struction of the watch was materially al-
tered all the trades would have to be re-
| learned, new tools and wheel cutting en-
gines would have to be devised, and the
| majority of working watchmakers be-
come useless. The consequence would
| be that the watch would become enor-
mously enhanced in value and its posses
| sion token of wealth. You see, in your
| complicated state of society even ma
chimes in the process of time come to
surround themselves with circle OF
| vested interests which embarrass at
tempts at improvement"
sYou are interesting me, remarked
the stout customer, as he placed his
his watch in his pocket. "Yoa have
been many years, suppose. in the bust
ness. OF course, there must have been
some improvements in your time?'
ssOf course. Watches during the past
| ten years have grown much - Athickness.
| Old fashioned watches are thin and fiat
/ have had watch in my charge as fiat
as trade dollar. It is impossible to
properly adjust the works for heat, cold
and position under such circumstances.
should have to give you long explain.
alton of the packing of mechanism to ex
plain to you why
"Well, has the increased thickness
raised the value?'
ssNo. On the contrary, watches are
worth 25 per cent less than they were
twelve years ago. That fact you will
say bears against my previous remarks.
am referring to the cheaper grade OF
watches worn by the majority of people,
There are watches which bring $500
and watches which can Re purchased foi
$18 dozen. IF you are willing to pay
for costly work almost anything csn be
accomplished.
IT made watch for physician which
fitted in signet ring not much larger
than pea. 1t had only second hands
It was perfectly accurate, and was used
by the doctor in timing the pulse of his
patients. That cost $400. Watches are
made from the size of ten cent piece to
half dollar, and worn as trinkets by the
ladies. They are also fixed in bracelets,
brooches, tops and pencils, eyeglasses,
and even umbrella handles; but they are
very luxurious toys"
| The stout man paid his bill and went
home.