Savannah weekly echo., 1884-01-20
POINTS ABOUT WATCHES.
FEE FIRST "xIOXExB" EvHR MADE
II A1H1210A.

HOW Pocket TfmopieceS are Made
Here and I'm EurOpe-The Rise OF
Great Industry.
In these days, when the majority of the
adult population carry watches says the
New York Star, it is difficult to realize
that half century ago watches were a
rarity In this country. Fifty years ago
not more than one man in twenty carried
o watch, and women were seldom known
to indulge in the luxury of pocket
timepiece. In 1890 the few watches
fused in the United States were imported
from Europe. None were of home manu-
facturc. A Geneva watch was consid-
cred the ne plus ultra of luxury in our
grandfathers' days, and the possessor was
-.egarded with degree of respect
amounting almost to veneration. Watches
fifty years ago were clumsy affairs. Their
shape was very much like that of tur-
nip. The cases were heavy and ungain-
.ly, and the works were clumsy. 1t could
not be expected that such watches would
keep very correct time; but they were
deemed marvels of mechanism,
The first watch ever made in America
is the property of Mr. Z. Howard. of
William street, this city. 1t is about as
heavy as the English watches of fifty
years ago, although there is nothing
clumsy about it. Its weight and size
are due to the fact that having been
made to run eight days, it has two main
springs. The idea of the makers was
that it would be a desirable novelty to
have a watch which would run week,
and which would in this respect Dc diff
ferent from watches of every other make.
1t was soon found, however. that the
public did not respond favorably to the
eight-day idea. The watches of this
kind were soon. abandoned for those
which have but main spring and barrel,
and are wound every day.
This first watch" was made in 1850,
and has been running ever since. The
pinions and ''leavss" of this watch are
highly polished, and the pinions are
round and hard and run perfectly true.
1t has ratchet tooth escape. Its Jewels
are ruby, sapphire and chrysolite, and
are polished and chamfered, the holes
being opened from both sides. The |
center and barrels are bushed with Ger.
man silver. From its present condition
there seems no reason why it should not
be just as good watch thirty years hence
as now. 1t is valued trophy of Ameri-
can skill.
Mr.. Howard furnished the Star re.
porter the following historical facts in
regard toll ,lgin of watches in Europe.
He said
AFTER lohe experimenting and many
lisappointments Peter Hele, an ingenious
of Nuremburg, produced in 1890
lis first and famous pocket clock II
vas in oval shape, and hence gave rise
o the name 'Nuremburg Egg by
which watches we're for some time called,
This watch was six inches wide and nine
inches long. There is no record of how
much it weighed. Jacob Zech, of Prague,
made famous watch in 1926. 1t still
xists, the case being covered with
wealth of curious emblematical decora.
ions and engraving. 1t is in circular
ase of gilt brass, nine and quarter
inches in diameter and five inches high.
n the days of Henry VIII, of England,
watches of curious construction were
made for monarchs and for few of the
Teaithy, but were too costly to come
nto general use. In the time OF
peen Elizabeth many of the people
bout her court wore watches, not one
4 dozen of which was able to keen {
lme correctly. Most of these watche. !
lade up In external establishment what
ney lacked in accuracy as time keepers"
Switzerland became in time the center 7
I the Matchmaking industry. One
harles Cusin went, 1857. from Autun, in 7
urgundy, to escape religious persecu- ,
on. He established himself at Geneva, !
:" Ia Believed hav~~'-$.an +ha srst z